Owstonia aurora (Perciformes: Cepolidae: Owstoniinae), a new bandfish from the Philippines

Abstract

Owstonia aurora sp. nov. is described on the base of three specimens (69.8-88.0 mm in standard length) collected off East Luzon during the "Aurora 2007" Philippine Expedition. The new species differs from its congeners by the following combination of characters: dorsal-fin elements III, 21; anal-fin elements I, 14; gill rakers on first arch 35-38; cheek with 80-86 scales in 7-8 rows; lateral line without branch, not forming loop in front of dorsal-fin, ending below 17th to 22th dorsal-fin soft rays; oblique body scale rows in mid-lateral series 54-58; lower margin of preopercle rounded; prominent black blotch on anterior dorsal-fin membrane, and extend downward to dorsal-fin base, remaining membrane of dorsal, anal, and caudal fins red with white margins and bases, distinct white stripes on mid dorsal and caudal fin membranes; membranes between maxillary and premaxillary with discontinuous black stripes or patches.