MAROUBRA YASUDAI, A NEW SPECIES OF PIPEFISH (SYNGNATHIDAE) FROM HONSHU ISLAND, JAPAN

Abstract

A new species of gastrophorine (trunk-pouch) pipefish, characterized, in part, by having the lateral trunk ridge continuous with the confluent lateral and superior tail ridges and by the presence of spine-like points on the principal body ridges, is described from rocky marine habitats in depths of 28--30 m. Maroubra yasudai differs from its only congener, the endemic Australian M. perserrata Whitley, in having more trunk rings (22-23 versus 16-17) and dorsal-fin rays (33-36 versus 23-26), in other meristic and morphological features, and in attaining a larger size (ca. 162 mm SL versus 72 mm SL).