Redescription of the ocellus-bearing cuskeel Neobythites kenyaensis (Ophidiidae), with new Southeast African records and remarks on intraspecific morphological and colour variation Author Uiblein, Franz Author Nielsen, Jørgen G. text Cybium 2019 43 1 109 116 http://dx.doi.org/10.26028/cybium/2019-431-011 journal article 10.26028/cybium/2019-431-011 2101-0315 12710307 Neobythites kenyaensis Nielsen, 1995 ( Figs 1-6 ; Tabs I , II) Neobythites kenyaensis Nielsen, 1995: 5 Neobythites kenyaensis : Nielsen, 2002: 37 Holotype . – SAIAB (earlier RUSI ) 13952, 124 mm SL, off Ras Ngomeni , Kenya , 2°50’S- 40°31’E , R / V Dr. Fridtjof Nansen , 275 m depth . Paratype . – BMNH 1939.5 .24.1439, female, 103+ mm SL, off Zanzibar , Tanzania , 5°34’24”S- 39°14’05”E ; R / V John Murray , 238-293 m depth . Other material ( n = 13; 12 specimens and one unvouchered photograph; 97-162+ mm SL). – Kenya : USNM 340896, 140 mm SL; off Ras Ngomeni , 2°56’S- 40°28’E , R / V Anton Bruun , 240 m depth ; Tanzania : ZMA 113428, 148 mm SL, off Dar es Salaam , 274-457 m depth ; Mozambique : SAIAB 82154 , 3 , 135-151 mm SL, 21°15’46”S- 35°39’41”E , R / V Dr. Fridtjof Nansen ( Station BT 70), 394-400 m depth ; SAIAB 98890 , two females , 97-102 mm SL, R / V Dr. Fridtjof Nansen ( Station BT 135), 12°41’43”S- 40°40’E , 292-296 m depth ; SAIAB 98891 , 3 females , 101-121 mm SL, 11°08’28”S- 40°46’11”E , R / V Dr. Fridtjof Nansen ( Station BT 136), 391-412 m depth ; SAM F033865 , female, 143 mm SL, 25°32’S- 34°19’E , R / V Algoa , 372 m depth ; South Africa : SAIAB 188287 , 162 + mm SL, off Tugela Bank , 29°07.5’S- 31°45.00’E , F/ V O�ean Spray , 300-350 m depth ; unvouchered photograph ( Fig. 2D ): SAIAB 95778, 148 mm SL, South Africa , Natal , off Durban , 29°54’54”S- 31°19’46”E , F/ V O�ean Spray , 427-435 m depth (photographer: Desmond Hayes). Diagnosis No spines on hind margin of preopercle; dorsal fin-rays 97-102; anal-fin rays 80-84; pectoral fin-rays 26-32; precaudal vertebrae 13; total vertebrae 55-59; pseudobranchial filaments 2-4; long gill rakers on anterior arch 8-10; head length 19.5-21.5% SL; pelvic-fin length 9.9-12.0% SL, pelvic fins reaching about halfway to anus; orbit length 4.3-5.3% SL, 22.0-30.5% head length, and 1.8-2.1 times in upper-jaw length; longest gill filament 1.4-2.3% SL and 6.9-12.0% head length; dorsal fin with two ocelli, the first one anterior of anus (“anterior ocellus”) and the other ocellus centrally on body well behind anus (“central ocellus”); anterior ocellus spot distance 29.5-34.5% SL, the spot covering 6-9 dorsal-fin rays; central ocellus-spot distance 53-57% SL, the spot covering 8-15 dorsal-fin rays; caudal fin entirely and dorsal and anal fins at least in their posterior parts dark pigment- ed; otolith length 4.9-5.8% SL, sulcus length 3.4-4.7% SL, ostium height 20.0-24.0% sulcus length, and ostium height 28.5-37.5% ostium length. Description (based on the two types , 12 additional specimens, and one unvouchered photograph) Rather elongate fish with complete but mostly indistinct lateral line; head and body covered with cycloid scales; origin of dorsal fin above proximal part of pectoral fin; origin of anal fin in front of midpoint of fish; tip of pectoral fins ending well in front of anal fin; pelvic fins reaching almost halfway to origin of anal fin; length of blunt snout about diam- eter of eye; upper jaw ending well posterior to eye; anterior nostril ending in a short tube and larger posterior nostril with a low ridge; no spines on preopercle; strong opercular spine; anterior gill arch with 2-3 blunt and two long rakers on upper branch; one long raker in angle and lower branch with 5-7 long (total long gill rakers 8-10) and 5-7 blunt rakers; gill filaments 1.1-1.4 times as long as longest gill rakers; distinct pseudobranchial filaments 2-4 (2-3).