A New Species of the Cottid Fish Genus Stlengis (Teleostei: Scorpaeniformes) from Indonesia

A new species of cottid fish,Stlengis mesembrinus collected from Indonesia,is described. It is distinguished from other species of this genus by its lateral line scale row of 29 scales,the additional row of 9 small dorsal scales,its large eye,its eight spines in the first dorsal fin,13 rays in the second dorsal fin,10 anal fin rays,and by its color pattern(e.g.,first dorsal fin translucent,with several irregular darkish streaks). The present species is compared with the Japanese members of Stlengis and with the species of Antipodocottus known from the Tasman Sea and New Zealand; the origin of the present species is discussed. During an examination of fish specimens in the collection of the Zoologisk Museum,Copenhagen(ZMUC),we found a new species of cottid fish from Indonesia.This first sculpin species from tropical waters belongs to the deepwater genus Stlengis Jordan et Starks,1904 which was known previously only from Japan,and is zoogeographically a link between the three Japanese species of Stlengis and the two nearly related species of Antipodocottus from the Tasman Sea and New Zealand area.Measurement methods follow those used by Fricke(1981) for callionymid fishes. Stlengis mesembrinus sp.nov. ( Figs.1,2) Material.ZMUC P81868,holotype,50.5 mm SL(standard length),Danish Kai Islands Expedition,St.52,Kai Islands,Indonesia,5•‹46'S,132•‹49' 35"E,352 m,7 May 1922. Diagnosis.A Stlengis with 8 spines in the first dorsal fin,13 rays in the second dorsal fin and 10 anal fin rays;29 lateral line scales and an additional dorsal row of 9 scales;uppermost preopercular spine with four curved points at its dorsal margin additional to the main tip;eye 16.2 % of SL. Description.D1. VIII;D2.xii,1;A.ix,1;P1. xviii xix;P2.I,ii;C. (ii)ii 7 i(ii). Lateral line scales 29;one additional dorsal scale row with 9 scales.Proportions see Table 1. Head and body depressed,tail compressed. Head(measured to hind end of operculum)large, 2.6 in SL.Eye very large,its diameter 2.4 in head length.Interorbital width 8.2 in eye diameter.Jaws,vomer and palatines with villiform teeth.Cranial spines:one pair each of preocular and parietal spines present,the latter ones forming a short and low bony ridge.No supraorbital cirrus present.Pores of cephalic lateral line system not much enlarged(pore pattern see Fig.1A). Anteriormost pore of mandibular series unpaired.Upper jaw length 2.5 in head length.Preoperculum with four spines;the lowermost projected downwards,the uppermost enlarged,upcurved and with four additional relatively large curved points at its dorsal margin(see Fig.1B). Operculum posteriorly pointed,extending to the vertical through the second spine of the first dorsal fin.No slit behind last gill arch.Scales relatively deep embedded in the skin,most with serrated posterior margin. Origin of first dorsal fin behind dorsal end of gill opening;predorsal(1)length 2.84 in SL. First spine of the first dorsal fin relatively short, 4.7 in head length;fifth spine longest,2.63 in head length.Predorsal(2)length 1.74 in SL. Second dorsal fin base length 3.02 in SL.Rays of second dorsal fin unbranched,the last divided at its base.Anal fin beginning on the vertical through the second ray of the second dorsal fin.Preanal length 1.74 in SL.Anal fin rays unbranched,the last divided at its base.Anal fin base 4 in SL.Prepelvic fin length 3.28 in SL.Pelvic fin spine 3.23 in head length;pelvic