Journal of the
Ocean Science Foundation

An open-access free online peer-reviewed Marine Biology Journal, since 2008.

published by the Ocean Science Foundation

 
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RESEARCH ARTICLE

Three new species of sand lances (Perciformes: Ammodytidae) from the southwest Indian Ocean

John E. Randall & Hitoshi Ida

Abstract

Protammodytes ventrolineatus is described as a new species of sand lance (Ammodytidae) from a single specimen from a trawl haul in 240 m (the deepest record for the family) on the Saya de Malha Bank in the southwest Indian Ocean. It has 36 dorsal-fin rays (the lowest count in the family), 16 anal-fin rays, ten scales dorsally on opercle, no teeth in the jaws; a large eye (6.4% SL), and long pelvic fins (3.75 in HL; the longest in the genus; absent in most species). We also describe Bleekeria profunda from a single specimen taken in the same trawl haul: it has 49 dorsal-fin rays (other species of the genus with fewer than 43), 16 pectoral-fin rays (other species with 15), teeth present in the jaws, short pelvic fins (4.2 in HL), and 151 lateral-line scales (other species with fewer than 118). The third new species, Bleekeria estuaria, named for its unusual habitat for an ammodytid, the Pomene Estuary in Mozambique, has 42 dorsal-fin rays, 15 anal-fin rays, 14 pectoral-fin rays (other species with 15), a short head (4.9 in SL vs. 4.75 in SL shortest for congeners), long pectoral fins (5.7 in SL vs. 7.35 in SL longest for congeners), no pelvic fins, 99 lateral-line scales, a single scale dorsally on the preopercle, two scales dorsally on the opercle, and teeth present in the jaws.

     

CITATION:

Randall, J.E. & Ida, H. (2014) Three new species of sand lances (Perciformes: Ammodytidae) from the southwest Indian Ocean. Journal of the Ocean Science Foundation, 12, 1-11.

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1049125

publication date: 18 September 2014