Hime capitonis Gomon & Struthers, 2015, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Gomon, Martin F.
name: Struthers, Carl D.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2015
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Chordata
Actinopterygii
Aulopiformes
Aulopidae
Hime
Hime capitonis

description: Hime capitonis sp. nov.
Proposed new English vernacular name: New Caledonian Flagfin Proposed new French vernacular name: Limbert Nouvelle-Calédonie Figs 1, 3, 4; Tbls 1–3
Aulopus japonicus (non Günther): Barro, 1979 (list); Rivaton et al., 1989: 26, 81 (checklist); Rivaton & Richer de Forges, 1990: 25, 39 (lists; 22° 43.3' S, 167° 04.5' E, 274 m; 22° 42.3' S, 167° 10.5' E, 330 m); Kulbicki et al., 1994: 11.
Holotype. MNHN-IC-2003-1495 (149, male) New Caledonia, Coral Sea, Jumeaux Seamount, 23° 44' S, 168° 01' E, 229–428 m, Halipro 2, BT86, station 7146, 23 November 1996.
Paratypes. 20 specimens, 70.8–173 mm SL. MNHN-IC-2002-0016 (123, male) Vanuatu, 15°04.65'S, 167°10.98'E, 277–285 m, Musorstom 8, CP 1098, station 7146, 7 October 1994; MNHN-IC-2003-1141 (107, female) New Caledonia, Coral Sea, Banc Kaimon Maru, 24° 48.4 'S, 168° 0 9.0 ' E, 245–261 m, lithest, CP10, station 7146, 11 August 1999; MNHN-IC- 2004-2505 (110, female) New Caledonia, Coral Sea, 23°39'S, 168°01'E, 302–325 m, Norfolk 1, CP1669, station 7146, 21 June 2001; MNHN-IC- 2004-2652 (133, male) New Caledonia, Jumeau oust, Coral Sea, 235–242 m, Norfolk 2, station 7146, 23 October 2003; MNHN-IC- 2004-2703 (160, male) New Caledonia, Coral Sea, 375–427 m, Norfolk 2, Zone Crypthelia, station 7146, 2 November 2003; MNHN-IC- 2004-2732 (85.3, male) New Caledonia, Coral Sea, Norfolk 2, Zone Antigonia, station 7146, 240– 240 m; NMNZ P.029040 (146, female) New Caledonia, Jumeaux Seamount, 23º 40.90' S, 168º 0.54' E, 230–250 m, Beryx 11, station 44, C. Roberts & C. Paulin, 20 October 1992; NMNZ P.029095 (2, 70.8–84.7, 1 male, 1 female) New Caledonia, Kaiyo Maru Seamount, 24º 47.01' S, 168º 8.76' E, 240–250 m, Beryx 11, station 16, C. Roberts & C. Paulin, 16 October 1992; NMNZ P.029140 (4, 116–173, 2 males, 2 females) New Caledonia, Jumeaux Seamount, 23º 45.95' S, 168º 1.30' E, 300–350 m, Beryx 11, station 46, C. Roberts & C. Paulin, 20 October 1992; NMNZ P.029153 (3, 96.9–138, females) New Caledonia, Jumeaux Seamount, 23º 40.80' S, 168º 1.00' E, 270–290 m, Beryx 11, station 45, C. Roberts & C. Paulin, 20 October 1992; NMNZ P.029323 (137, female) New Caledonia, Kaiyo Maru Seamount, 24º 43.80' S, 168º 7.52' E, 260–280 m, Beryx 11, station 24, C. Roberts & C. Paulin, 17 October 1992; NMNZ P.029382 (137, male) New Caledonia, Kaiyo Maru Seamount, 24º 48.20' S, 168º 8.85' E, 250–270 m, Beryx 11, station 17, C. Roberts & C. Paulin, 16 October 1992; NMV A31198 -001 (152, male) New Caledonia, Coral Sea, 23°41'S, 168°00'E, 320–397 m, Norfolk 1, CP1671, station 7146, 21 June 2001, formerly part of MNHN-IC- 2004-2451; NMV A31199 -001 (119, female) New Caledonia, Jumeau oust, Norfolk 2, Pacific Ocean, Coral Sea, 290–330 m, Norfolk 2, station 7146, 23 October 2003, formerly MNHN-IC- 2004-2767.
