Gurnards of the Genus Lepidotrigla (Triglidae) of Nha Trang Bay and Adjacent Water Areas (Vietnam, South China Sea). Species with Short Pectoral Fins

• Published in: Journal of ichthyology Vol. 62; no. 5; pp. 715 - 738
• Main Author: Prokofiev, A. M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Moscow Pleiades Publishing 01.10.2022; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Biomedical and Life Sciences; Fins; Ichthyofauna; Lepidotrigla; Lepidotrigla deasoni; Life Sciences; New records; Sharks; Species; Taxonomic revision; Taxonomy; Zoology; South China Sea; Vietnam; Scorpaeniformes; taxonomy; faunistics; Western Pacific; identification key
• ISSN: 0032-9452; 1555-6425
• DOI: 10.1134/S0032945222050125

An overview of gurnards of the genus Lepidotrigla in Nha Trang Bay and adjacent waters is given. In this water area, six species with short pectoral fins that do not extend beyond the sixth ray of the anal fin were found: L. deasoni , L. firmisquamis , L. marisinensis , L. punctipectoralis , L. cf. spiloptera and L. venusta . Their detailed illustrated descriptions are presented. Species L. deasoni and L. marisinensis are recorded for the first time in the ichthyofauna of Vietnam. A number of differences between the Vietnamese specimens and typical L. spiloptera from the Indo-Australian waters is revealed, which do not allow to exclude that the Vietnamese material belongs to an undescribed species. In addition to these species, representatives of the genus with long pectoral fins are known in the studied area, which belong to the “ L. japonica ” group of species, whose taxonomy needs a serious revision. A key is compiled to identify species of Lepidotrigla known from the South China Sea.