Laeops sinusarabici Chabanaud 1968

Laeops sinusarabici Chabanaud, 1968

(Fig. 14)

Material examined. SMF 35090 (5: 6.6–9.3 cm); SMF 35091 (8: 7.8–10.7 cm); KAUMM 136 (5: 5.6–8.6 cm); KAUMM 137 (3: 7.7–9.6 cm); KAUMM 138 (8: 7.8–9.8 cm).

Remarks. Goren & Dor (1994) listed Laeops kitaharae (Smith & Pope, 1906) in their checklist based on examined material by Dor (1970) from Eritrea. Chabanaud’s (1968) description of his new species Laeops sinusarabici was omitted by Goren & Dor (1994), but later Desoutter et al. (2001) placed this species in synonymy of Grammatobothus krempfi Chabanaud, 1929, however they did not give a reason for the synonymy. The holotype of G. krempfi (MNHN 1947-0019) has 82 rays in dorsal fin, 66 rays in anal fin, and a body depth of about 2 in SL, which is out of range known for the genus Laeops, which is characterized in having a slender body (body depth 2.2-3.2 in SL) and high count of rays in dorsal and anal fins (83–116 and 67-96, respectively) (Hensley & Amaoka 2001; D. Hensley, unpublished data). Laeops sinusarabici clearly differs from deep-bodied Grammatobothus in combination of these 3 characters: 87–97 rays in dorsal fin, 70–75 rays in anal fin, and body depth 2.2–2.6 in SL. Golani & Bogorodsky (2010) listed the species in their checklist based on Dannie Hensley’s personal communication. Patrice Pruvost of the Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle (MNHN) provided X-rays of the specimen that is listed as the holotype of Laeops sinusarabici in the catalog (MNHN 1966-369). Characters as observed on these X-rays, which were examined by the first author and from the original description given by Chabanaud (1968), were found to match with the material caught off Jizan. Our comparison with other species of the genus leads us to conclude that Laeops sinusarabici is a valid species, endemic to the Red Sea. Herein we provide a description of trawled specimens.

Description. Dorsal-fin rays 89–95; anal-fin rays 70–74; pectoral-fin rays on ocular side 12–14; lateral-line scales 84–89 (two scales on the base of caudal fin excluded from count); scales cycloid; head scaled, including cheek; interorbital space naked; gill rakers very short, 0 + 7–8; body depth 2.3–2.5 in SL; head length 4.4–5.6 in SL; dorsal profile of head above and posterior to eyes slightly convex; upper eye reaching dorsal profile of head, lower eye in advance of upper; interorbital space very narrow, 14.3–18.7 in head length; snout short (measured from tip of snout to anterior margin of upper eye), 4.5–5.7 in head length; upper-eye horizontal diameter 3.1–3.3 in head length; maxilla reaching to below anterior edge of lower eye, upper-jaw length 4.0– 4.5 in head length; teeth very small, needle-like, on blind side of both jaws only, in 3 irregular rows; origin of dorsal fin slightly behind posterior nostril of blind side; anterior rays of dorsal fin subequal, not prolonged, second ray 3.2–4.4 in head length; distance between second and third rays two times greater than between third and fourth rays; pectoral fin on ocular side shorter than head length, 1.5–2.0 in head length.

Color (when fresh): ocular side tan, without markings, dorsal and anal fins darker distally; caudal fin dark.