Parabembras curta (Temminck & Schlegel 1843) Temminck & Schlegel 1843
- Dataset
- Taxonomic review of the deep water flathead genus Parabembras with description of the new species Parabembrasmultisquamata from the western Pacific Ocean (Teleostei, Parabembridae)
- Rank
- SPECIES
Classification
- kingdom
- Animalia
- phylum
- Chordata
- order
- Scorpaeniformes
- family
- Parabembridae
- genus
- Parabembras
- species
- Parabembras curta
description
Description. Measurements are shown in Table 1. Body cylindrical, posteriorly weakly compressed, completely covered with ctenoid scales. Nasal spine simple, dorsoposteriorly directed. Anterior lachrymal with single robust spine, posterolaterally directed, in some specimens with small additional spine anteriorly; posterior lachrymal with sharp spine, posteroventrally directed. Single preocular spine present. Interorbital region narrow and weekly depressed, with 6 - 8 supraocular spines. Single postocular spine present, slightly larger than posteriormost supraocular spine. Suborbital ridge strongly or moderately developed, with three robust spines; tip of anteriormost spine below center of eye, second below posterior margin of eye, posteriormost below pterotic spine. Parietal spine robust and sharp, posteriorly directed. Three nuchal spines, one each on supratemporal, posttemporal, and supracleithrum, respectively; posttemporal in some specimens with additional spine. Pterotic with single sharp posteriorly directed spine. Preopercle with single robust posteriorly directed spine, in some specimens with supplementary spine; ventral margin of preopercle smooth. Opercle with upper and lower spines, directed slightly dorsoposteriorly and ventroposteriorly, respectively. Dermal flaps on head absent, except for flap on anterior nostril. Gill rakers blunt, usually four (in some specimens five) on upper limb; 11 - 13 (modally 12) on lower limb, including single (longest) raker at angle. Lateral line running parallel to dorsal contour of body, extending beyond caudal-fin base; 34 - 39 (modally 36) pored lateral line scales on body and 2 - 3 on caudal fin, each with single, robust tube. Mouth large, slightly oblique; maxilla reaching anterior rim of pupil; posterior margin of maxilla with distinct notch. Upper half of maxilla fitting within groove below suborbital ridge. Symphyseal knob absent from lower jaw. Upper and lower jaws with villiform teeth arranged in a band; vomer V-shaped, with villiform teeth; tooth band on palatine narrow. First dorsal fin originating above level of pectoral-fin base, with usually nine spines (rarely eight), gradually increasing in length to fifth spine. First and second dorsal fins well separated. Second dorsal fin with one spine and eight soft rays; first soft ray somewhat longer than spine. Second dorsal and anal fins opposite each other, nearly equal in length and height; origin of latter slightly posterior to that of former. Caudal fin rounded. Pectoral fin rounded, upper half somewhat longer than lower half; its tip not reaching to level of anus, usually with 20 - 22 rays (modally 21), the lower 3 - 8 rays unbranched. Coloration. In fresh condition, head and body reddish orange, white ventrally; faint dark red saddle below first and second dorsal fins, respectively; fins red, interradial membranes pale red; posterior half of caudal fin dark red. In preserved specimens, head and body pale brown; fins pale gray without any markings.
diagnosis
Diagnosis. Parabembras curta is distinguished from P. robinsoni in the absence of a symphyseal knob on the lower jaw (vs. distinct symphyseal knob in P. robinsoni), presence of a single preocular spine (vs. two preocular spines), and presence of two robust lachrymal spines (vs. a single robust lachrymal spine). It is further distinguished from P. multisquamata, in having 6 - 8 supraocular spines (vs. 9 - 11 supraocular spines in P. multisquamata); nine (rarely eight) spines in the first dorsal fin (vs. 10 spines); 34 - 39 pored lateral-line scales (vs. 40 - 44 pored lateral line scales).
distribution
Geographical distribution. Known from the western Pacific Ocean; Wakasa Bay of Sea of Japan and Kumano-nada, Pacific coast of Japan and Korea south to China and Taiwan (East China Sea, Yellow Sea, Bohai, and northern part of South China Sea) (Fig. 3). Benthic, on sandy mud substrate from depths of 60 - 141 m (Chu and Jin, 1963; Nakabo and Kai, 2013; present study).
materials_examined
Material examined. FAKU 12176, 12280, 12371, 14289, 41439, 41441, 41443, 41445 - 41447, 106.0 - 193.1 mm SL (10 specimens), East China Sea, coll. Matsui and Takai, 20 Oct. 1949; FAKU 34911, 145.5 mm SL (1), Yawatahama, Ehime, Japan, Kishida, Mar. 1962; FAKU 35093, 114.8 mm SL (1), Tosa Bay, Kochi, Japan,. K. Amaoka, Mar. 1962; FAKU 37892, 37893, 37897, 143.9 - 154.1 mm SL (3), Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi, Japan, N. Taniguchi, 10 Jun. 1965; FAKU 99918, 99919, 123.3 - 148.2 mm SL (2), Kii Ohshima, Wakayama, Japan; FAKU 101901, 123.3 mm SL (1), Tsushima, Nagasaki, Japan, 31 Jul. 1973; FAKU 144461, 144462, 94.8 - 135.4 mm SL, Dong-gang, Pingtung, Taiwan, F. Tashiro and M. Y. Lee; NMMBA 2820, 86.7 mm SL, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; NMMBA 8359, 87.9 mm SL, Dong-gang, Pingtung, Taiwan, 17 Mar. 2005; NMMBA 20313, 117.3 mm SL, Dong-gang, Pingtung, Taiwan, 25 May 2013.