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Taxonomic review of the Sebastes inermis species complex (Scorpaeniformes: Scorpaenidae)

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Abstract

A taxonomic review of three color morphotypes of the Sebastes inermis species complex established the existence of three valid species, viz. S. inermis, S. ventricosus, and S. cheni. The complex is defined by having two sharp lachrymal spines, the head weakly armed with nasal, preocular, supraocular and parietal spines, and the caudal fin not distinctly emarginated. Sebastes inermis, known from southern Hokkaido southward to Kyushu, Japan, and the southern part of the Korean Peninsula, is characterized as follows: body dark red or light brown dorsally and laterally when fresh, pectoral fin extending beyond level of anus when depressed, pectoral-fin rays 15, anal-fin rays 7, pored lateral line scales 36–44 and gill rakers 31–37. Sebastes ventricosus, known from Iwate and Ishikawa Prefecture southward to Kyushu, Japan, and the southern part of the Korean Peninsula, is characterized as follows: body somewhat greenish-black dorsally and dark silver ventrally when fresh, pectoral-fin rays 16, anal-fin rays 7–8, pored lateral line scales 43–49, and gill rakers 35–39. Sebastes cheni, known from Iwate and Akita Pref. southward to Kyushu, Japan, and the southern part of the Korean Peninsula, is characterized as follows: body dark golden-brown dorsally and laterally when fresh, pelvic fin extending beyond anus when depressed, pectoral-fin rays 17, anal-fin rays 8, pored lateral line scales 37–46 and gill rakers 32–37. In the genetic analysis, the presence or absence of two AFLP fragments was completely fixed among the three species. Sebastes tokionis and S. guentheri are regarded as junior synonyms of S. inermis and S. ventricosus, respectively. A lectotype is designated for S. cheni, and a key to the three species of the S. inermis species complex provided.

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Acknowledgments

We are most grateful to K. Sakai (NMCI) for the help in collecting specimens and valuable discussions. We greatly appreciate A.V. Balushkin and V.V. Fedorov (ZIN), and M.J.P. van Oijen (RMNH) who facilitated our visits to examine specimens and obtain literature, and P. Bartsch (ZMB) for the provision of holotype data and photos. For loans of specimens, we sincerely thank D. Catania and W.N. Eschmeyer (CAS), S.L. Jewett and V.G. Springer (USNM), Y. Iwatsuki (MUFS) and I. Nakamura (formerly FAKU). Our appreciation is also extended to the following who helped in the collection of specimens: R. Doiuchi (Wakayama Prefectual Research Center of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries), J. Kataoka (Niigata Pref., Japan), H. Konishi and M. Morinaga (formerly Weekly Sunday Fishing), K. Nozaki (Okayama Pref., Japan), K. Mabuchi (Ocean Research Institute, University of Tokyo), M. Maeda (Nippon Suisan Kaisha, Ltd.), T. Sato (TOYO Giken), Y. Tainosho (Kyoto University), N. Yagishita (Nagasaki University) and anonymous sports fishermen. This study was supported in part by a Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B) from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (19770063).

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  1. Maizuru Fisheries Research Station, Field Science Education and Research Center, Kyoto University, Nagahama, Maizuru, Kyoto, 625-0086, Japan

    Yoshiaki Kai

  2. The Kyoto University Museum, Kyoto University, Yoshida, Sakyo, Kyoto, 606-8501, Japan

    Tetsuji Nakabo

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  1. Yoshiaki Kai
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  2. Tetsuji Nakabo
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Correspondence to Yoshiaki Kai.

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Kai, Y., Nakabo, T. Taxonomic review of the Sebastes inermis species complex (Scorpaeniformes: Scorpaenidae). Ichthyol Res 55, 238–259 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10228-007-0029-7

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