Günther 1880 : 41 De Beaufort & Briggs 1962 : 111 Eschmeyer et al . 1979 : 467 Minous coccineus Gloerfelt-Tarp & Kailola 1984 : 110 Sainsbury et al . 1985 : 94 Allen et al . 2006 : 905 Three new species of the Indo-Pacific stingfish genus Minous (Synanceiidae: Minoinae) with redescriptions of M. trachycephalus (Bleeker 1855) and M. pictus Günther 1880 Matsunuma, Mizuki Motomura, Hiroyuki Zootaxa 2018 2018-08-02 4455 2 201 257 43K3Z 1585503 Gunther 1880 Gunther 1880 [151,504,295,322] Actinopterygii Synanceiidae Minous GBIF Animalia Scorpaeniformes 40 241 Chordata species pictus   Figures 21D–F, 22G, H, 23D–F, 24A, 25; Tables 1–5, 8     Minous pictus  Günther 1880: 41, pl. 18, fig. D (Arafura Sea, south of New Guinea, 09°59′S, 139°42′E; in part; lectotypedesignated herein);  De Beaufort & Briggs 1962: 111(Arafura Sea; referred to “ holotype” of the species);  Eschmeyer et al. 1979: 467, figs. 1, 8a (Arafura Sea, Philippines, Vietnam, Hong Kongand Taiwan; in part; description and synonymy; referred to “ holotype” of the species).    Minous coccineusnot of Alcock 1890:  Gloerfelt-Tarp & Kailola 1984: 110, unnumbered fig. (Western Australia; short description; specimen: CSIRO CA1679);  Sainsbury et al. 1985: 94(Western Australia; short description; specimen: CSIRO CA1679);  Allen et al. 2006: 905(Western Australia; listed, ecological and distributional notes).    Lectotype. BMNH 1879.5.14.371, 45.5 mmSL, Arafura Sea, south of New Guinea, 09°59′S, 139°42′E, 28 fm. ( ca.  51 m) depth, Challenger station188,  10 Sep. 1874.     Otherspecimens examined. Ninespecimens, 57.3–101.8 mmSL (all from Australia): CSIRO CA1679, 82.0 mm SL, CSIRO CA1680,  80.7mmSL, east of Stewart Island, west of Cape Preston, Western Australia, 20°53′S, 115°53′E,  16 mdepth, FRV  Soela,  7 Dec. 1979;  CSIROH 1489-4, 101.8 mmSL, west of Barrow Island, Western Australia, 20°55′S, 115°08′E,  58–68 mdepth, Frank and Bryce demersal trawl, FRV  Soela,  27 Sep. 1988;  NTMS.12920-002, 57.3 mmSL Arafura Sea, northwest of Cape Wessel, Northern Territory, 09°21′S, 135°15′E,  80 mdepth, R. Williams,  12 Nov. 1990;  NTMS.12973-004, 77.2 mmSL, Arafura Sea, Northern Territory, 09°41′S, 134°41′E,  87 mdepth, H. Larson,  30 Oct. 1990;  NTMS.12977-004, 70.1 mmSL, Arafura Sea, Northern Territory, 09°42′S, 134°35′E,  92–94 mdepth, H. Larson,  30 Oct. 1990.   Diagnosis.A species of  Minousdistinguished from other congeners by the following combination of characters: 1st dorsal-fin spine much shorter than 2nd dorsal-fin spine, their bases close together; dorsal-fin rays X–XI, 12–13 (modally XI, 12), total rays 22 or 23 (23); anal-fin rays II, 10–11 (II, 10), total rays 12 or 13 (12); lateral-line tubes 17–21 (19); width between interorbital ridges 3.0–4.2% (mean 3.7%) of SL; pelvic-fin base length 15.2–19.3% (17.4%) of SL; body entirely pinkish, with oblique alternating dark and light stripes; pectoral fin inner surface largely yellow, with irregular dark interconnected blotches along rays, together with small dark spots.   Description.Pectoral-fin rays 12, lowermost ray free from membrane; pelvic fin rays I, 5. Vertebrae 11 + 15 = 26. Other meristics and morphometrics shown in Tables 1–5, 8. Body oblong, moderately compressed laterally, without scales ( Fig. 22D–F). Lateral-line tubes continuous, except for posteriormost isolated tube on caudal peduncle; each tube with a pore opening to short dermal tube on posterior end, short cirri associated with pore. Single slit-like pore opening above pectoral-fin base behind gill opening, associated with relatively long tentacle (subequal to maximum