Ostichthys kinchi, a new species of soldierfish from New Ireland, Papua New Guinea, western Pacific Ocean (Teleostei: Holocentridae)

Abstract

A new species of soldierfish, Ostichthys kinchi from off northern New Ireland, Papua New Guinea, is described on the basis of a single male specimen collected with a trawl in 191-290 m depth near Kavieng. The new species is characterised by the following characters: scales above lateral line to mid-base of spinous portion of dorsal fin 3 1/2; no half-scale present anterior to first lateral-line scale; dorsal profile of head nearly uniformly convex; anterior end of each nasal bone in large specimen without sharp, forwardly directed spines; a small spine at corner of preopercle, which is only slightly larger than other serrations; pectoral-fin rays 17; lateral-line scales 28; gill rakers 7 + 9 ; last dorsal-fin spine slightly longer than penultimate spine; body depth 2.1 in SL; head length 2.4 in SL; snout very short, 6.5 in head length; least depth of caudal peduncle 4.8 in head length. The new species is compared with other species in the genus. A revised key to the species of Ostichthys is presented.