Other material. NMNZ P.056769 (5, 68.1–101, 1 male, 4 juveniles) same collection data as paratype NMNZ P.029040; NMNZ P.029109 (82.3, female) New Caledonia, Jumeaux Seamount, 23º 41.60' S, 168º 0.45' E, 240– 300 m, Beryx 11, station 40, C. Roberts & C. Paulin, 20 October 1992; NMNZ P.029121 (31.7, juvenile) New Caledonia, Jumeaux Seamount, 23º 40.80' S, 168º 1.00' E, 270–290 m, Beryx 11, station 45, C. Roberts & C. Paulin, 20 October 1992.
Diagnosis. Dorsal fin with 16 rays, of moderate height, no rays filamentous in either sex, third ray usually longest, only slightly longer than shortest rays at middle of fin, longest ray 17.0–25.4% SL in males and females, distal margin nearly straight in both sexes, only slightly concave; caudal peduncle length 14.2–17.7% SL; distance from anus to anal fin origin 1.7–3.0 in distance from pelvic fin origin to anus; head large, length 32.3–35.6% SL; eye large, orbital diameter 10.8–13.0% SL; snout length 7.5–9.4% SL; upper jaw length 15.4–17.2% SL; pectoral fin length 19.6–22.2% SL; pelvic fin length 24.3–29.6% SL; scales between anus and anal fin origin 7–9; reddish brown to brown above and white to silvery below with dark brown edged saddles dorsally becoming reddish blotches below; dorsal fin with large red margined yellow spots in males, with red spots of moderate size in females.
Description. (See Tables 1 –3 for further meristic and morphometric details.) Dorsal fin rays 16; anal fin rays 10 (9 or 10, usually 10); caudal fin rays 10 + 19 + 9 (10 or 11 + 18 or 19 + 8 or 9,); pectoral fin rays 11; pelvic fin rays 9; vertebrae 27+15 = 42 (27 or 28 + 14 to 16 = 42 or 43); lateral line scales 41 (41 to 43) + 1; scales above lateral line 4.5; scales below lateral line 4.5; predorsal scales 13 (12 to 16, usually 13); gill rakers 4 + 15 = 19 (3 to 5 + 14 or 15 = 17 to 20); pyloric caeca 11 (based on NMNZ P.029140, largest specimen).
Body elongate, moderately thick, of similar breadth from eyes to posterior end of dorsal fin; dorsal profile of head and snout straight or with slightly convex curve, nape mostly straight, inclined to dorsal fin origin, sloping more gradually to base of tail with straight dorsal profile; ventral profile of head and body mostly straight; caudal peduncle of moderate length and moderately narrow; body deepest at anterior part of dorsal fin, depth at dorsal fin origin 21.9 (19.2–24.0) % SL, depth at anal fin origin 12.2 (11.3–13.4) % SL; anus slightly closer to anal fin origin than pelvic fin origin, anus to anal fin origin than pelvic fin origin, distance from anus to anal fin origin 2.1 (1.7–3.0) in distance from pelvic fin origin to anus. Head large, length 32.4 (32.3–35.6) % SL, bluntly pointed; snout short, much shorter than eye diameter, broadly rounded from above; eye large, orbital diameter 11.3 (10.8–13.0) % SL and 34.9 (32.6–38.7) % HL, slightly larger in females than males (10.8–12.5, mean 11.3 vs 11.3–13.0, mean 12.3% SL, respectively); top of eye extending slightly above dorsal profile of head; bony interorbital distinctly concave, very narrow, interorbital width 4.3 (3.2–5.5) % SL and 13.3 (9.7– 16.5) % HL; postorbital nearly half head length. Anterior nostril small, about midway between tip of snout and orbit, posterior nostril larger, about twice diameter of anterior nostril, long narrow, irregular lanceolate skin flap based on septum separating nostrils. Edge of preopercle smooth, posterior margin straight, angle blunt; opercular margin nearly straight; without well-developed membranous lobe; branchiostegal membranes overlapping ventrally, free from isthmus. Mouth of moderate size, terminal, lower jaw projecting slightly in advance of upper, profile of upper jaw with distinct notch at symphysis when viewed from above; posterior end of maxilla broad, posterior margin nearly straight, extending distinctly past vertical through centre of eye, dorsal margin covering lower half of slender suborbital, separated from eye by narrow strip of skin with mouth closed; upper lip narrow, not covering tooth band in upper jaw with mouth closed. Teeth in jaws small, caniniform, in about two rows laterally and three to four ill-defined rows anteriorly in upper jaw, those mesially longest, small teeth extending onto side of jaw near front, distinct hiatus of teeth at symphysis; band of three to four rows of teeth laterally in lower jaw, additional row or two of much smaller teeth basally on outer edge at front; narrow hiatus in dentition at symphysis, teeth largest mesially. About two rows of small canines on palatines and traversing vomer, those anteriorly on palatines longest. Tongue with narrow anteriorly tapered lanceolate patch of uniformly small teeth in about two peripheral rows bordering naked centre on midline posteriorly. Gill rakers of moderate length.