pore diameter). Head moderately large, exposed bony surface relatively smooth; interorbital space shallow, interorbital ridges developed, well separated from each other; occipital pit shallow. Anterior and posterior lacrimal spines sharp, posterior spine longer than anterior spine, anterior spine canted anteroventrally, posterior spine posteroventrally; suborbital ridge with numerous small spines; preopercle with 5 spines, uppermost spine behind end of suborbital ridge longest, lower 3 spines blunt, plate-like; 3 sensory pores on underside of each dentary; small pore on each side of symphysial knob; lateral and ventral surfaces of anterior portion of lower jaw with many cirri or tentacles; a pair of relatively long tentacles located between middle and posteriormost sensory pore, tips not reaching posterior margin of maxilla when laid flat. Snout blunt; dorsal profile of snout relatively steep, forming angle of ca.40° ( ca.40–50°) to horizontal axis of head and body. Mouth moderately large, slightly oblique, forming angle of ca.30° to horizontal axis of head and body; posterior margin of maxilla almost reaching a vertical through mid-orbit. Lower jaw tip slightly projected anteriorly when mouth closed. Symphyseal gap separating premaxillary teeth bands very narrow, less than width of each band; both jaws with a band of small, conical teeth, ca.6 (or 7) and ca.4 teeth rows at widest portions of upper and lower jaw, respectively; 2 small elongate patches of small conical teeth on vomer; palatine teeth absent.   FIGURE 24.Fresh specimens of  Minous pictus—lateral view (A, C);—pectoral fin inner surface (magnified) (B, D). (A, B) CSIRO H1489-4, 101.8 mm SL, Australia; (C, D) CSIRO CA1679, 82.0 mm SL, Australia. Right side, reversed in A. Photos: Thor Carter (A and B) and Richard Martin (C and D). Eye moderately large, with numerous tentacles on dorsal portion, longest tentacle branched, tips extending beyond dorsal contour of orbit. Eye set relatively low on head, dorsal contour of orbit (about one-fifth of orbit) extending beyond a line between snout tip and dorsal-fin origin. Preocular, supraocular and postocular (surrounding orbit) relatively smooth. Dorsal-fin origin behind occipital pit, surrounded by parietal spine clefts; 1 st spinerelatively short, thin, much shorter than 2nd spine, its length 33% (20–28%) of 2nd spine length, their bases close together; 3rd spine subequal to 2nd spine, its length 96–102% of 2nd spine length; 3rd to 6th spines gradually becoming longer posteriorly, remaining posterior spines subequal in length; membranes on anterior spinous portion well incised, remaining membranes moderately incised; 2nd and 3rd spines not associated with dermal flaps. Dorsal contour of soft-rayed portion of dorsal fin rounded, longest soft ray length subequal to 2nd spine length; last soft ray attached to caudal peduncle by broad membrane. Anal-fin origin below 9th dorsal-fin spine base; spines tiny, covered with skin; longest anal-fin soft ray length subequal to longest dorsal-fin soft ray length; last soft ray attached to caudal peduncle by broad membrane. Pectoral fin rounded, moderately large, 5th (or 4th) ray longest, its tip extending far beyond (almost reaching in largest specimen) a vertical through middle of anal-fin base but not reaching end of anal-fin base; lowermost ray long, slightly thickened, free from membrane, its base well separated from base of above membrane associated rays, its tip extending slightly beyond a vertical through anal-fin origin when depressed. Pelvic-fin origin below 4th dorsal-fin spine base, spine covered with skin, last soft ray attached to abdomen by broad membrane, end of pelvic-fin base not reaching level of anus; 4th (or 3rd) soft ray longest, its tip extending beyond (not reaching in CSIRO H 1489-4, 101.8 mmSL) a vertical through anal-fin origin when depressed. Caudal fin moderately long, posterior margin slightly rounded (based on paratypes). All segmented rays in dorsal, anal, pectoral, pelvic and caudal fins unbranched.   