Pteropsaron Jordan & Snyder 1902

Pteropsaron sp.

(Figures 111–113)

Material: 6 specimens in total. Anda1 (2) RGM 962280, RGM 962281; Anda3 (2) RGM 962282, RGM 962283; Roxas (2) RGM 962284, RGM 962285.

Otoliths (OL:OH= 1.59–1.75) that are protruded to the posterior side, with a slightly bent ventral rim and a rounded dorsal rim. The anterior part of the dorsal rim is most curved, while the posterior part runs more straightly to a final part that obliquely bends before joining the ventral rim. The medial sulcus is elongate, but short and displays a central deepened part. The inner side is convex, except for a deep dorsal depression that marks the upper part of the dorsal field. A deep ventral furrow is present. The outside is smooth and flat to slightly concave in length direction.

The otoliths have the typical characteristics of the Hemerocoetidae. Of the presently known Hemerocoetidae they are most close to Pteropsaron neocaledonicus Fourmanoir & Rivaton, 1979 and Hemerocoetes monopterygius Schneider, 1801. The latter species differs from our specimen in the anterior part of the sulcus and by the absence of the posterior extension. Furthermore, the present occurrence of Hemerocoetes species is limited to New Zealand. Of the genus Pteropsaron only a picture of Pteropsaron neocaledonicus is known to us (Rivaton & Bourret, 1999), which has been encountered around New Caledonia, which are closer but not identical to our specimens. However, the otoliths of other Pteropsaron species that are encountered today around the Philippines, i.e., P. springeri Smith & Johnson, 2007, P. longipinnis Allen & Erdmann, 2012, the recently described P. dabfar Iwamoto, 2014, P. levitoni Iwamoto, 2014 and P. evolans Jordan & Snyder, 1902 from Taiwan / Korea are neither published nor at our disposal.