Redescription of Chlorophthalmus corniger, a senior synonym of Chlorophthalmus bicornis (Family: Chlorophthalmidae)

Abstract

Chlorophthalmus corniger is redescribed on the basis of recently collected specimens. The species isredefined as a species of Chlorophthalmus with the lower jaw terminating in a distinctly projectinghorizontal plate with strong, spine-like processes directed forward from the plate’s corners; bodysilvery grey, with numerous minute black spots and traces of broad darker crossbars; base ofanterior dorsal fin spines and distal parts of dorsal fins black; adipose fin tiny with numerousblack spots; caudal fin black; 3·5 scales above lateral line; three rows of cheek scales; head verylarge, 34·3–40·1% standard length (LS); eye large, 29·8–40·8% head length (LH); pectoral fin long,extending to beyond dorsal fin base, 21·7–26·2% LS. Chlorophthalmus bicornis is a junior synonymof C. corniger based on the examination of the type series of both species. It is confined to thenorthern half of the Indian Ocean, reliably recorded from Somalia and the Gulf of Aden to southernJava, Indonesia, at depths between 200 and 500 m. A lectotype and three paralectotypes weredesignated for C. corniger. DNA barcodes for Indian species of Chlorophthalmus were generated