FIGURE 25.Pectoral fin inner surface in preserved specimens of  Minous radiatus  sp. nov.(A–C) and  M. pictus(D–F). (A) NSMT-P 54646, paratype, 106.5 mm SL, China; (B) KAUM–I. 39286, holotype, 89.6 mm SL, Taiwan; (C) KAUM–I. 22370, paratype, 57.2 mm SL, Malaysia; (D) CSIRO H1489-4, 101.8 mm SL, Australia; (E) NTM S.12973-004, 77.2 mm SL, Australia (right side, reversed); (F) BMNH 1879.5.14.371, lectotype, 45.5 mm SL, Arafura Sea. Photo: Gota Ogihara (D).  Fresh coloration, based on color photographs of non-type specimens (CSIRO H1489-4 and CSIRO CA1679) ( Fig. 24). Head and body entirely pink, darker dorsally, posterior portion of maxilla, ventral portions of head and chest whitish; body with poorly defined oblique alternating dark and light stripes dorsally, extending onto dorsal fin; eye pale yellow, pupil black. Dorsal fin coloration same as that of dorsum, with black tinged margin. Anal fin pink, with large blackish distal portion. Pectoral fin outer surface of pectoral fin black with irregular, poorly defined lighter bands; inner surface with extensive yellow area dorsally, darker ventrally, with many interconnected black blotches along upper rays; lowermost free ray dark pink ( Fig. 24B, D); axil without markings. Pelvic fin pink, blackish distally. Caudal fin pale pink without markings.   Coloration of preserved specimens, based on all specimens ( Figs. 22D–F). Head and body entirely pale brown (or creamy-white), paler ventrally, with poorly defined oblique alternating dark and light stripes centrally and dorsally, extending onto dorsal fin. Dorsal fin pale creamy-white, tips of spines tinged with black; soft-rayed portion brownish dorsally. Anal fin creamy-white, brownish distally. Pectoral fin outer surface brown with irregular pale bands; inner surface whitish dorsally, brownish ventrally, with many irregularly shaped elongate brown (blackish) blotches along rays; lowermost free ray creamy-white ( Fig. 25D–F). Pelvic fin dusky creamywhite, brownish distally. Caudal fin semi-translucent (or pale creamy-white), dusky distally, without distinct markings.   Distribution.  Minous pictusis distributed off northern and northwestern Australiaand south of New Guinea(based on examined specimens) ( Fig. 10). Sampling data for seven specimen lots indicated collection depths of 16– 94 m(mostly> 50 mdepth). Although the species has previously been reported as  M. coccineusfrom Australian waters ( Gloerfelt-Tarp & Kailola 1984; Sainsbury et al. 1985), no records of that species have so far been confirmed from Australia.   Remarks.  Minous pictuswas recorded by Gloerfelt-Tarp & Kailola (1984)and Sainsbury et al. (1985)(as  M. coccineus) from northwestern Australia. Detailed comparisons of the two species are given below. On the other hand,  M. pictusrecorded by Gloerfelt-Tarp & Kailola (1984)was identified herein as  M. groeneveldi  sp. nov.(see above).   FIGURE 26.Lectotype (A) and paralectotype (B) of  Minous pictus, Arafura Sea, south of New Guinea. (A) BMNH 1879.5.14.371, 45.5 mm SL; (B) BMNH 1879.5.14.372, 36.6 mm SL (=  M. trachycephalus).  