OSTORHINCHUS REGULA - (FRASER & RANDALL, 2003)
Actinopterygii (Gigaclass) > Actinopteri (Class) > Teleostei (Subclass) > Kurtiformes (Order) > Apogonidae (Family) > Apogoninae (Subfamily) > Ostorhinchus (Genus)
Synonyme
Apogon regula (Fraser & Randall, 2003)
--------------------------------
Description
Dorsal spines (total): 8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 8; Vertebrae: 24. Alternating golden-brownish and white stripes on head and body, broad dark brown stripes on upper and lower caudal peduncle, midlateral stripe without a developed spot, whitish stripe extending onto last two anal rays. Max length: 3.8 cm SL. Depth range: 27 - 55 m.
Etymology
Ostorhinchus: from Greek, osteon = bone + from Greek, rhynchos = beak. In reference to the bony jaws, very much advanced and jagged, which take the place of the teeth.
regula: from Latin, rego = I rule, I govern. For the pattern of alternating 3 broad (darker) stripes and 3 (lighter) narrow stripes on the caudal peduncle.
Original description: Apogon regula Fraser & Randall, 2003 - Type locality: Condor Reef, Caroline Islands, depth 55 meters.
Distribution
Guam and Caroline Islands, western Pacific. Reported from New Caledonia.
Similar species
Ostorhinchus angustatus (Smith & Radcliffe, 1911) - Reported from New Caledonia - Link to the species (here). The blackish stripes on the head and body of Ostorhinchus angustatus are crisp, about the same width as the whitish stripes and there is a dark basicaudal spot.
Ostorhinchus nigrofasciatus (Lachner, 1953) - Reported from New Caledonia - Link to the species (here). Ostorhinchus regula can be distinguished from Ostorhinchus nigrofasciatus by having slightly lower gill raker counts, an elongated last anal ray and brownish rather than blackish wider body stripes.
Synonyme
Apogon regula (Fraser & Randall, 2003)
--------------------------------
Description
Dorsal spines (total): 8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 8; Vertebrae: 24. Alternating golden-brownish and white stripes on head and body, broad dark brown stripes on upper and lower caudal peduncle, midlateral stripe without a developed spot, whitish stripe extending onto last two anal rays. Max length: 3.8 cm SL. Depth range: 27 - 55 m.
Etymology
Ostorhinchus: from Greek, osteon = bone + from Greek, rhynchos = beak. In reference to the bony jaws, very much advanced and jagged, which take the place of the teeth.
regula: from Latin, rego = I rule, I govern. For the pattern of alternating 3 broad (darker) stripes and 3 (lighter) narrow stripes on the caudal peduncle.
Original description: Apogon regula Fraser & Randall, 2003 - Type locality: Condor Reef, Caroline Islands, depth 55 meters.
Distribution
Guam and Caroline Islands, western Pacific. Reported from New Caledonia.
Similar species
Ostorhinchus angustatus (Smith & Radcliffe, 1911) - Reported from New Caledonia - Link to the species (here). The blackish stripes on the head and body of Ostorhinchus angustatus are crisp, about the same width as the whitish stripes and there is a dark basicaudal spot.
Ostorhinchus nigrofasciatus (Lachner, 1953) - Reported from New Caledonia - Link to the species (here). Ostorhinchus regula can be distinguished from Ostorhinchus nigrofasciatus by having slightly lower gill raker counts, an elongated last anal ray and brownish rather than blackish wider body stripes.