identifier	taxonID	type	CVterm	format	language	title	description	additionalInformationURL	UsageTerms	rights	Owner	contributor	creator	bibliographicCitation
039287FEFC26FF8076BAEEFAFA2C9249.text	039287FEFC26FF8076BAEEFAFA2C9249.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Neobythites Goode & Bean 1885	<div><p>The four species groups of  Neobythites (see also Table 1)</p><p>-  australiensis group: species with a single ocellus, two pre-opercular spines, and pelvic fins not reaching anus. Four species belong to this group:  Neobythites superocellatus n. sp.,  N. australiensis,  N. nigriventris, and  N. unimaculatus .</p><p>-  kenyaensis group: species with two ocelli, a central ocellus and an ocellus placed close to dorsal-fin origin, with zero, one, or two preopercular spines, and pelvic fins not reaching anus. Three species belong to this group:  Neobythites japonicus n. sp.,  N. kenyaensis, and  N. ocellatus .</p><p>-  longiventralis group: species with one or two ocelli on dorsal fin, zero, one, or two preopercular spines, and pelvic fins extending beyond anus. Four species belong to this group:  Neobythites jonathan n. sp.,  N. zora n. sp.,  N. longiventralis, and  N. longipes . The latter species was moved to this group after having originally been included in the  steatiticus group (Uiblein &amp; Nielsen 2018).</p><p>-  steatiticus group: species with single ocellus, zero or one pre-opercular spine, and pelvic fins not reaching anus. This group includes nine species:  Neobythites pako n. sp.,  N. gloriae Uiblein &amp; Nielsen,  N. lombokensis Uiblein &amp; Nielsen,  N. malayanus Weber,  N. malhaensis Nielsen,  N. meteori Nielsen,  N. monocellatus,  N. steatiticus Alcock, and  N. stefanovi Nielsen &amp; Uiblein.</p><p>Key to the four species groups</p><p>1 One or several ocelli on dorsal fin........................................................................ 2</p><p>- No ocelli on dorsal fin...... 30 non-ocellus bearing species (28 species listed in Uiblein &amp; Nielsen 2005, plus  N. machidai Ohashi, Nielsen &amp; Yabe and  N. solomonensis Uiblein &amp; Nielsen)</p><p>2 A central ocellus with no posterior ocellus on dorsal fin or with a posterior ocellus and pelvic fins extending beyond anus.. 3</p><p>- At least one posterior ocellus and pelvic fins not extending beyond anus................. 10 ungrouped species (Table 1)</p><p>3 Pelvic fins not extending beyond anus.................................................................... 4</p><p>- Pelvic fins extending beyond anus.................................................  longiventralis species group</p><p>4 A central ocellus and no anterior or posterior ocellus......................................................... 5</p><p>- A central ocellus and an anterior ocellus, no posterior ocellus...............................  kenyaensis species group</p><p>5 2 preopercular spines.............................................................  australiensis species group</p><p>- 0–1 preopercular spines.............................................................  steatiticus species group</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/039287FEFC26FF8076BAEEFAFA2C9249	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Uiblein, Franz;Nielsen, Jørgen G.	Uiblein, Franz, Nielsen, Jørgen G. (2023): Five new ocellus-bearing species of the cusk-eel genus Neobythites (Ophidiidae, Ophidiiformes) from the West Pacific, with establishment of three new species groups. Zootaxa 5336 (2): 179-205, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5336.2.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5336.2.2
039287FEFC26FF8476BAEABEFA2B9474.text	039287FEFC26FF8476BAEABEFA2B9474.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Neobythites superocellatus Uiblein & Nielsen 2023	<div><p>Neobythites superocellatus n. sp.</p><p>urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 272BB7BA-1893-4050-997A-93324EAC7F36</p><p>Figures 1–3, Tables 1–2</p><p>Holotype. MNHN 2021-0457, 95 mm SL, Solomon Sea, 9°48′6″S, 160°50′8″E, Salomon 1 cruise, R / V Alis, st. DW 1824, Waren dredge, 298–318 m depth, 4 Oct. 2001.</p><p>Paratypes (n =3, 79–98 mm SL). MNHN 2002-3758, 2, 79–90 mm SL, same collecting data as for holotype;  MNHN 2002-3654, 98 mm SL, Solomon Sea, 10°12′1″S, 161°19′3″E, Salomon 1 cruise,  R / V Alis, st. CP 1831, beam trawl, 135–325 m depth, 5 Oct. 2001 .</p><p>Fresh colour photo (Fig. 2).  Two adult specimens (sample not retained, size not known) photographed together with entire beam-trawl catch, Solomon Sea, 07°44′S, 158°30′E, Salomon 2 cruise, R / V Alis, st. CP 2200, beam trawl, 325–331 m depth, 25 Oct. 2004 (see also Richer de Forges 2004) .</p><p>Diagnosis. Hind margin of preopercle with two blunt spines; dorsal-fin rays 98–104; anal-fin rays 85–88; pectoral-fin rays 26–27; precaudal vertebrae 13; total vertebrae 58–60; pseudobranchial filaments 4; long rakers on anterior gill arch 14–15; head length 21–22% SL; pelvic-fin length 11–14% SL, fins not reaching anus; orbit length 4.6–5.1% SL and 22–24% HL; longest gill filament 0.8–1.4% SL and 3.7–6.6% HL; dorsal fin with large central ocellus placed well behind vertical line through anus, spot distance 51–54% SL and spot covers 15–17 dorsal-fin rays and extending ventrally to body covering 5 to 7 vertical-scale rows; dorsal half of ocellus in fresh specimens black, ventral half (extension to body) dark brown, connecting ventrally to brown vertical bar; dorsal fin and body anteriorly of ocellus two to three vertical bars, posteriorly more darkly pigmented; preserved specimens with dark-brown, ventrally less conspicuous ocellus, anterior part of lateral line brown, no vertical bars on body; otolith length 5.1–5.8% SL, sulcus length 3.6–4.7% SL, and ostium height 19–21% sulcus length and 28–30% ostium length.</p><p>Description. Principal meristic and morphometric characters are shown in Table 2. Morphological and preserved colour description based on HT, if not indicated otherwise. Elongate fish with tapering tail; head and body covered with deciduous scales; origin of dorsal fin above posterior half of pectoral fin; origin of anal fin well in front of midpoint of fish; protruding snout blunt, equal in length to diameter of eye; two blunt spines on posterior margin of preopercle (due to damage, lower spine missing on left side in holotype); opercular spine pointed; anterior gill arch on both sides with one short and four long rakers on upper branch, one long raker at angle and, nine long and six short rakers on lower branch; longest filaments on anterior gill arch 6.6 % HL; four small pseudobranchial filaments; longest gill raker on anterior gill arch 15 % HL.</p><p>Sagittal otolith (Fig. 3A). Otolith slightly oval, almost rounded, its depth 1.4 times in its length; sulcus 1.2 times in otolith length; ostium 1.4 times in sulcus length; ostium depth 4.7 times in sulcus length and 3.4 times in ostium length.</p><p>Dentition. Premaxillaries, palatines, and dentaries with many small, pointed, close-set teeth in irregular rows; vomer boomerang-shaped with many small, pointed teeth; two median basibranchial tooth patches, anterior one long and narrow and posterior one small and circular.