Scales of moderate size, finely spiniform along margins, not extending onto fins; those on chest and belly ctenoid. Predorsal scales extending forward to vertical midway between posterior extent of eye and rear edge of preopercle, covering opercle and preopercle forward to posterior end of maxilla; axial scale present at origin of pectoral and pelvic fins. Lateral line midlaterally on side, originating at horizontal just below upper margin of eye; lateral line scales corresponding with oblique scale rows above and below lateral line; single pore on each lateral line scale.
Dorsal fin originating just in advance of vertical through pelvic fin origin, distance from snout tip to dorsal fin origin 37.3 (35.2–39.6) % SL; dorsal fin base of moderate length; fin moderately high anteriorly in males, membranes deeply incised but none of the rays filamentous, third ray usually longest, longest 23.7 (17.0– 24.5 in males) % SL, decreasing in length slightly to middle of fin with posterior rays of similar length, penultimate ray reaching 18.9 (14.7–21.6 in males) % SL, posterior lobe reaching to or past adipose fin origin, outer margin of fin nearly straight, only slightly concave; anterior end of fin lower in females, membranes deeply incised, third ray usually longest (18.4–22.5% SL), subsequent rays decreasing in length slightly (tenth ray 13.6–15.7% SL), lengths of posterior rays subequal, penultimate ray 11.9–13.9% SL, outer margin virtually straight, only very slightly concave; posterior lobe reaching little more than half way to adipose fin; first dorsal-fin ray unbranched, others branched (Figs 1 and 4). Adipose fin rather small but prominent, positioned above posterior end of analfin base. Anal fin originating slightly in advance of vertical through midpoint between dorsal fin insertion and hypural crease, with short base; relatively deep in males, posteriormost rays slightly longer than anterior rays and posterior lobe approaching hypural crease in large individuals; fin smaller in females, lengths of posterior rays subequal; posterior lobe reaching little more than half way to hypural crease; first one or two rays unbranched, others branched. Caudal fin deeply forked, shortest rays at middle of fin slightly more than a third length of longest rays extending to corners, lobes nearly pointed, upper lobe slightly longer than lower; rays near ventral margin of fin more densely segmented than those near dorsal margin of fin; unbranched ray at ventral margin not with opaque fleshy covering. Pectoral fin of moderate size, length 21.7 (19.6–22.2 in males, 20.7– 22.2 in females) % SL, tip reaching distinctly past middle of dorsal fin base; origin of fin just in advance of vertical through dorsal fin origin; first two rays simple, others branched, third longest, subsequent rays progressively shorter. Pelvic fin moderately large, posterior tip of depressed fin reaching to or past anus, more so in males than females; first four rays not especially thickened and cylindrical, densely segmented, first ray unbranched, second to fourth each with pair of simple thickened branches, subsequent rays progressively shorter, flattened with typical multibranching, except for inner-most unbranched ray. A species of moderate size, largest specimen examined 173 mm SL.