Lectotype designation.In a report on fishes collected during the Challenger Expedition, Günther (1880)described  M. pictuson the basis of syntypes from the Arafura Sea, south of New Guinea. Subsequently, De Beaufort & Briggs (1962)redescribed  M. pictusbased on a 63 mm-length (most likely total length) “holotype” [BMNH 1879.5.14.371 (caudal fin damaged but estimated total length 63.4 mm)] ( Fig. 26A). Eschmeyer et al. (1979)also regarded BMNH 1879.5.14.371 as the holotype of  M. pictus. However, Günther’s (1880)description of  M. pictuswas not based solely on a single specimen, noting the lengths of  M. pictusspecimens as “ 2 to 2.5 inches”. Although Günther (1880)did not mention the number of specimens, two syntypes of  M. pictusnow exist at BMNH, their estimated total lengths [BMNH 1879.5.14.371, 45.5 mmSL, 63.4 mmTL (= ca. 2.5 inches) and BMNH 1879.5.14.372, 36.6 mmSL, 50.2 mmTL (= ca.2.0 inches)] being highly consistent with those given by Günther (1880). Accordingly, the two BMNH specimens are regarded herein as the original syntypes of  M. pictus, the larger syntype (BMNH 1879.5.14.371) ( Fig. 26A) conforming to the species recognized herein as  M. pictus, having the diagnostic color pattern on the pectoral fin inner surface ( Fig. 25F). Moreover, Günther (1880: pl. 18, fig. D)provided an excellent drawing of  M. pictuswhich was consistent with BMNH 1879.5.14.371. In contrast, BMNH 1879.5.14.372 ( Fig. 26B) conformed strongly to  M. trachycephalus Bleeker, 1855in having dorsal-fin rays XI, 10; anal-fin rays II, 8; relatively short second dorsal-fin spine length 14.2% of SL ( Fig. 19C); a pore above pectoral-fin base lacking an elongate tentacle; posterior lacrimal spine tip canted posteroventrally ( Fig. 20K); and pectoral fin inner surface with hexagonal markings ( Fig. 9F). The ICZN (1999: article 74.7, recommendation 74B) recommends that an illustrated specimen should be designated as a lectotype. Therefore, BMNH 1879.5.14.371 is designated here as the lectotype of  M. pictus( Fig. 26A), the remaining syntype, BMNH 1879.5.14.372 (identical to  M. trachycephalus), becoming a paralectotype ( Fig. 26B).   Species comparisons.  M. radiatusand  M. pictusvs other congeners.Although  M. coccineusis most similar to  M. pictusin having the pectoral fin inner surface yellow with many dark blotches, the former possesses relatively small rounded black blotches scattered over the entire fin ( Fig. 5D–F), whereas the latter has large elongate, interconnected blotches radiating mostly along the rays ( Figs. 24B, D, 25D–F). Although  M. radiatusalso possesses dark markings on a yellow background on the pectoral fin inner surface, such markings comprise narrow stripes radiating mostly along the rays ( Figs. 23B, D, F, 25A–C). Although the holotypeof  M. coccineuswas not available for this study, Alcock (1890)stated that it had a dark brown pectoral fin inner surface with canary yellow lines, forming a hexagonal pattern when fresh, such being consistent with the specimens identified herein as  M. coccineus.  Minous pictusis further distinguished from  M. coccineusby having more lateral-line tubes [17–21 (modally 19) in the former vs 15–18 (17) in the latter] (Table 3).   FIGURE 27.Relationships of (A) width between interorbital ridges and (B) pelvic-fin base length (all as % of standard length) to standard length (mm) in  Minous pictus(yellow triangles) and  M. radiatus  sp. nov.(green diamonds). Open and closed arrowheads indicate lectotype of  M. pictusand holotype of  M. radiatus, respectively.   