</p><p>Axial skeleton. Precaudal vertebrae 13, all with pointed tip; anterior neural spine almost half as long as second spine; spines on vertebrae 3–8 depressed; parapophyses present on vertebrae 7–13, pleural ribs on vertebrae 3–13, and epipleural ribs indistinct; bases of neural spines 3–13 enlarged.</p><p>Colour. Fresh fish (Fig. 2). Head and body with pale-pink background colour, belly white; head behind and above eye with two brown bands; central ocellus well behind vertical line through anus, ocellus spot surrounded almost entirely by a broad pale whitish-rose ring, spot diameter about three times orbit length, upper half of spot on dorsal fin black, its dark-brown lower half extending down to body, connected at ventral-spot margin with similarly coloured vertical bar which reaches ventral body margin; two to three crescent-shaped bars extending from dorsal fin to body anterior of ocellus, black on dorsal fin and becoming brown on body, the posterior-most bar bordering the central ocellus ring; dark spot on dorsal fin posterior to ocellus connecting to brown area behind and below on body, latter pigmentation along dorsal margin of body, reaching down towards ventral body margin in form of two brown bars, one anterior bar shorter and crescent shaped, bordering ocellus ring, posterior bar thinner and longer; anal fin pale brown, becoming pale transparent towards posterior end; posterior end of dorsal fin and caudal fin pale transparent.</p><p>Preserved fish (Fig. 1A). Body and head mostly pale brown, head anterior and posterior of orbit with beige-brown pigmentation patches, lateral line beige-brown in its anterior half, belly whitish; central ocellus placed well behind vertical line through anus, ocellus spot diameter at least three times orbit length, spot covers 17 dorsal-fin rays (14–18 in PT’s) and extends onto body, covering six horizontal scale rows (5–7 in PT’s); dorsal part of ocellus spot on dorsal fin dark brown, ventral part on body pale brown, but shape of both ocellus spot and ring not fully retained; dorsal fin anterior and posterior of ocellus mostly brown or brown scattered with the pale-whitish ocellus ring well visible, while being inconspicuous on body; anal and caudal fins pale transparent; no vertical bars on body.</p><p>Etymology. The specific name refers to the large dorsal-fin ocellus.</p><p>Distribution and size. W Pacific, Central and SE Solomon Sea at 135–331 m depth. Known up to 98 mm SL.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/039287FEFC26FF8476BAEABEFA2B9474	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Uiblein, Franz;Nielsen, Jørgen G.	Uiblein, Franz, Nielsen, Jørgen G. (2023): Five new ocellus-bearing species of the cusk-eel genus Neobythites (Ophidiidae, Ophidiiformes) from the West Pacific, with establishment of three new species groups. Zootaxa 5336 (2): 179-205, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5336.2.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5336.2.2
039287FEFC2DFF8B76BAEEB2FAD6941E.text	039287FEFC2DFF8B76BAEEB2FAD6941E.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Neobythites australiensis Nielsen 2002	<div><p>Neobythites australiensis Nielsen, 2002</p><p>Figure 1, Tables 1, 2</p><p>Neobythites australiensis 
Nielsen, 2002: 20, fig. 10 (<a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=118.36667&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=-18.076666" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 118.36667/lat -18.076666)">Southwest of Rowley Shoals</a>, 18°4.6′S, 118°22′E, Western Australia, 327– 328 m; holotype: WAM P.28107-001).</p><p>Diagnosis. Hind margin of preopercle with two spines; dorsal-fin rays 88–92; anal-fin rays 73–77; pectoral-fin rays 26–27; precaudal vertebrae 13; total vertebrae 53–54; pseudobranchial filaments 8–11; long rakers on anterior gill arch 9–10; head length 23–25% SL; pelvic-fin length 14–19% SL, fins not reaching anus; orbit length 4.2–4.7% SL and 17–19% HL; longest gill filament 1.6–1.8% SL and 6.7–7.4% HL; dorsal fin with large ocellus placed slightly behind line through anus, spot distance 44–49% SL and spot covers 9–13 dorsal-fin rays, not extending ventrally onto body; preserved specimens with dark-brown ocellus spot; no vertical bars on body; otolith length 5.8–5.9% SL, sulcus length 4.7–4.8% SL, and ostium height 13–14% sulcus length and 19–20% ostium length.</p><p>Distribution and size. SE Indian Ocean, off NW Australia at 42–350 m depth. Known up to 245 mm SL.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/039287FEFC2DFF8B76BAEEB2FAD6941E	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Uiblein, Franz;Nielsen, Jørgen G.	Uiblein, Franz, Nielsen, Jørgen G. (2023): Five new ocellus-bearing species of the cusk-eel genus Neobythites (Ophidiidae, Ophidiiformes) from the West Pacific, with establishment of three new species groups. Zootaxa 5336 (2): 179-205, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5336.2.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5336.2.2
039287FEFC2DFF8B76BAEC8DFF4192C5.text	039287FEFC2DFF8B76BAEC8DFF4192C5.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Neobythites nigriventris Nielsen 2002	<div><p>Neobythites nigriventris Nielsen, 2002</p><p>Figure 1, Tables 1, 2</p><p>Neobythites nigriventris 
Nielsen, 2002: 66, fig. 57 (<a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=152.98833&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=-22.888332" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 152.98833/lat -22.888332)">Marion Plateau</a>, Queensland, 22°53.3′S, 152°59.3′E, Australia, 325–338 m; holotype: CSIRO H 2310-03).</p><p>Diagnosis. Hind margin of preopercle with two spines; dorsal-fin rays 90–95; anal-fin rays 74–79; pectoral-fin rays 23–26; precaudal vertebrae 12–13; total vertebrae 52–56; pseudobranchial filaments 5–8; long rakers on anterior gill arch 9–12; head length 21–24% SL; pelvic-fin length 16–24% SL, fins not reaching beyond anus; orbit length 4.0–5.5% SL and 17–25% HL; longest gill filament 1.4–1.9% SL and 6.4–8.7% HL; dorsal fin with large ocellus placed slightly behind line through anus, the spot distance 42–47% SL and spot covers 9–11 dorsal-fin rays, not extending ventrally onto body; preserved specimens with black ocellus spot; no vertical bars on body; otolith length 5.3–6.3% SL, sulcus length 4.5–5.3% SL, and ostium height 11–15% sulcus length and 17–23% ostium length.</p><p>Distribution and size. SW Pacific, off Queensland and New South Wales at 67–357 m depth. Known up to 238 mm SL.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/039287FEFC2DFF8B76BAEC8DFF4192C5	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Uiblein, Franz;Nielsen, Jørgen G.	Uiblein, Franz, Nielsen, Jørgen G. (2023): Five new ocellus-bearing species of the cusk-eel genus Neobythites (Ophidiidae, Ophidiiformes) from the West Pacific, with establishment of three new species groups. Zootaxa 5336 (2): 179-205, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5336.2.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5336.2.2
039287FEFC2DFF8A76BAEAF8FAAC955C.text	039287FEFC2DFF8A76BAEAF8FAAC955C.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Neobythites unimaculatus Smith & Radcliffe 1913	<div><p>Neobythites unimaculatus Smith &amp; Radcliffe, 1913</p><p>Figure 1, Tables 1, 2</p><p>Neobythites unimaculatus 
