IWAMOTO: NEW HEMEROCOETINE TRICHONOTIDAE FROM THE PHILIPPINES 255 
species, but the poor state of the known specimens of P. natalensis and the three specimens of 
R dabfar preclude any statement as such until additional specimens of both species can be com¬ 
pared. Pteropsaron formosensis (Kao and Shen, 1985) also agrees in many respects with the new 
species. The major differences appear to be in the absence in that species of a snout barbel, short¬ 
er dorsal spines, and a rounded caudal fin (vs. emarginated with upper lobe elongated). Fresh col¬ 
oration is also quite different between the two species, most notably with P. formosensis having a 
bright longitudinal yellow stripe along the midbody bordered above and below with blue stripes 
and a broken yellow stripe dorsolaterally (see Suzuki, Senou, and Nomura 1996: figs. 1-2). 
Pteropsaron levitoni Iwamoto, sp. nov. 
Figures 4-6, Tables 2, 3. 
Type specimens. — Holotype: CAS 236401 (23.7 mm SL); HEPD-026 (data as for P. dab- 
far). Paratypes: CAS 236399 (6, 19.8-27.9 mm SL); same data as for holotype. Non-type speci¬ 
men: CAS 236402 (1, 24.5 mm SL; cleared and stained); same data as for holotype. 
Diagnosis. — D IV-V + 19-20; A 24-25; P 19; V 1,5; vertebrae 33 including hypural, gill rak¬ 
ers on lower limb of first arch 9 or 10. Spinous dorsal fin elongated, first spine reaching to middle 
of second dorsal fm or somewhat beyond. None of soft-dorsal or anal-fm rays elongated. Tubed lat¬ 
eral line scales about 30-32; slightly crenulated or incised above and below lateral-line tube. Short 
obtuse spine at anterior end of each maxilla scarcely or not protruding through skin; no barbel at 
tip of upper jaw. Small patch of teeth laterally at tip of vomer, separated mesially by a large gap; 
palatine teeth absent. 
Description. — Body moderately compressed anteriorly over trunk, becoming more com¬ 
pressed towards tail (Figs. 4-6); head cylindrical, slightly depressed, wider than deep. Snout point¬ 
ed, 0.5-0.6 of orbit diameter. Orbits large, deeply incised into top of skull, pupil with narrow apha¬ 
kic space anteriorly, and a small pupillary lappet; bony interorbital very narrow, at narrowest point 
about Mo* of orbit diameter. Upper and lower jaws about equal; maxilla extending to below middle 
of orbit. Anterior nostril a short raised tube; posterior nostril a simple pore. Opercular flap mem¬ 
branous, overlapping entire base of pectoral fm; two narrow bony ridges dorsally on opercle con¬ 
verging posteriorly in a tiny spine, scarcely if at all piercing skin; posterodorsal margin of opercu¬ 
lar bones minutely or scarcely fringed. Tongue narrow with spatulate tip. Gill rakers short, broad 
based, about 9 or 10 on lower limb of first arch; pseudobranchs well developed. Branchiostegal 
rays 7. 
Figure 4. Pteropsaron levitoni sp. nov. CAS 236401 (holotype, 23.7 mm SL); Philippines: between Luzon and Mindoro 
islands in 82-86 m. (Upper) Lateral view (photograph by Jon D. Fong); (lower) dorsolateral view (photograph by Alan E. 
Leviton) 
