New record of the cuskeel genus Neobythites (Pisces, Ophidiidae) from the Solomon Sea with description of a new species and notes on colour patterns Author Uiblein, Franz Author Nielsen, Jørgen G. text Cybium 2021 45 2 83 88 http://dx.doi.org/10.26028/cybium/2021-452-001 journal article 10.26028/cybium/2021-452-001 2101-0315 12712488 3E6E0B6F-E657-4942-9D57-68661FB3D571 Neobythites solomonensis n. sp. – Striped Cuskeel ( Figs 1 , 2 ; Tab. I ) Holotype . – MNHN 2006-0322 , female, SL 166 mm , Solomon Sea, 8°57’S , 157°48’E , Camp. Salomon 2; 2004, RV Alis , st. cp2273, 732- 839 m , beam trawl, 5 Nov. 2004 . Paratypes (n = 4, SL 137-162 mm ). – MNHN 2002- 3834 , 2 specimens , SL 137-162 mm , Solomon Sea, 9°20’S , 159°56’E , Camp. Salomon 1 , RV Alis , st. cp1749, 582- 594 m , beam trawl, 25 Sep. 2001 ; MNHN 2002-3891 , SL 145 mm , Solomon Sea, 8°12’S , 160°41’E , Camp. Salomon 1 , RV Alis , st. dw1775, 498- 600 m , dredge, 28 Sep. 2001 ; MNHN 2006-0725 , female, SL 150 mm , Solomon Sea, 7°37’S , 157°45’E , Camp. Salomon 2, 2004 , RV Alis , st. cp2214, 550- 682 m , beam trawl, 26 Oct. 2004 . Figure 1. – Neobythites solomonensis n. sp. ; A , B : MNHN 2006-0322, HT, female, 166 mm SL; C , D : MNHN 2006-0725, PT, female, 150 mm SL (M. Krag). Diagnosis Hind margin of preoperculum with two spines; distal part of dorsal fin and posterior two thirds of anal fin mostly dark-brown greyish pigmented; pelvic fins not reaching beyond anus; distinct lateral body stripe at eye level from behind opercle to tail region; dark-brown or grey dorsal-fin margin; anal fin dark pigmented along posterior third; ocelli and dark vertical bars absent; dorsal fin-rays 100-109; anal fin-rays 84-90; pectoral fin-rays 27-28; precaudal vertebrae 13; total vertebrae 58-61; long rakers on anterior gill arch 12-14; longest filament on anterior gill arch 4.6-5.3% head length. Description The principal meristic and morphometric characters are shown in table I. The morphological description is mostly based on the holotype : Elongate fish with complete, brown lateral line running close to dorsal edge; head and body covered with deciduous scales; origin of dorsal fin above middle of pectoral fin; origin of anal fin slightly in front of midpoint of fish; snout blunt and equal in length to diameter of eye window; anterior nostril with a small tube and posterior nostril a mere hole; two spines on hind margin of preoperculum; opercular spine strong; anterior gill arch with two short and three long rakers on upper branch, one long raker in the angle and lower branch with ten long and seven short rakers ( paratypes with a total of 12-14 long and 7-9 short rakers); gill rakers on anterior arch 2-3 times the length of gill filaments. Pseudobranchial filaments indistinct.