Smith &amp; Radcliffe in Radcliffe, 1913: 140, pl. 7 (fig. 2) (near <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=118.65972&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=4.1805553" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 118.65972/lat 4.1805553)">Mabul Island</a>, 4°10′50″N, 118°39′35″E, Borneo, 310 fathoms; holotype: USNM 74127).</p><p>Neobythites nigromaculatus 
Kamohara, 1938: 67, fig. 37 (type locality  Mimase market, Japan).</p><p>New material examined (see Nielsen 2002 for all other material examined including types). MNHN 2005-3413, 130 mm SL, Coral Sea, 15°6′0″S, 156°57′0″E, Salomon 2 cruise,  R / V Alis, st. CP 2317, beam trawl 215–300 m, 16 Nov. 2004 .</p><p>Diagnosis. Hind margin of preopercle with two spines; dorsal-fin rays 90–99; anal-fin rays 73–81; pectoral-fin rays 27–30; precaudal vertebrae 12–13; total vertebrae 53–57; pseudobranchial filaments 4–8; long rakers on anterior gill arch 8–12; head length 21–25% SL; pelvic-fin length 12–20% SL, fins not reaching anus; orbit length 4.0–5.4% SL and 18–24% HL; longest gill filament 1.2–2.2% SL and 5.0–9.7% HL; dorsal fin with large ocellus placed slightly behind line through anus, spot distance 43–50% SL and spot covers 5–11 dorsal-fin rays, rarely extending ventrally onto body; preserved specimens with dark-brown ocellus spot; no vertical bars on body; otolith length 5.1–5.8% SL, sulcus length 3.9–4.7% SL, and ostium height 14–18% sulcus length and 20–24% ostium length.</p><p>Distribution and size. Japan to northwestern Australia and eastward to Fiji Islands at 146–567 m depth. New record for Coral Sea. Known up to 218 mm SL.</p><p>Comparisons.  Neobythites superocellatus n. sp. differs from the three other  australiensis -group species with a larger central ocellus which is positioned further posteriorly on the dorsal fin and the spot extending onto the body; it differs also in having more anal-fin rays, total vertebrae and gill rakers, and a higher otolith ostium height relative to sulcus and ostium length; it differs from  N. australiensis and  N. nigriventris in having more dorsal-fin rays and from  N. australiensis in having a shorter head and gill filaments; it differs from  N. nigriventris in having shorter pelvic fins.</p><p>Neobythites australiensis differs from  N. nigriventris in absence vs. presence of black-speckled pigment on abdomen, the combination of slightly more pectoral-fin rays and pseudobranchial filaments, slightly more dorsal-fin rays and vertebrae above anal-fin origin, and slightly longer postorbital; it differs from  N. unimaculatus in the combination of slightly more pectoral-fin rays and pseudobranchial filaments, a slightly larger ocellus spot and slightly higher otolith ostium related to sulcus and ostium length.</p><p>Neobythites nigriventris differs from  N. unimaculatus in presence vs. absence of black-speckled pigment on abdomen, more pectoral-fin rays, and slightly longer and higher ostium related to sulcus length.</p><p>Remarks.  Neobythites superocellatus has the largest ocellus of all ocellus-bearing congeners and its ocellus is also unique in covering a large number of vertical scale rows on body and connecting to a vertical bar ventrally.</p><p>The specimen from Japan reported by Okamoto et al. (2011) as  N. australiensis was found to be an undescribed species and is reported further below as part of the newly established  kenyaensis species group.  Neobythites australiensis has no anterior ocellus, but has spots in some specimens.</p><p>Neobythites unimaculatus requires a revision. The wide distribution of this species and the wide ranges of several counts and measurements deserve a detailed comparative study among the different populations, involving material from the distribution area of the putative junior synonym  N. nigromaculatus (Japan to Taiwan)</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/039287FEFC2DFF8A76BAEAF8FAAC955C	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Uiblein, Franz;Nielsen, Jørgen G.	Uiblein, Franz, Nielsen, Jørgen G. (2023): Five new ocellus-bearing species of the cusk-eel genus Neobythites (Ophidiidae, Ophidiiformes) from the West Pacific, with establishment of three new species groups. Zootaxa 5336 (2): 179-205, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5336.2.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5336.2.2
039287FEFC2CFF8A76BAED66FA2C92F2.text	039287FEFC2CFF8A76BAED66FA2C92F2.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Neobythites australiensis Nielsen 2002	<div><p>Key to the  australiensis species group</p><p>1 Central ocellus placed at 42–50% SL, its spot covering 5–11 dorsal-fin rays and 0 or exceptionally 1 vertical scal rows on body below dorsal fin, anal-fin rays 73–81, vertebrae 52–57, and developed gill rakers 8–12.............................. 2</p><p>- Central ocellus placed at 51–54% SL, its spot covering 14–18 dorsal-fin rays and 5 to 7 vertical scale rows on body below dorsal fin, anal-fin rays 85–88, vertebrae 58–60, and developed gill rakers 14–15.....................  N. superocellatus</p><p>2 Abdomen with or without black-speckled pigmentation, dorsal-fin rays 90–99, pseudobranchial filaments 8–11, and dorsal-fin rays covered by central-ocellus spot 9–13.................................................................. 3</p><p>- Abdomen without black-speckled pigmentation, dorsal-fin rays 88–92, pseudobranchial filaments 4–8, and dorsal-fin rays covered by central-ocellus spot 5–11.........................................................  N. australiensis</p><p>3 Abdomen with black-speckled pigmentation, pectoral-fin rays 23–26, otolith ostium height 64–69% sulcus length, and 11–15 ostium length.............................................................................  N. nigriventris</p><p>- Abdomen without black-speckled pigmentation, pectoral-fin rays 27–30, otolith ostium height 67–75% sulcus length and 14– 18 ostium length........................................................................  N. unimaculatus</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/039287FEFC2CFF8A76BAED66FA2C92F2	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Uiblein, Franz;Nielsen, Jørgen G.	Uiblein, Franz, Nielsen, Jørgen G. (2023): Five new ocellus-bearing species of the cusk-eel genus Neobythites (Ophidiidae, Ophidiiformes) from the West Pacific, with establishment of three new species groups. Zootaxa 5336 (2): 179-205, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5336.2.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5336.2.2