Fresh colours: (Fig. 4) sides pale reddish brown to brown dorsally, with dark-brown saddles (demarcated by darkly pigmented broad anterior and posterior margins) running to midside beneath anterior part of dorsal fin, posterior part of dorsal fin, adipose fin, and just before caudal base; interspaces between saddles blotched with yellow pigment above lateral line forming broad yellowish stripe from posterior margin of eye; lower side silvery-white, blotched irregularly with red; throat, breast, and belly white, ventral side of gill membranes lemon; cheeks and lower part of opercle silvery with red blotches. Dorsal fin translucent, white anteriorly with at least two irregular rows of red spots in females; males with two or three rows of large spots equal to or larger than pupil, those anteriorly and distally red, others yellow with narrow red margin; adipose fin reddish distally. Anal fin whitish; moderately narrow yellow stripe on basal half of fin of males. Caudal fin whitish, females with broad red band crossing lower half of each lobe and faint band distally; males with broad yellow horizontal stripe at base of each lobe and less prominent red banding, except for red subterminal band on upper lobe; tip of upper lobe white in both sexes. Pectoral fin hyaline to yellowish. Pelvic fin white with yellowish bands in females, with two reddish bands basally and two yellowish bands distally in males.
Preserved colours: body dusky above, almost uniformly pale below level of pectoral fin base, with about four or five darker blotches above lateral midline, in form of hour glass-shaped dusky saddles with distinctly darker narrow, anterior and posterior margins on nape, below front and rear end of dorsal fin base, below adipose dorsal fin and at base of tail; darker margins sometimes interrupted near their vertical centres or with dorsal half faint; opercle and cheek usually dark dusky; fins pale with anterior part of dorsal fin dusky in some; adipose dorsal fin pale.
Etymology. The name capitonis is a Latin noun, meaning “one with a large head”, used in apposition to reference the characteristically large head of this species relative to congeners.
Distribution. So far known conclusively only from seamounts off the southern tip of New Caledonia and Vanuatu (23° 39' S, 168° 01' E – 24° 48.4 'S, 168° 09.0' E and 15° 04.65' S, 167° 10.98' E; Fig. 3). It is conceivable that specimens reported by Parin and Kotlyar (1989: 412, fig. 3; as H. japonica) from the central Coral Sea (ZIL 47258, 2: 232–248 mm SL, 23° 04' N, 159° 37' E, 320 m; ZIL 47260, 213 mm SL, 25° 35' N, 159° 23' E, 330 m) are this species, but they are more likely to be H. pyrhistion, as are those reported by Gomon et al. (2013: 149, fig. 4) from localities in the proximity. Occurs at depths of at least 240–300m
Comments. Hime capitonis is distinctive in having a head that is significantly larger than its congeners (length 32.3–35.6, mean 33.5 versus 29.1–33.7, mean 31.0% SL), large eye (orbital diameter 10.8–13.0, mean 11.9 versus 7.1–11.8, mean 9.5% SL), narrow interorbital 3.2–5.5, mean 4.0 versus 3.4–6.1, mean 4.6% SL) and commensurately greater upper jaw (15.4–17.2, mean 16.2 versus 13.5–16.6, mean 14.9% SL), predorsal (35.2– 39.6, mean 38.1 versus 33.1–39.2, mean 35.9% SL), prepectoral (33.2–35.5, mean 34.6 versus 29.1–35.3, mean 32.3% SL) and prepelvic lengths (36.0–41.8, mean 39.3 versus 30.4–40.8, mean 37.0% SL). It is closest to H. surrubea in head and eye size (orbital diameter 30.1–33.3, mean 31.8 and 10.1–11.8, mean 10.9% SL respectively in the latter) and to a lesser extent H. caudizoma for the same features (30.5–32.6, mean 31.7 and 9.7–11.4, mean 10.8% SL in the latter). Females seem to have slightly larger heads and eyes than males of these and most other species of the genus. Proportionally, H. capitonis, H. surrubea and females of H. caudizoma have the largest eyes relative to the size of the head for the genus (33.5–38.7, mean 36.4, 31.2–38.1, mean 34.3, and 30.6–36.2, mean 33.9, respectively, versus 22.5–36.0, mean 29.9% HL in other congeners). Hime capitonis has rather large pelvic fins, similar to those of males of H. japonica (length in males 24.3–29.6, mean 27.2, and 25.9–30.3, mean 27.7% SL, respectively), but unlike that species, pelvic fins of both sexes in the former are of similar sizes. Hime caudizoma, H. diactithrix and H. curtirostris also have large pelvic fins in one or both sexes, fins of large males of the last species approaching the origin of the anal fin.