Minous radiatusand  M. pictusare readily distinguished from  M. andriashevi,  M. monodactylus,  M. quincarinatus,  M. usacheviand  M. versicolor( Fig. 3A–F), having the first dorsal-fin spine much shorter than the second spine (first spine length 26–44% and 20–33% of second spine length in  M. radiatusand  M. pictus, respectively) and their bases close together, whereas both spines are of similar length with well separated bases in the latter five species. Moreover,  M. radiatusand  M. pictusdiffer from  M. inermisand  M. longimanus( Fig. 3I, J) in having a relatively short pectoral fin [36.0–47.3% (mean 40.8%) of SL in  M. radiatusand 39.7–44.3% (42.1%) of SL in  M. pictus], its tip just reaching a vertical through the mid-point of the anal-fin base, whereas the posterior tip of the pectoral fin [fin length 45.2–59.3% (51.2%) of SL in  M. inermisand 51.7–63.6% (57.9%) of SL in  M. longimanus] almost reaches or extends beyond the end of the anal-fin base in the latter two species. TABLE 8. Selected meristic and morphometric values (expressed as percentages of standard length) recorded from specimens of  Minous radiatus sp. nov.and  M. pictus.      M. radiatus sp. nov.   M. pictus  Holotype Paratypes Lectotype of  M. pictus Non-type specimens  KAUM–I. 39286  n= 53 Modes  BMNH 1879.5.14.371  n= 9 Modes  Dorsal-fin rays XI, 11 X or XI, 11–13 XI, 12 X, 12 X or XI, 12 or 13 XI, 12  Anal-fin rays II, 9 II or III, 8–11 II, 10 II, 10 II, 10 or 11 II, 10  Lateral-line tubes 17 16–19 17 19 17–21 19  Gill rakers 3 + 10 = 13 3–5 + 7–13 = 11–17 3 + 10 = 13 3 + 10 = 13 3 or 4 + 10–12 = 13–15 3 + 10 = 13  Standard length (mm) 89.6 57.2–106.5 Means 45.5 57.3–101.8 Means   Body depth (% of SL) 31.5 30.0–36.2 32.6 37.2 32.5–36.5 34.5   Body width 24.8 20.1–29.8 24.3 25.7 23.1–27.0 25.5  Head length 42.3 38.4–44.2 41.4 44.7 39.4–43.2 41.8  Head width 17.0 15.4–18.3 17.0 18.4 16.6–18.5 17.9  Snout length 14.8 13.0–16.0 14.5 14.9 13.0–15.3 14.6  Orbit diameter 12.7 12.2–16.5 13.7 13.4 13.1–14.9 13.8  Interorbital width at mid-orbit 10.0 8.5–11.3 10.0 10.5 9.7–11.2 10.4  Interorbital width at preocular spine base 8.6 7.5–10.2 8.5 9.6 7.5–9.1 8.7  Width between interorbital ridges 2.7 1.4–3.7 2.9 4.0 3.0–4.2 3.7  Upper-jaw length 18.6 17.5–20.7 18.8 21.1 18.7–20.2 19.6  Maxillary depth 6.8 5.6–7.3 6.5 7.9 6.2–7.6 7.1  Postorbital length 17.4 14.9–18.9 17.1 18.2 15.5–18.7 17.1  Pre-dorsal-fin length 32.7 29.4–35.0 32.1 35.3 30.6–35.0 32.9  Pre-anal-fin length 66.2 58.5–69.4 63.0 68.5 59.7–68.1 64.7  Pre-pelvic-fin length 35.7 33.7–40.2 36.4 42.1 33.6–38.4 37.2  1st dorsal-fin spine length 4.7 3.9–7.6 5.3 5.5 3.2–5.6 4.5  2nd dorsal-fin spine length 14.4 12.7–18.8 15.2 16.8 15.8–18.1 16.6  3rd dorsal-fin spine length — 13.1–18.7 16.0 — 15.2–18.7 17.1  4th dorsal-fin spine length — 14.5–21.5 17.8 — 16.2–19.9 18.2  5th dorsal-fin spine length 17.3 15.6–21.1 18.6 — 17.3–18.6 17.9  ……continued on the next page TABLE 8. (Continued)      M. radiatus sp. nov.   M. pictus  Holotype Paratypes Lectotype of  M. pictus Non-type specimens  KAUM–I. 39286  n= 53 Modes  BMNH 1879.5.14.371  n= 9 Modes  6th dorsal-fin spine length 18.4 15.6–22.1 19.8 — 18.3–19.4 18.8  7th dorsal-fin spine length — 17.4–22.5 20.2 — 19.9–19.9 19.9  8th dorsal-fin spine length 19.4 17.0–22.0 20.5 — 18.4–18.8 18.6  9th dorsal-fin spine length — 17.3–22.3 20.5 — 20.5–20.5 20.5  10th dorsal-fin spine length — 15.7–23.6 20.4 — 19.5–23.1 21.3  11th dorsal-fin spine length 21.1 18.9–21.2 20.2 — 20.7–20.7 20.7  1st anal-fin spine length 5.9 3.6–8.1 6.1 — 4.0–7.4 5.8  2nd anal-fin spine length 9.5 5.8–12.1 9.5 — 6.2–8.6 7.3  Pectoral-fin length 43.7 36.0–47.3 40.8 42.8 39.7–44.3 42.1  Lowermost