039287FEFC2CFF8876BAEB73FF5595C8.text	039287FEFC2CFF8876BAEB73FF5595C8.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Neobythites japonicus Uiblein & Nielsen 2023	<div><p>Neobythites japonicus n. sp.</p><p>urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: BF75A602-402D-4F50-B0D2-72E14E75DAFE</p><p>Figures 3–4, Tables 1, 3</p><p>N. australiensis: Okamoto et al. 2011</p><p>Holotype. KAUM -I. 37071, 167 mm SL, female, W Pacific, west of Okinawa Island, Japan, ca. 100 m depth, 16 May 1998.</p><p>Diagnosis. Hind margin of preopercle with two spines; dorsal-fin rays 91; anal-fin rays 75; pectoral-fin rays 26; precaudal vertebrae 13; total vertebrae 52; pseudobranchial filaments 6; long rakers on anterior gill arch 11; head length 23% SL; pelvic-fin length 16% SL, fins not reaching anus; orbit length 4.1% SL and 18% HL; longest gill filament 1.6% SL and 7.1% HL; dorsal fin with two ocelli, one smaller ocellus placed close to fin origin, spot distance 29% SL and spot covers 6 dorsal-fin rays, and a larger central ocellus placed behind line through anus, spot distance 46% SL and spot covers 9 dorsal-fin rays; both ocellus spots not extending ventrally onto body; preserved specimens with two dark-brown ocellus spots; no vertical bars on body; otolith length 5.3% SL, sulcus length 4.2% SL, and ostium height 15% sulcus length and 23% ostium length.</p><p>Description. The principal meristic and morphometric characters are shown in Table 3. Body elongate with indistinct lateral line; body and head covered by deciduous cycloid scales; origin of dorsal-fin above middle of pectoral-fin; origin of anal fin slightly in front of midpoint of fish; snout slightly blunt, equal in length to diameter of eye window; two distinct spines on hind margin of preopercle; opercular spine short and pointed; anterior gill arch on both sides with 5 short and 2 long rakers on upper branch, one long raker at angle, and 7–8 long and 6–7 short rakers on lower branch; longest filaments on anterior gill arch 7.1% HL; longest gill raker on anterior gill arch 13% HL.</p><p>Sagittal otolith (Fig. 3B). Otolith oval, pointed at posterior end, its depth 2.0 times in its length; sulcus 1.3 times in otolith length; ostium 1.5 times in sulcus length; ostium depth 6.5 times in sulcus length and 4.4 times in ostium length.</p><p>Dentition. Premaxillaries, palatines, and dentaries with many small, pointed, close-set teeth in irregular rows; vomer boomerang-shaped with many small, pointed teeth; two median basibranchial tooth patches, anterior one long and narrow and posterior one small and circular.</p><p>Axial skeleton. Precaudal vertebrae 13, all with pointed tip; anterior neural spine about half as long as second spine; neural spines on vertebrae 3–10 depressed; parapophyses developed on vertebrae 8–13, pleural ribs on vertebrae 4–13, and epipleural ribs indistinct; bases of neural spines 3–13 enlarged.</p><p>Colour. Preserved fish (Fig. 4A). Body and head in preserved HT mostly pale brown and mottled, lateral line pale beige, mostly indistinct, belly whitish; two distinct ocelli, one anterior and central ocellus placed behind vertical line through anus, central-ocellus spot diameter about twice orbit length, covering 9 dorsal-fin rays, not extending ventrally onto body; contrasting pale whitish-grayish ring surrounds central-ocellus spot almost entirely; anterior ocellus placed closely behind dorsal-fin origin, its spot diameter about orbit length, covering 6 dorsal-fin rays, not extending onto body below; contrasting pale ring almost completely surrounds anterior ocellus spot; dorsal fin between ocelli and posterior of central ocellus pale brown ventrally, lighter dorsally and distally towards caudal fin, anal fin rather pale along first two-thirds, then slightly pale-brown, pigmented like dorsal and caudal fins in posterior tail region; no vertical bars.</p><p>Etymology. The species name refers to the type locality.</p><p>Distribution and size. Only known from HT (167 mm SL) caught west of Okinawa, Japan, at a depth of ca. 100 m.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/039287FEFC2CFF8876BAEB73FF5595C8	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Uiblein, Franz;Nielsen, Jørgen G.	Uiblein, Franz, Nielsen, Jørgen G. (2023): Five new ocellus-bearing species of the cusk-eel genus Neobythites (Ophidiidae, Ophidiiformes) from the West Pacific, with establishment of three new species groups. Zootaxa 5336 (2): 179-205, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5336.2.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5336.2.2
039287FEFC2EFF8F76BAE8CFFC4697E4.text	039287FEFC2EFF8F76BAE8CFFC4697E4.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Neobythites kenyaensis Nielsen 1995	<div><p>Neobythites kenyaensis Nielsen, 1995</p><p>Figure 4, Tables 1, 3</p><p>Neobythites kenyaensis 
Nielsen, 1995: 5, fig. 4 (off <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=40.516666&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=-2.8333333" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 40.516666/lat -2.8333333)">Ras Ngomeni</a>, Kenya, western Indian Ocean, 02°50′S, 40°31′E, 275 m; holotype: SAIAB 13952).</p><p>Diagnosis. No spines on hind margin of preopercle; dorsal-fin rays 97–102; anal-fin rays 80–84; pectoral-fin rays 26–32; precaudal vertebrae 13; total vertebrae 55–59; pseudobranchial filaments 2–4; long rakers on anterior gill arch 8–10; head length 20–21% SL; pelvic-fin length 10–12% SL, fins not reaching anus; orbit length 4.3–5.3% SL and 22–31% HL; longest gill filament 1.4–2.4% SL and 6.9–12% HL; dorsal fin with two ocelli, one slightly smaller ocellus placed closer to fin origin, spot distance 29–35% SL and spot covers 6–9 dorsal-fin rays, and slightly larger central ocellus placed well behind line through anus, spot distance 56–64% SL and spot covers 8–15 dorsal-fin rays; both ocellus spots not extending ventrally onto body; fresh and recently preserved specimens with two black ocellus spots and posterior part of dorsal fin and anal fin with a black stripe; no vertical bars on body; otolith length 5.9–5.8% SL, sulcus length 3.4–4.7% SL, and ostium height 20–24 % sulcus length and 29–37% ostium length.</p><p>Distribution and size. SW Indian Ocean: from Kenya, off Ras Ngomeni, to Tanzania, Mozambique, and off Durban, Natal (South Africa) at 238–457 m depth. Known up to 162 mm SL.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/039287FEFC2EFF8F76BAE8CFFC4697E4	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Uiblein, Franz;Nielsen, Jørgen G.	Uiblein, Franz, Nielsen, Jørgen G. (2023): Five new ocellus-bearing species of the cusk-eel genus Neobythites (Ophidiidae, Ophidiiformes) from the West Pacific, with establishment of three new species groups. Zootaxa 5336 (2): 179-205, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5336.2.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5336.2.2
039287FEFC29FF8F76BAEBB9FA2D90D6.text	039287FEFC29FF8F76BAEBB9FA2D90D6.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Neobythites kenyaensis	<div><p>Key to the  kenyaensis species group</p><p>1 0–1 preopercular spines, dorsal-fin rays 95–102, anal-fin rays 80–85, total vertebrae 55–59, pseudobranchial filaments 2–4, orbit length 4.3–6.1% SL and 22–31% HL................................................................. 2</p><p>- 2 preopercular spines, dorsal-fin rays 91, anal-fin rays 75, total vertebrae 52, pseudobranchial filaments 6, orbit length 4.1% SL and 18% HL..........................................................................  N. japonicus n. sp.</p><p>2 0 preopercular spines, central ocellus distance 53–57% SL, precaudal vertebrae 13, developed gill rakers 8–10, pelvic-fin length 10–12% SL..........................................................................  N. kenyaensis</p><p>- 1 preopercular spine, central ocellus distance 45–50% SL, precaudal vertebrae 12, developed gill rakers 14–16, pelvic-fin length 16–22% SL...........................................................................  N. ocellatus</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/039287FEFC29FF8F76BAEBB9FA2D90D6	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Uiblein, Franz;Nielsen, Jørgen G.	Uiblein, Franz, Nielsen, Jørgen G. (2023): Five new ocellus-bearing species of the cusk-eel genus Neobythites (Ophidiidae, Ophidiiformes) from the West Pacific, with establishment of three new species groups. Zootaxa 5336 (2): 179-205, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5336.2.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5336.2.2