This species has appeared in the literature, misidentified as H. japonica, only as components of faunal or catch composition lists as presented in the above synonymy.
Hime caudizoma sp. nov.
English vernacular name: Indonesian Flagfin Indonesian vernacular name: Kuniran Merah Figs 1, 3, 5; Tbls 1–3
Hime sp. A. White et al., 2013: 84, fig. 16.1 (description).
Holotype. MZB 22096 (152, male) Indonesia, Lombok, market in Tanjung Luar, 8º 46' 38'' S, 116º 30' 58'' E, LM 641, W. White, 0 4 November 2010.
Paratypes. 7 specimens, 138–183 mm SL, 3 males, 4 females. CSIRO H 7219-05 (159, female) same collection locality, collector and date as holotype, LM642; CSIRO H 7220-03 (139, male) same collection locality and collector as holotype, LM690, 0 5 November 2010; MZB 22097 (141, female) same collection locality, collector and date as holotype, LM640; NMNZ P.056103 (138, female) same collection locality, collector and date as holotype, LM643; NMNZ P.056104 (147, male) same collection locality and collector as holotype, LM689, 0 5 November 2010; NMV A31121 -001 (183, male) same collection locality, collector and date as holotype, LM645; NMV A31121 -002 (152, female) same collection locality, collector and date as holotype, LM644.
Diagnosis. Dorsal fin with 17 rays, of moderate height, no rays filamentous in either sex, penultimate ray usually longest in males (19.7–21.0% SL), fourth or fifth ray longest in females (14.7–17.3% SL), but nearly same length as those at middle of fin, 13.9–20.1% SL in males and females, distal margin nearly straight in both sexes, only slightly concave in males, very slightly convex in females; caudal peduncle length 15.8–17.9% SL; distance from anus to anal fin origin 2.5–3.8 in distance from pelvic fin origin to anus; head moderately large, length 30.5–32.6% SL; eye large, orbital diameter 9.7–11.4% SL; snout length 7.3–8.2% SL; upper jaw length 14.3–16.0% SL; pectoral fin length 20.8–23.5% SL; pelvic fin moderately large, length 27.2–31.3% SL; scales between anus and anal fin origin 6 or 7; brown above and white to silvery below with dark edged brown saddles dorsally, becoming red ventrally; dorsal fin covered with reddish spots, most slightly smaller than pupil of eye, in about four more or less horizontal rows, those posterobasally yellow in males.
Description. (See Tables 1 –3 for further meristic and morphometric details.) Dorsal fin rays 17; anal fin rays 10 (9 in one of 8); caudal fin rays 10 + 19 + 8 (9 or 10 + 19 + 8); pectoral fin rays 11; pelvic fin rays 9; vertebrae 27 + 15 = 42 (26–28 + 14–16 = 41–43); lateral line scales 42 (41–43) + 1; scales above lateral line 4.5; scales below lateral line 4.5; predorsal scales 14 (13); gill rakers 4 + 14 = 18 (4 or 5 + 13 or 14 = 17 to 19); pyloric caeca 13 (based on NMNZ P.056104, 147 mm SL, male).