pectoral-fin ray length 29.7 27.9–36.9 32.4 — 30.0–33.9 32.5  Pelvic-fin spine length — 15.6–20.3 16.9 17.3 15.6–18.3 16.9  Longest pelvic-fin soft ray length 27.8 24.5–30.3 27.3 31.7 25.1–28.9 27.7  Pelvic-fin base length 15.9 12.2–16.6 14.4 16.7 15.2–19.3 17.4  Caudal-fin length 35.8 30.8–38.1 34.6 — 33.1–37.4 35.3  Caudal peduncle depth 11.2 9.3–11.6 10.7 11.1 8.4–10.7 10.0  Anterior lacrimal spine length 4.5 3.3–5.2 4.2 4.4 3.7–5.2 4.4  Posterior lacrimal spine length 8.7 6.7–10.1 8.2 9.0 7.3–9.2 8.5 Gill raker counts include upper + lower = total gill rakers. Modes and means include all specimens.   Minous dempsteraeis separable from  M. radiatusand  M. pictusdue to numerous small light colored blotches scattered on a dark pectoral fin inner surface in preserved specimens ( Fig. 5C), compared to dark markings on a lighter background in the latter two species ( Fig. 25).  Minous radiatusand  M. pictusdiffer from  M. pusillus,  M. roseus,  M. groeneveldiand  M. trachycephalusin having oblique alternating dark and light stripes on the dorsum and dorsal fin (vs. absent in the latter), and differing counts of dorsal- and anal-fin rays and gill rakers (see Tables 1, 2, 5).   FIGURE 28.Relationships of (A) body width, (B) pelvic-fin spine length and (C) orbit diameter (all as % of standard length) to standard length (mm) in  Minous monodactylus(red asterisks) and  M. radiatus  sp. nov.(green diamonds), showing ontogenetic proportional changes. Red and green lines indicate straight line approximations for  M. monodactylusand  M. radiatus, respectively.    M. radiatusvs  M. pictus.  Minous radiatusand  M. pictusshare most diagnostic characters, including fin formula, overall body appearance and coloration. However,  M. radiatuscan be distinguished from  M. pictusby having fewer lateral-line tubes [16–19 (modally 17) in the former vs 17–21 (19) in the latter], a narrower space between the interorbital ridges [1.4–3.7% (mean 2.9%) of SL vs 3.0–4.2% (3.7%) of SL] ( Fig. 27A) and shorter pelvic-fin base length [12.2–16.6% (14.4%) of SL vs 15.2–19.3% (17.4%) of SL] ( Fig. 27B). Additionally,  M. radiatushas the dorsal half of the pectoral fin inner surface yellow (lighter in preserved specimens), with narrow dark stripes radiating along the rays and small dark spots, blotches or broken lines on the membranes ( Figs. 23B, D, F, 25A–C), compared with elongate dark interconnected blotches radiating mostly along the rays in  M. pictus( Figs. 24B, D, 25D–F). The reddish body in  M. radiatuswith brownish dorsum and many distinct alternating light and dark markings (creamy-white body with dark markings on the dorsum in preserved specimens) ( Figs. 22A–C, 23A, C, E) contrasts with the entirely pinkish body with pale alternating light and dark stripes (creamy-white body with pale markings on the dorsum) of  M. pictus( Figs. 22D–F, 24A, C). 1917075830 1874-09-10 BMNH Guinea-Bissau 51 -9.983334 Arafura Sea 1298 139.7 Challenger station 40 241 BMNH 1879.5 1 lectotype 1917075773 1979-12-07 CSIRO Soela Australia Other 16 -20.883333 Stewart Island 1266 115.88333 Nine 40 241 CA1679, CA1680, 80.7 1 Western Australia 1917075831 1988-09-27 CSIRO Soela Australia 63 -20.916666 Barrow Island 1266 115.13333 40 241 1 Western Australia 1917075800 1990-11-12 NTM R. Williams Australia 80 -9.35 Cape Wessel 1300 135.25 Arafura Sea 40 241 1 Northern Territory 1917075791 1990-10-30 NTM H. Larson Australia 87 -9.683333 Arafura Sea 1299 134.68333 40 241 1 Northern Territory 1917075776 1990-10-30 NTM H. Larson Australia 93 -9.7 Arafura Sea 1299 134.58333 40 241 1 Northern Territory