DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES OF PUFFERFISH (TETRAODONTIFORMES: TETRAODONTIDAE) FROM THE RED SEA AND ADJACENT WATERS

ABSTRACT

A small brightly spotted pufferfish, distributed from the northern Red Sea through the Gulf of Aden at least to Zanzibar, is described as Torquigener flavimaculosus n.sp. Previously recorded from the Red Sea as Amblyrhynchotes hypselogenion (not of Bleeker), it differs from that species in having a larger eye diameter, longer caudal peduncle, more dense ventral spination, and a greater number of spines on the anterior margin of the branchial opening. Osteological examination supports inclusion of the new species in Torquigener Whitley. The moderately well-developed prootic medial prongs alone distinguish it from all other Torquigener species, in which this character is less clearly (or not at all) observed.