039287FEFC29FF8F76BAEFDBFB0A9327.text	039287FEFC29FF8F76BAEFDBFB0A9327.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Neobythites ocellatus Gunther 1887	<div><p>Neobythites ocellatus Günther, 1887</p><p>Figure 4, Tables 1, 3</p><p>Neobythites ocellatus 
Günther, 1887: 103, pl. 21 (fig. B) (off Pernambuco, northeastern Brazil, 09°05′S, 34°50′W, 350 fathoms; holotype: BMNH 1887.12.7.43).</p><p>Diagnosis. No or one thin and flat spine on hind margin of preopercle; dorsal-fin rays 95–100; anal-fin rays 81–85; pectoral-fin rays 24–27; precaudal vertebrae 12; total vertebrae 56–58; pseudobranchial filaments 3–4; long rakers on anterior gill arch 14–16; head length 21–24% SL; pelvic-fin length 16–22% SL, fins not extending beyond anus; orbit length 5.3–6.1% SL and 22–28% HL; longest gill filament 1.7–2.6% SL and 7.3–8.4% HL; dorsal fin with two ocelli, one smaller ocellus placed closer to fin origin, spot distance 28–30% SL and spot covers 5–7 dorsal-fin rays, and slightly larger central ocellus placed behind line through anus, spot distance 45–50% SL and spot covers 8–11 dorsal-fin rays; both ocellus spots not extending ventrally onto body; preserved specimens with two black ocellus spots; no vertical bars on body; otolith length 5.6–5.8% SL, sulcus length 4.0–4.3% SL, and ostium height 18–21% sulcus length and 28–34% ostium length.</p><p>Distribution and size. SW Atlantic, off Bahia, E Brazil at 233–641 m depth. Known up to 148 mm SL.</p><p>Comparisons.  Neobythites japonicus n. sp. differs from  N. kenyaensis and  N. ocellatus in having two vs. 0 or 1 reduced preopercular spines, fewer dorsal-fin rays, anal-fin rays, and vertebrae, more pseudobranchial filaments, smaller eyes, and shallower otolith ostium height; furthermore, it differs from  N. kenyaensis in having both ocelli placed more anterior on the dorsal fin and longer head and pelvic fin; and it differs from  N. ocellatus in having fewer gill rakers and shorter gill filaments.</p><p>Neobythites kenyaensis differs from  N. ocellatus in having more precaudal vertebrae, fewer gill rakers, shorter upper jaw and pelvic fin, and more posteriorly placed ocelli.</p><p>Remarks. Okamoto et al. 2011 considered the colour structure close to the dorsal-fin origin to be merely a black blotch. However, our re-examination revealed a clear ring surrounding the spot (Fig. 4A).</p><p>Neobythites ocellatus only has posterior spots, but no posterior ocelli (Nielsen et al. 2009)</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/039287FEFC29FF8F76BAEFDBFB0A9327	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Uiblein, Franz;Nielsen, Jørgen G.	Uiblein, Franz, Nielsen, Jørgen G. (2023): Five new ocellus-bearing species of the cusk-eel genus Neobythites (Ophidiidae, Ophidiiformes) from the West Pacific, with establishment of three new species groups. Zootaxa 5336 (2): 179-205, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5336.2.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5336.2.2
039287FEFC29FF8D76BAE91FFAB1914C.text	039287FEFC29FF8D76BAE91FFAB1914C.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Neobythites jonathan Uiblein & Nielsen 2023	<div><p>Neobythites jonathan n. sp.</p><p>urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 4A563E6F-DBA2-473A-8A2C-09D002561396</p><p>Figures 3, 5, Tables 1, 4</p><p>Holotype. MNHN 2002-3883, 119 mm SL, Solomon Sea, 9°31′S, 160°35′E, Salomon 1 cruise, R / V Alis, st. CP1802, 245– 269 m, 2 Oct. 2001.</p><p>Paratype. MNHN 2023-0262, 122 mm, same collecting data as HT .</p><p>Fresh colour photo (Fig. 5B). One adult specimen (sample not retained, size not known) photographed shortly after being caught, Solomon Sea, 9°47′S, 160°53′E, Salomonboa cruise, st. CP 2854, beam trawl, 261–278 m depth, 25 Sep 2007 (see also Richer de Forges 2007).</p><p>Diagnosis. Hind margin of preopercle with two small but distinct spines; dorsal-fin rays 91–92; anal-fin rays 72–76; pectoral-fin rays 28–29; precaudal vertebrae 13; total vertebrae 53; pseudobranchial filaments 5; long rakers on anterior gill arch 10; head length 24% SL; pelvic-fin length 29–32% SL, fins extending beyond anus; orbit length 5.1–5.2% SL and 21–22% HL; longest gill filament 1.7–1.8% SL and 7.1–7.8% HL; dorsal fin with central ocellus, spot distance 45–46% SL and spot covers 11–12 dorsal-fin rays, placed just behind line through anus; ocellus spot black in fresh and preserved status, not extending ventrally onto body; when fresh, four pale brown vertical bars from dorsal fin down to body or anal fin; no bars in preserved specimens; otolith length 5.4% SL, sulcus length 4.6–4.8% SL, and ostium height 15–17% sulcus length and 22–26% ostium length.</p><p>Description. The principal meristic and morphometric characters are shown in Table 4. Morphological and preserved colour description based on HT, if not indicated otherwise. Fish elongate with indistinct lateral line; body and head covered by deciduous cycloid scales; origin of dorsal-fin above anterior third of pectoral fin; origin of anal fin slightly in front of midpoint of fish; snout slightly blunt, equal in length to diameter of eye window; two small but distinct spines on hind margin of preopercle; opercular spine pointed; anterior gill arch on both sides with 5 short and 2 long rakers on upper branch, one long raker at angle, and 7 long and 5 short rakers on lower branch; longest filaments on anterior gill arch 7.8% HL; longest gill raker on anterior gill arch 12% HL.</p><p>Sagittal otolith (Fig. 3C). Otolith oval, tapering in posterior half, its depth 1.8 times in its length; sulcus 1.2 times in otolith length; ostium 1.4 times in sulcus length; ostium depth 6.5 times in sulcus length and 4.6 times in ostium length.</p><p>Dentition. Premaxillaries, palatines, and dentaries with many pointed, close-set teeth in irregular rows; vomer boomerang-shaped with many small teeth; two median basibranchial tooth patches, anterior one long and narrow and posterior one small and rounded.</p><p>Axial skeleton. Characters from both HT and PT; precaudal vertebrae 13, all with pointed tips; anterior neural spine half the length of second spine; spines on vertebrae 2–8 depressed; parapophyses on vertebrae 8–13, pleural ribs on vertebrae 2–3 to 13, and epipleural ribs not observed; bases of vertebrae 3–4 to 11–12 enlarged.</p><p>Colour. Fresh fish (Fig. 5B). Head and body with pale-beige background colour, belly pale silvery-gray; dorsal half of head and body brown marbled, four irregularly shaped, vertical brown bars reaching from below dorsal fin to lower body half, posterior two bars ending at anal fin; a black central ocellus, spot not extending onto body below dorsal fin; ocellus ring only faintly visible along ventral side of ocellus spot due to tightly folded dorsal fin, dorsal fin behind ocellus partly dark-brown pigmented, connecting in part to posterior two vertical bars; anal fin hyaline apart from brown pigmentation areas connected to two posterior bars and along posterior margin of fin; pelvic fins hyaline.