Body elongate, moderately thick, tapering slightly from eyes to posterior end of dorsal fin; dorsal profile of head mostly straight, nape with slight convex curve, inclined to dorsal fin origin, sloping more gradually to base of tail with straight dorsal profile; ventral profile of head and body mostly straight; caudal peduncle of moderate length and moderately narrow; body deepest at anterior part of dorsal fin, depth at dorsal fin origin 19.3 (18.1– 20.4) % SL, depth at anal fin origin 11.7 (10.0–12.6) % SL; anus much closer to anal fin origin than pelvic fin origin anus closer to anal fin origin than pelvic fin origin, distance from anus to anal fin origin 2.7 (2.5–3.8) in distance from pelvic fin origin to anus. Head moderately large, length 32.2 (30.5–32.6) % SL, bluntly pointed; snout very short, much shorter than eye diameter, broadly rounded from above; eye large, orbital diameter 11.4 (9.7–11.4) % SL and 35.4 (30.6–36.2) % HL, slightly larger in females than males (33.3–36.2, mean 34.7 vs 30.6–35.4, mean 33.1, respectively); top of eye distinctly above dorsal profile of head; bony interorbital deeply concave, narrow, interorbital width 4.4 (3.7–4.4) % SL and 13.6 (11.8–13.8) % HL; postorbital just less than half head length. Anterior nostril small, about midway between tip of snout and orbit, posterior nostril only slightly larger; long narrow, lanceolate skin flap with finely fringed to irregularly incised margin based on septum separating nostrils. Edge of preopercle smooth, posterior margin straight, angle blunt; opercular margin smoothly curved; without well-developed membranous lobe; branchiostegal membranes overlapping ventrally, free from isthmus. Mouth of moderate size, terminal, lower jaw projecting little if at all in advance of upper, profile of upper jaw with distinct notch at symphysis when viewed from above, though concealed by lip; posterior end of maxilla broad, posterior margin nearly straight, extending distinctly past vertical through centre of eye; dorsal margin covering lower half of slender suborbital, separated from eye by narrow strip of skin with mouth closed; upper lip narrow, not covering tooth band in upper jaw with mouth closed. Teeth in jaws small, caniniform, in about two rows laterally and three to four ill-defined rows anteriorly in upper jaw, those mesially longest, small teeth extending onto side of jaw near front, distinct hiatus of teeth at symphysis; band of about two rows of teeth laterally in lower jaw, additional one or more rows of smaller teeth basally on outer edge at front; narrow hiatus in dentition at symphysis, teeth largest mesially. About one to three rows of small canines on palatines and traversing vomer, those medially slightly smaller. Tongue with about two rows of small teeth circumscribing elongate narrow lanceolate patch medially; centre of patch naked. Gill rakers of moderate length.
Scales of moderate size, finely spiniform along margins, not extending onto fins; those on chest and belly ctenoid. Predorsal scales extending forward to about midpoint between verticals through posterior extent of eye and posterior edge of preopercle, covering opercle and preopercle forward to posterior end of maxilla; axial scale present at origin of pectoral and pelvic fins. Lateral line midlaterally on side, originating at horizontal through upper margin of eye; lateral line scales corresponding with oblique scale rows above and below lateral line; single pore on each lateral line scale.
Dorsal fin originating above or immediately in advance of vertical through pelvic fin origin, distance from snout tip to dorsal fin origin 37.5 (34.4–38.1) % SL; dorsal fin base of moderate length; fin moderately high anteriorly in males, membranes incised but none of the rays filamentous, second penultimate ray longest in males, 24.9 (21.0–21.9) % SL, third or fourth ray longest anteriorly, 20.9 (16.8–19.7) % SL, almost same length as those at middle of fin, 20.1 (18.3–19.5) % SL; third or fourth ray longest in females, 14.8–16.8% SL, penultimate ray 12.6–14.5% SL, distal margin of dorsal fin nearly straight in both sexes, only slightly concave in males, very slightly convex in females, anterior end of fin lower in females; posterior lobe in males reaching to or past adipose fin origin, reaching little more than half way to adipose fin in females; first dorsal-fin ray unbranched, others branched (Figs 1 and 5). Adipose fin rather small but prominent, positioned above posterior end of anal-fin base. Anal fin originating well in advance of vertical through midpoint between dorsal fin insertion and hypural crease, with short base; relatively deep in males, posteriormost rays slightly longer than anterior rays and posterior lobe approaching hypural crease in large individuals; fin smaller in females, lengths of posterior rays subequal, posterior lobe reaching little more than half way to hypural crease; first ray unbranched, others branched. Caudal fin deeply forked, shortest rays at middle of fin slightly more than a third length of longest rays extending to corners, lobes nearly pointed, of similar lengths; rays near ventral margin of fin more densely segmented than those near dorsal margin of fin; unbranched ray at ventral margin not with opaque fleshy covering. Pectoral fin of moderate size, length 23.3 (21.5–22.9 in males, 20.8–23.5 in females) % SL, tip reaching just past middle of dorsal fin base; origin of fin distinctly in advance of vertical through dorsal fin origin; first two rays simple, others branched, third longest, subsequent rays progressively shorter. Pelvic fins moderately large, posterior tip of retracted fin reaching just past anus in males, just reaching anus in females; first four rays not especially thickened and cylindrical, densely segmented, first ray unbranched, second to fourth each with pair of simple thickened branches, membrane between tip evidently incised, subsequent rays progressively shorter with typical multibranching, except for inner-most unbranched ray. A species of moderate size, largest specimen examined 183 mm SL.
