Conger philippinus Kanazawa 1958

Conger philippinus Kanazawa, 1958

Figs. 3E, 7; Table 2

Conger philippinus Kanazawa, 1958:255, pl. 1, fig. K (Type locality: Market in Cebu, Philippines. Holotype: USNM 134969).

Specimens examined. 8 specimens, 232‒421 mm TL. Taiwan. * NMMB-P22425 (1, 347), Ke-tzu-liao, Kaohsiung, 11 Feb. 2015. * NMMB-P23575 (1, 421), Dong-gang, Pingtung, 9 Aug. 2016. Philippines. USNM 134969 (1, 232, holotype), Cebu market, 22 Mar 1909. Vietnam. * NMMB-P12317 (1, 378), Hanoi, 9 Apr. 2011. * NMMB-P17943 (2, 305‒403), Phan Thiet, 29 May 2012. USNM 399971 (2, 262‒277), Mui, 28 Jan 2010.

Diagnosis. DFO well behind tip of pectoral fin. Usually two rows of teeth on each jaw; 0‒8 in inner row of maxillary, ca. 20 in inner row of dentary. Vertebrae 131‒133 (127‒135 from outside Taiwan). Vertical fins white anteriorly and grayish posterior with clear white margins.

Description. See Table 1 for morphometric data. Lateral-line pores: prepectoral 4‒5; predorsal 15‒17; preanal 36‒37; total 127‒127. Head pores: SO 4, IO 6 (5 on upper jaw + 1 behind rictus), POM 9 (6 on lower jaw, 3 behind rictus), ST 1. Vertebrae: predorsal 16‒17; preanal 36‒37; total 131‒133; MVF 17-37-132.

DFO well behind pectoral fin. Angle of jaw before posterior margin of eye, 6th IO pore at level of and more than one pore diameter behind rictus. Usually two rows of teeth on each jaw; upper jaw with 0‒8 teeth on inner row; lower jaw with ca. 20 small teeth on inner row extending to anterior third of length of outer row (Fig. 3E).

When preserved, most dorsal and lateral surfaces uniformly pale in small specimens, lightly grayish in large specimens, ventral surface slightly paler; pectoral fin pale in small specimens, grayish on upper portion and pale on lower portion in large specimens; throat and upper lip pale; median fins mostly white, posterior portion blackish with white margin, caudal fin blackish with white margins.

*Data of specimens collecting from Taiwan, China and Japan.

Maximum size at least 421 mm TL.

Distribution. Known from the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam. Kanazawa (1958) tentatively referred literature references from the East Indies and Fiji to this species, but those records need to be confirmed.

Remarks. This is a relatively small species; the largest specimen examined was 421 mm TL. It can be distinguished by its posterior DFO and by having a white margin through the entire length of the vertical fins and relatively few total vertebrae, 131‒133 (127‒135 from outside Taiwan). It is common in bycatch of trawls in Vietnam based on HH’s observation. Few differences are found between Taiwanese and Vietnamese specimens. The preanal length and trunk length are slightly longer and the tail length is slightly shorter in two Taiwanese specimens compared to three Vietnamese specimens examined (Table 2). The fresh color is quite yellow in Vietnamese specimens, whereas Taiwanese specimens are relatively grayish. These differences are treated as individual variation temporarily. More specimens are needed for further study.