</p><p>Preserved fish (Fig. 5A). Body and head mostly pale brown, dorsal third of head and body with brownish lines or stripes of various length, one incomplete stripe along lateral line; abdomen anteriorly whitish, mingled with dark-gray patches which widen posteriorly; distinct central ocellus placed just behind vertical line through anus, dark-brown ocellus spot more than twice orbit length, covering 11 dorsal-fin rays and contrasting pale-whitish ring surrounding ocellus spot entirely, spot not extending onto body below dorsal fin; dorsal fin anterior and posterior of spot with weak pale gray pigmentation, becoming lighter posteriorly; anal, pelvic and caudal fin hyaline.</p><p>Etymology. The new species name “  jonathan ” is used as a noun in apposition and acknowledges Mr. Jonathan Pfliger, MNHN fish collection manager, for his invaluable assistance in our fish taxonomy research.</p><p>Distribution and size. W Pacific, Solomon Sea, at 245–269 m depth. At least up to 122 mm SL.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/039287FEFC29FF8D76BAE91FFAB1914C	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Uiblein, Franz;Nielsen, Jørgen G.	Uiblein, Franz, Nielsen, Jørgen G. (2023): Five new ocellus-bearing species of the cusk-eel genus Neobythites (Ophidiidae, Ophidiiformes) from the West Pacific, with establishment of three new species groups. Zootaxa 5336 (2): 179-205, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5336.2.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5336.2.2
039287FEFC35FF9376BAEEB2FA9E90DD.text	039287FEFC35FF9376BAEEB2FA9E90DD.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Neobythites zora Uiblein & Nielsen 2023	<div><p>Neobythites zora n. sp.</p><p>urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 43D5D3D3-BEAD-4FDD-846E-36800AD37DB6</p><p>Figures 3, 5, Tables 1, 4</p><p>Neobythites longiventralis Nielsen, 1997: Nielsen 2002</p><p>Holotype. ZMUC P 771324, 132 mm SL, female, W Pacifc, off Lakeba, Fiji Is., 18°12′S, 178°36′W, Bordau 1 cruise, R / V Alis, st. CP 1467, beam trawl, 417–427 m depth, 6 Mar. 1999.</p><p>Diagnosis. Hind margin of preopercle with two small spines; dorsal-fin rays 91; anal-fin rays 75; pectoral-fin rays 27; precaudal vertebrae 13; total vertebrae 53; pseudobranchial filaments 5; long rakers on anterior gill arch 10; head length 23% SL; pelvic-fin length 34% SL, fins extending well beyond anus; orbit length 5.5% SL and 24% HL; longest gill filament 1.3% SL and 5.7% HL; dorsal fin with two ocelli, larger central ocellus placed just behind vertical line through anus, ocellus spot black, its distance 46% SL and spot covers 12 dorsal-fin rays, and smaller posterior ocellus placed just behind midpoint of dorsal fin, spot distance 69% SL and spot covers 7 dorsal-fin rays; both ocellus spots not extending ventrally onto body; no vertical bars on body; otolith length 5.9% SL, sulcus length 4.8% SL, and ostium height 16% sulcus length and 23% ostium length.</p><p>Description. The principal meristic and morphometric characters are shown in Table 4. Fish elongate with indistinct lateral line; body and head with deciduous cycloid scales; origin of dorsal fin above anterior third of pectoral fin; origin of anal fin slightly in front of midpoint of fish; snout rather blunt, equal in length to diameter of eye window; two small spines on hind margin of preopercle; opercular spine pointed; anterior gill arch (left side) with 5 short and 2 long rakers on upper branch, one long raker at angle, and 7 long and 5 short rakers on the lower branch; longest filaments on anterior gill arch 5.7% HL; longest gill raker on anterior gill arch 12% HL.</p><p>Sagittal otolith (Fig. 3D). Otolith oval, egg-shaped, with blunt angle ventrally, its depth 1.7 times in its length; sulcus large, 1.2 times in otolith length; ostium 1.4 times in sulcus length; ostium depth 6.1 times in sulcus length and 4.4 times in ostium length.</p><p>Dentition. Premaxillaries, palatines, and dentaries with many pointed, close-set teeth in irregular rows; vomer subtriangular with many small teeth; two median basibranchial tooth patches, anterior one long and narrow and posterior one small and rounded.</p><p>Axial skeleton. Precaudal vertebrae 13, all with pointed tips; anterior neural spine half length of second spine; spines on vertebrae 2–8 depressed; parapophyses on vertebrae 8–13, pleural ribs on vertebra 3–12, and no epipleural ribs observed; basis of vertebrae 4–13 enlarged.</p><p>Colour. Preserved fish (Fig. 5C). Body and head of preserved HT rather uniformly pale brown, dorsal third of head and body with some weakly indicated brownish patches of stripes, one incompletely follows lateral line in anterior half of body; abdomen similar pale brown colour as entire body; two distinct ocelli, central ocellus placed at midpoint of fish just behind anus and posterior ocellus placed just behind midpoint of dorsal fin; central-ocellus spot about twice orbit length, covering 12 dorsal-fin rays, not extending onto body below, posterior ocellus spot about orbit length, covering 7 dorsal-fin rays, not extending onto body below fin; contrasting pale rings surrounding both ocellus spots distinct, becoming particularly well visible when erecting dorsal fin; latter with pale brown pigmentation in between ocelli and behind posterior ocellus; pelvic, pectoral, and anal fins hyaline, caudal fin weakly pigmented.</p><p>Etymology. The new species name “  zora ” is used as a noun in apposition and acknowledges Mrs. Zouhaira “Zora” Harakati Gabsi, MNHN fish collection manager, for her invaluable assistance in our fish taxonomy research.</p><p>Distribution and size. Only known from HT (132 mm SL), W Pacific, off Fiji, at 417–427 m depth.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/039287FEFC35FF9376BAEEB2FA9E90DD	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Uiblein, Franz;Nielsen, Jørgen G.	Uiblein, Franz, Nielsen, Jørgen G. (2023): Five new ocellus-bearing species of the cusk-eel genus Neobythites (Ophidiidae, Ophidiiformes) from the West Pacific, with establishment of three new species groups. Zootaxa 5336 (2): 179-205, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5336.2.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5336.2.2
039287FEFC35FF9276BAE8C0FF419798.text	039287FEFC35FF9276BAE8C0FF419798.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Neobythites longiventralis Nielsen 1997	<div><p>Neobythites longiventralis Nielsen, 1997</p><p>Figure 5, Tables 1, 4</p><p>Neobythites longiventralis 