Fresh colours: (Fig. 5) dorsal half of head and body brown with much darker brown saddles, each having broad, distinctly dark anterior and posterior margins, distributed beneath anterior part of dorsal fin, posterior part of dorsal fin, adipose fin, and adjacent caudal fin base; lower side silvery-white, with large irregular red blotches, two largest blotches centred below middle two saddles; underside of head, breast, and belly white; cheeks and lower half of opercle silvery with red blotch centred on preopercular margin and diagonal red stripe below centre of eye. Dorsal fin grey to hyaline, females with red spots arranged in about four irregular horizontal rows, largest spots about size of pupil; males with larger yellow spots posterobasally; adipose fin reddish distally. Anal fin hyaline; three broad distinctly yellow stripes in males. Caudal fin hyaline to yellowish, each lobe crossed by four to six red bands. Pectoral fin hyaline. Males generally with more yellow than females.
Preserved colours: body dusky above, almost uniformly pale below level of pectoral fin base, with broadly dark-edged blotches constricted near middle of height corresponding to above described saddles situated above lateral line, positioned below front of dorsal fin, below rear end of dorsal fin base, and below adipose fin; opercle mostly dark dusky; caudal fin pale with narrow dusky banding; other fins pale; anal fins of freshly preserved males with dusky band distally; adipose fin dusky.
Etymology. The name caudizoma is a combination of the Latin feminine noun cauda for “tail” and adjective zoma, “that which is girded”, in reference to the numerous red bands on each lobe of the tail in both sexes, a characteristic feature of this species.
Distribution. Southern Indonesia, known only from eight specimens acquired at fish markets in Tanjung Luar on the southeast coast of Lombok (Fig. 3), probably caught around the small islands off Tanjung Luar (W. White personal communication). According to White et al. (2013), the species is benthic on deep reefs.
Comments. Hime caudizoma is distinctive in having a dorsal fin of rather uniform height over its full length in both males and females although the height of the fin, as in its congeners, is slightly higher in males than in females (Fig. 1 E). Unlike its congeners, however, the second penultimate ray of males is the longest dorsal fin ray reaching 21.0–24.9% SL, the third or fourth ray approaching but not exceeding it in length, 16.8–19.7% SL. In other species, one or more of the anterior rays is noticeably to considerably greater in length than those near the middle of the fin, at least in males. Although the central rays of the dorsal fin is of similar height in females of almost all species, males of H. caudizoma and H. pyrhistion have the longest tenth dorsal fin ray among congeners (18.3–20.1, mean 19.1 and 15.4–21.2, mean 18.3 respectively versus 15.7–19.1, mean 16.6% SL). The anus is much closer to the anal fin origin than to the pelvic fin origin in H. caudizom a than in other species of the genus, with the former distance 2.5 to 3.8 times in the latter in this species rather than 1.5 to 2.5 as in congeners.
This is one of only two species of the genus recorded in Indonesian waters. The second, a species with a much more slender profile, is known solely from a photograph of a female specimen taken off Bitung at the northern tip of Sulawesi (Teguh Peristiwady via H. Motomura, personal communication). As the collection localities for specimens of Hime diactithrix (Prokofiev, 2008) in museum collections stretch from the type locality Vietnam and southern Japan to northwestern Australia, it is highly likely the species will be found in Indonesia as well.
Hime microps
paratype holotype ZIL 48670 BPBM 25117 ZIL 47256
description: Published as part of Gomon, Martin F. & Struthers, Carl D., 2015, Three new species of the Indo-Pacific fish genus Hime (Aulopidae, Aulopiformes), all resembling the type species H. japonica (Günther 1877), pp. 371-390 in Zootaxa 4044 (3) on pages 380-388, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4044.3.3, http://zenodo.org/record/231750