Neobythites malayanus Weber 1913

Neobythites malayanus Weber, 1913

(Figures 1–2, Tables 1, 3)

Neobythites malayanus: Nielsen 2002: 48, fig. 39.

Lectotype. ZMA 110.841 (male, 137 mm SL), off Sumbawa, Indonesia, Western Pacific, 8°19' S 117°41' E, RV Siboga, st. 312, trawl, 274 m depth, 14 Feb. 1900.

Paralectotypes. ZMA 110.841 (3 females and 1 male, 87–148 mm SL), same data as for the lectotype.

Non-types (n = 39, 76– 199 mm SL). CAS 33088, male, 140 mm SL, Luzon Is., Philippines, 220–238 m depth, 19 Jul. 1966; CAS 56373 (male), 140 mm SL, southeast of Salomague Is., Philippines, 287–313 m depth, 20 Oct. 1960; MNHN 1995-915 (3 females, 84–159 mm SL), Vanuatu, West Pacific, 15°7'1" S, 166°55'12" E, MUSORSTOM 8, st. CP 1123, trawl, 262–352 m depth, 9 Oct. 1994; MNHN 1995-918 (female, 119 mm SL), and MNHN 1995-921 (male, 88 mm SL), Vanuatu, West Pacific, 15°6'58" S, 166°53'25" E, MUSORSTOM 8, st. CP 1121, trawl, 315–360 m depth, 9 Oct. 1994; USNM 99054 (6 females and 1 male, 114–129 mm SL), and ZMUC P771288–90 (3 females, 95–112 mm SL), Uanivan Is., Philippines, 6°50'45" N, 126°14'38" E, RV Albatross, st. 5241, trawl, 393 m depth, 14 May 1908; USNM 99127 (male, 199 mm SL), Bongo Is., Philippines, 7°21'45" N, 124°7'15" E, RV Albatross, st. 5256, trawl, 289 m depth, 22 May 1908; USNM 99128 (female and male, 76–128 mm SL), between Leyte and Cebu, Philippines, 11°10' N, 124°17'15" E, RV Albatross, st. 5403, trawl, 333 m depth, 16 Mar. 1909; USNM 99129 (2 females, 133–143 mm SL), between Cebu and Leyte, Philippines, 10°40'15" N, 124°15' E, RV Albatross, st. 5408, trawl, 291 m depth, 18 Mar. 1909; USNM 99130 (2 females, 2 males and 1 unsexed, 85–161 mm SL), Uanivan Is., Philippines, 6°50'55" N, 126°14'35" E, RV Albatross, st. 5243, trawl, 399 m depth, 14 Mar. 1908; USNM 99131 (female and male, 141–153 mm SL), Verde Is., Philippines, 13°44'36" N, 120°59'15" E, RV Albatross, st. 5266, trawl, 183 m depth, 8 June 1908; USNM 99132 (female and male, 132–143 mm SL), Pescador Is., Philippines, 9°44' N, 123°14'20" E, RV Albatross, st. 5188, trawl, 549 m, 1 Apr. 1908; USNM 99133 (2 females and 3 males, 131–173 mm SL), Pescadore Is., Philippines, 9°56'30'' N, 123°15' E, RV Albatross, st. 5189, trawl, 549 m depth, 1 Apr. 1908; USNM 99138 (female, 154 mm SL), off Leyte, Philippines, 10°50' N, 124°26'18" E, RV Albatross, st. 5404, trawl, 348 m depth, 17 Mar. 1909; USNM 99150 (female and male, 119+– 129 mm SL), between Leyte and Cebu, Philippines, 11°11'45" N, 124°15'45" E, RV Albatross, st. 5402, trawl, 344 m depth, 16 Mar. 1909; ZMUC P77741–42 (female and male, 138–171+ mm SL), Saleh Bay, SE of Lombok, 8°58’ S 116°34’ E, JETINDOFISH, st. TGT 1897, bottom trawl, 180–300 m depth, Jul. 1981.

Diagnosis. Indistinct or flat spine on hind margin of preopercle; dorsal fin-rays 90–96; anal-fin rays 74–79; pectoral fin-rays 26–28; precaudal vertebrae 12–13 (mostly 13); total vertebrae 54–57; pseudobranchial filaments 2–4; long gill rakers on anterior arch 8–11; head length 21.5–28.0 % SL; pelvic-fin length 13.5–20.0 % SL, pelvic fins not reaching anus; orbit length 4.2–5.6 % SL, 16.0–23.5 % head length, and 2.2–2.7 times in upper-jaw length; longest gill filament 1.3–3.8 % SL and 5.2–13.5 % head length; ocellus spot placed behind a vertical line through anus, the ocellus-spot distance being 42.5–52 % SL, and the spot covering 6–10 dorsal-fin rays; margins of posterior quarter of dorsal fin and posterior two thirds of anal fin dark pigmented; no vertical bars on body; otolith length 5.1–5.3 % SL, sulcus length 3.3–4.1 % SL, and ostium height 21.0–25.5 % sulcus length.

Distribution. Indonesia, Philippines, and Vanuatu, at 180–549 m depth.