Nielsen, 1997: 66, fig. 13 (New Caledonia, 18°59.3′S, 163°25′E, 320 m; holotype: MNHN 1994- 0739).</p><p>Neobythites longiventralis: Nielsen 2002: 42, fig. 33, in part.</p><p>Diagnosis. Hind margin of preopercle with two spines; dorsal-fin rays 90–94; anal-fin rays 73–76; pectoral-fin rays 25–27; precaudal vertebrae 13; total vertebrae 53–55; pseudobranchial filaments 4–6; long rakers on anterior gill arch 10–12; head length 22–24% SL; pelvic-fin length 32–34% SL, fins reaching well beyond anus; orbit length 4.7–5.1% SL and 20–24% HL; longest gill filament 1.3–1.9% SL and 5.3–8.3% HL; dorsal fin with two ocelli, one small ocellus with incomplete contrasting ring (ring missing anteriorly) placed at fin origin, spot distance 26–27% SL and spot covers 2–4 dorsal-fin rays, and large central ocellus placed well behind vertical line through anus, spot distance 46–50% SL and spot covers 7–9 dorsal-fin rays; both ocellus spots not extending ventrally onto body; no vertical bars on body; otolith length 5.4–5.7% SL, sulcus length 4.3–4.6% SL, and ostium height 15–19% sulcus length and 25–28% ostium length.</p><p>Distribution and size. W Pacific, off Philippines to Caledonia and Fiji, at 219–427 m depth. Known up to 148 mm SL.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/039287FEFC35FF9276BAE8C0FF419798	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Uiblein, Franz;Nielsen, Jørgen G.	Uiblein, Franz, Nielsen, Jørgen G. (2023): Five new ocellus-bearing species of the cusk-eel genus Neobythites (Ophidiidae, Ophidiiformes) from the West Pacific, with establishment of three new species groups. Zootaxa 5336 (2): 179-205, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5336.2.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5336.2.2
039287FEFC34FF9276BAEC07FC869392.text	039287FEFC34FF9276BAEC07FC869392.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Neobythites longipes Smith & Radcliffe 1913	<div><p>Neobythites longipes Smith &amp; Radcliffe, 1913</p><p>Figure 5, Tables 1, 4</p><p>Neobythites longipes 
Smith &amp; Radcliffe in Radcliffe, 1913: 139, pl. 7 (fig. 1) (off <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=120.74444&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=6.0333333" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 120.74444/lat 6.0333333)">Jolo Island</a>, 06°02′00″N, 120°44′40″E, Philippines, 258 fathoms; holotype: USNM 74126).</p><p>Diagnosis. Hind margin of preopercle with single spine; dorsal-fin rays 96–103; anal-fin rays 79–87; pectoral-fin rays 27–30; precaudal vertebrae 13–14; total vertebrae 57–60; pseudobranchial filaments 5–10; long rakers on anterior gill arch 8–10; head length 22–25% SL; pelvic-fin length 28–54% SL, fins reaching well beyond anus; orbit length 3.9–5.0% SL and 17–22% HL; longest gill filament 1.3–2.7% SL and 5.7–11% HL; dorsal fin with a central ocellus, placed behind vertical line through anus, the spot distance being 42–53% SL and the spot covering 9–13 dorsal-fin rays; ocellus spot not extending ventrally to body; no vertical bars on body in preserved and fresh specimens (see also Uiblein &amp; Nielsen 2018); otolith length 4.8–6.2% SL, sulcus length 4.3–4.9% SL, and ostium height 12–15% sulcus length and 20–21% ostium length.</p><p>Distribution and size. W Pacific, off Philippines to Western Australia, at 150–481 m depth. Known up to 301 mm SL.</p><p>Comparisons.  Neobythites jonathan n. sp. differs from  N. zora in having only a single ocellus vs. two ocelli, longer upper jaw and gill filaments, smaller eyes, shorter pelvic fins; it differs from  N. longiventralis in having only a single ocellus vs. two ocelli, a smaller central-ocellus spot and more pectoral-fin rays; and, together with  N. zora n. sp., it differs from  N. longipes in having fewer dorsal-fin rays, anal-fin rays, and total vertebrae.</p><p>Neobythites zora n. sp. differs from the three other species in having a posterior ocellus vs. none; it differs from  N. longiventralis in having a larger central-ocellus spot and from both  N. longiventralis and  N. longipes in having a larger orbit length in % SL.</p><p>Neobythites longiventralis differs from the other three species in having an anterior ocellus vs. none; it differs from  N. longipes in having fewer dorsal- and anal-fin rays, fewer vertebrae, and a slightly smaller central-ocellus spot.</p><p>Remarks.  Neobythites longipes was placed in the  steatiticus species group by Uiblein &amp; Nielsen (2018), but is now included in the newly established  longiventralis group.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/039287FEFC34FF9276BAEC07FC869392	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Uiblein, Franz;Nielsen, Jørgen G.	Uiblein, Franz, Nielsen, Jørgen G. (2023): Five new ocellus-bearing species of the cusk-eel genus Neobythites (Ophidiidae, Ophidiiformes) from the West Pacific, with establishment of three new species groups. Zootaxa 5336 (2): 179-205, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5336.2.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5336.2.2
039287FEFC34FF9276BAE82DFA2D9160.text	039287FEFC34FF9276BAE82DFA2D9160.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Neobythites longiventralis : Nielsen 2002	<div><p>Key to the  longiventralis -species group</p><p>1 A central and no posterior ocellus, orbit length 3.9–5.2% SL and 17–24% HL, gill-filament length 1.3–2.7% SL, otolith ostium length 2.5–3.4% SL and 59–71% sulcus length............................................................. 2</p><p>- A central and one posterior ocellus placed just behind midpoint of dorsal fin, orbit length 5.5% SL and 24% HL, gill-filament length 1.3% SL, otolith ostium length 3.5% SL and 73% sulcus length.................................  N. zora n. sp.</p><p>2 A central ocellus and no anterior ocellus, pectoral-fin rays 27–30, central-ocellus spot covering 9–13 dorsal-fin rays...... 3</p><p>- An anterior and a central ocellus, pectoral-fin rays 25–27, central-ocellus spot covering 7–9 dorsal-fin rays....................................................................................................  N. longiventralis</p><p>3 Dorsal-fin rays 96–103, anal-fin rays 79–87, total vertebrae 57–60.....................................  N. longipes</p><p>- Dorsal-fin rays 91–92, anal-fin rays 72–76, total vertebrae 53....................................  N. jonathan n. sp.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/039287FEFC34FF9276BAE82DFA2D9160	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Uiblein, Franz;Nielsen, Jørgen G.	Uiblein, Franz, Nielsen, Jørgen G. (2023): Five new ocellus-bearing species of the cusk-eel genus Neobythites (Ophidiidae, Ophidiiformes) from the West Pacific, with establishment of three new species groups. Zootaxa 5336 (2): 179-205, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5336.2.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5336.2.2
