Kentrocapros flavimaculatus is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Aracanidae, the temperate boxfishes or deepwater boxfishes. This species is found in the southwestern Pacific Ocean around New Zealand and was first formally described in 2023.
| Kentrocapros flavimaculatus | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Tetraodontiformes |
| Family: | Aracanidae |
| Genus: | Kentrocapros |
| Species: | K. flavimaculatus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Kentrocapros flavimaculatus | |
Taxonomy
editKentrocapros flavimaculatus was first formally described in 2023 by the Japanese ichthyologist Toshiji Kamohara with its type locality given as Macauley Island, Rangitāhua Kermadec Islands in New Zealand.[1] The 5th edition of Fishes of the World classifies the genus Kentrocapros in the family Aracanidae which is in the suborder Ostracioidea within the order Tetraodontiformes.[2]
Etymology
editKentrocapros flavimaculatus is classified within the genus Kentrocapros, a name which combines kentro meaning "thorn" or "spine", a reference to the spiny ridge along the flanks of the type species, K. aculeatus, with capros, meaning "wild boar". This may allude to these fishes being known as seapigs in the 19th Century, probably an allusion to the resemblance of these fishes on a rear view to a pig. The specific name, flavimaculatus, means "yellow spotted" and refers to the numerous yellow spots on this fish's body.[3]
Description
editKentrocapros flavimaculatus has 10 soft rays in the dorsal fin, 9 in the anal fin and 12 in the pectoral fin. The body is encased in a hard carapace, except for the head and caudal peduncle. The carapace has three ridges on each side, with a spine in the centre of the uppermost ridge on each side, and the carapace is made up of hexagonal sculptured plate-like scales which are “stitched” together. The body is marked along its flanks by yellow spots on a dark grey background, this fades towards the belly. The lips are red. The largest specimen had a standard length of 11.4 cm (4.5 in).[4]
Distribution and habitat
editKentrocapros flavimaculatus Is known from only two specimens, the holotype from the Kermadec Islands and the paratype from the Tasman Sea 700 km (430 mi) north of Cape Reinga on the North Island of New Zealand. These specimens were collected at depths between 145 and 172 m (476 and 564 ft).[4]
References
edit- ^ Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Species in the genus Kentrocapros". Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
- ^ Nelson, J.S.; Grande, T.C.; Wilson, M.V.H. (2016). Fishes of the World (5th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons. pp. 518–526. doi:10.1002/9781119174844. ISBN 978-1-118-34233-6. LCCN 2015037522. OCLC 951899884. OL 25909650M.
- ^ Christopher Scharpf (21 August 2024). "Order TETRAODONTIFORMES: Families MOLIDAE, BALISTIDAE, MONACANTHIDAE, ARACANIDAE and OSTRACIIDAE". Christopher Scharpf. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
- ^ a b Keiichi Matsuura (2023). "A New Boxfish of the Genus Kentrocapros Collected from New Zealand (Acanthopterygii, Tetraodontiformes, Aracanidae)". Bulletin of the National Museum of Nature and Science, Series A. 49 (4): 191–196. doi:10.50826/bnmnszool.49.4_191.