A new species of armored sea robin, Paraheminodus kamoharai (Teleostei: Peristediidae), from the Philippines

Abstract

A new peristediid, Paraheminodus kamoharai, is described from three specimens (106.9–114.8 mm SL) collected from the Sulu Sea, the Philippines. The new species is easily distinguished from its congeners (Paraheminodus laticephalus and P. murrayi) in having 33 bony plates in the upper lateral row, the 24–25th to 30th bony plate each in the upper lateral row with a forwardly directed spine, 17–19 gill rakers on the lower limb, a long slender rostral projection (43.4–47.0% of head length), and short upper (41.1–42.3%) and lower jaws (36.5–37.2%).