Hippocampusjapapigu, a new species of pygmy seahorse from Japan, with a redescription of H.pontohi (Teleostei, Syngnathidae).

ABSTRACT: The pygmy seahorse Hippocampusjapapigusp. n. is described based on three specimens, 13.9-16.3 mm SL, collected from a mixed soft coral and algae reef at 11 m depth at Hachijo-jima Island, Izu Islands, Japan. The new taxon shares morphological synapomorphies with the previously described central Indo-Pacific pygmy seahorses, H.colemani, H.pontohi, H.satomiae, and H.waleananus, including extremely small size, 12 trunk rings, strongly raised continuous cleithral ring, snout spine, large spine on the eighth lateral and fifth and 12 superior trunk ridges, respectively, and unusual wing-like-protrusions immediately posterior to the head. Hippocampusjapapigusp. n. can be distinguished from all congeners by the following combination of features in t

SUBMITTER: Short G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6110155 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature