First Records of the Rare Giant Roughy <i>Hoplostethus grandperrini</i> (Teleostei: Trachichthyiformes) from Japan

• DOI: 10.12782/specdiv.28.245
• Publication Date: 2023-11-08T22:15:43Z
• Authors: Ryo Misawa; Yuma Takanashi; Yo Su; Chih-Wei Chang; Yoshiaki Kai
• Keywords: Teleostei; Fish fin; Perciformes

Two large specimens [310–476 mm standard length (SL)] of the genus Hoplostethus Cuvier in and Valenciennes, 1829, collected from Iwate Okinawa prefectures, Japan, were recently discovered identified as grandperrini Roberts Gomon, 2012 on basis following characteristics: body size, exceeding 300 SL; abdominal scutes strong; pectoral fins light red; caudal-fin tip without black pigmentation; upper margin eye almost horizontally level with lateral-line origin; predorsal scales not enlarged; fin spines moderately thickened; pectoral-fin reaching anal-fin anterior part oral cavity, including underside tongue, 15–17 rays; 21 scales; 13 or 14 scutes. Furthermore, a molecular phylogenetic analysis partial sequence mtDNA COI gene one placed it same clade H. previously recorded Taiwan, an uncorrected p-distance between both 0.19%. was originally described two off New Caledonia, only additional specimen having been reported (from southern Taiwan). The Japanese are first records species fourth fifth known, Prefecture northernmost record species.