039287FEFC37FF9576BAEEFAFECE95C8.text	039287FEFC37FF9576BAEEFAFECE95C8.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Neobythites pako Uiblein & Nielsen 2023	<div><p>Neobythites pako n. sp.</p><p>urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: B3E4CA7D-F0FD-41EF-A884-451331786136</p><p>Figures 3, 6, 7; Tables 1, 5, 6</p><p>Holotype. MNHN 2006-0337, 165 mm SL, Solomon Sea, 8°6′25.2″S, 157°23′2.4″E, Salomon 2 cruise, R / V Alis, st. CP 2286, 248– 253 m depth, 6 Nov. 2004.</p><p>Diagnosis. Hind margin of preopercle with very short spine; dorsal-fin rays 92; anal-fin rays 77; pectoral-fin rays 28; precaudal vertebrae 13; total vertebrae 56; pseudobranchial filaments 2; long rakers on anterior gill arch 10; head length 22% SL; pelvic-fin length 14% SL, fins not reaching anus; orbit length 4.5% SL and 21% HL; longest gill filament 1.9% SL and 8.8% HL; dorsal fin with central ocellus placed well behind vertical line through anus, spot distance 46% SL and spot covers 7 dorsal-fin rays, not extending ventrally onto body; ocellus spot dark brown; posterior two-thirds of anal fin black; no vertical bars on body; otolith length 4.8% SL, sulcus length 3.8% SL, and ostium height 17% sulcus length and 25% ostium length.</p><p>Description. The principal meristic and morphometric characters are shown in Table 5. Elongate fish with complete lateral line; head and body covered by deciduous, cycloid scales; origin of dorsal fin above middle of pectoral fin; origin of anal fin slightly in front of midpoint of fish; snout blunt and equal in length to diameter of eye window; very short spine on hind margin of preopercle; opercular spine short and pointed; anterior gill arch on both sides with 4 short and 2 long rakers on upper branch, one long raker at angle, and 7 long and 6–8 short rakers on lower branch; longest filaments on anterior gill arch 8.8% HL and longest raker on anterior gill arch 10% HL.</p><p>+ tail broken, only data for anterior body part and measurements not related to Sl available for larger specimen.</p><p>Sagittal otolith (Fig. 3E). Otolith peanut-shaped, ventrally rounded, dorsally and anteriorly flattened, posteriorly blunt, its depth 1.7 times in its length; sulcus large, 1.3 times in otolith length; ostium 1.5 times in sulcus length; ostium depth 5.4 times in sulcus length and 3.6 times in ostium length.</p><p>Dentition. Premaxillaries, palatines, and dentaries with many small, pointed, close-set teeth in irregular rows; vomer boomerang-shaped with many, pointed teeth; two median basibranchial tooth patches, anterior one long and narrow and posterior one small and circular.</p><p>Axial skeleton. Precaudal vertebrae 13, all with pointed tip; anterior neural spine almost half length of second spine; neural spines on vertebrae 1–9 somewhat depressed, parapophyses present on vertebrae 8–13, pleural ribs on vertebrae 3–13 and epipleural ribs indistinct; basis of neural spines 4–13 enlarged.</p><p>Colour. Preserved fish (Fig. 6A). Body and head of preserved HT rather uniformly pale brown, slightly darker dorsally and in snout region, gill cover anteriorly gray brown, posteriorly pale, lateral line indistinct, abdomen pale gray anterior of anus; single ocellus placed well behind vertical line through anus at body midpoint, central-ocellus spot dark brown, slightly larger than orbit diameter, covering 7 dorsal-fin rays, not extending onto body below dorsal fin, ocellus ring pale, rather indistinct on folded fin, becoming more distinct when fin is raised; dorsal fin anterior and behind ocellus pale gray brownish, pigmentation becoming somewhat more intense on posterior third towards caudal fin; anal fin almost entirely covered with continuous dark brown stripe behind vertical line through posterior ocellus spot edge; pelvic and pectoral fins hyaline.</p><p>Etymology. The new species name “  pako ” is used as a noun in apposition and honours the son of the first author, Francisco “Pako” Uiblein.</p><p>Distribution and size. Only known from the HT (165 mm SL), caught in bottom trawl in eastern Solomon Sea at 248–253 m depth.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/039287FEFC37FF9576BAEEFAFECE95C8	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Uiblein, Franz;Nielsen, Jørgen G.	Uiblein, Franz, Nielsen, Jørgen G. (2023): Five new ocellus-bearing species of the cusk-eel genus Neobythites (Ophidiidae, Ophidiiformes) from the West Pacific, with establishment of three new species groups. Zootaxa 5336 (2): 179-205, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5336.2.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5336.2.2
039287FEFC33FF9476BAEDF7FD5F97E4.text	039287FEFC33FF9476BAEDF7FD5F97E4.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Neobythites monocellatus Nielsen 1999	<div><p>Neobythites monocellatus Nielsen, 1999</p><p>Figure 6; Tables 1, 5</p><p>Neobythites monocellatus 
Nielsen, 1999: 351, figs. 8–9 (off Venezuela, 09°53′N, 59°53′W, 229 m; holotype: USNM 309234).</p><p>Diagnosis. Spine on hind margin of preopercle absent or thin and flat; dorsal-fin rays 93–99; anal-fin rays 78–83; pectoral-fin rays 24–27; precaudal vertebrae 12–13; total vertebrae 54–58; pseudobranchial filaments 4–6; long rakers on anterior gill arch 13–15; head length 21–24% SL; pelvic-fin length 17–23% SL, fins not extending beyond anus; orbit length 4.9–7.0% SL and 22–30% HL; longest gill filament 1.4–2.0% SL and 6.2–9.0% HL; dorsal fin with central ocellus with black spot placed well behind vertical line through anus, the ocellus spot distance being 41–51% SL and the spot covering 6–7 dorsal-fin rays, not extending ventrally to body; no vertical bars on body; otolith length 5.0–5.8% SL, sulcus length 4.0–4.7% SL, and ostium height 18–22% sulcus length and 28–34% ostium length.</p><p>Distribution and size. Found in the tropical W and SW Atlantic from off Honduras and along the north coast of South America to French Guiana and off Bahia, E Brazil, on the continental shelf and upper slope (117–439 m). Max. size 154 mm SL.</p><p>Comparisons.  Neobythites pako n. sp. differs clearly from all other  steatiticus species in having a very short but distinct single preopercular spine vs. none or only a very weakly formed, flat, or indistinct spine, and in the combination of several colour, meristic, morphometric, and otolith characters (Table 5). It is most similar to  N. malayanus and  N. stefanovi . From  N. malayanus, it differs in longer upper jaw relative to head length in combination with slightly deeper body, shorter pelvic fins and postorbital distance (Fig. 7), and it differs in several otolith characters including shorter and shallower otolith, and shallower ostium relative to SL, sulcus, and ostium length (Table 5; Fig. 3E, F). It differs from the Indonesian population (type locality) of  N. malayanus in having more anal-fin rays, fewer pseudobranchial filaments, and shorter preanal distance, from the Vanuatu population in having in longer gill-filaments and from the Philippine population (which is most similar) in having fewer pseudobranchial filaments (Table 6). It differs from  N. stefanovi in its absence of dark dorsal-fin margin, higher number of precaudal vertebrae, vertebrae number below dorsal-fin origin, smaller ocellus spot, and shallower otolith ostium (Table 5).</p><p>For further comparisons among all other  steatiticus group members except for the W Atlantic  N. monocellatus, see Uiblein &amp; Nielsen (2018).  Neobythites monocellatus differs from  N. pako n. sp. in lack of dark stripe along anal fin, more dorsal-, anal- and pectoral fin rays, more pseudobranchial filaments, more developed gill rakers, and longer pelvic fins;  N. monocellatus is most similar to six steaticus group species,  N. gloriae,  N. lombokensis,  N. malayanus,  N. meteori,  N. steatiticus and  N. stefanovi, from which it differs in having a combination of relatively high number of dorsal- and anal-fin rays and gill rakers, relatively longer pelvic fins, shorter postorbital distance, and smaller-sized ocellus spot; from the remaining species,  N. malhaensis, it differs in fewer pectoral-fin rays, more pseudobranchial filaments, longer pelvic fins, and smaller ocellus spot.</p><p>Remarks. One  Neobythites malayanus specimen (length 171+ mm) from off Lombok could not be studied in detail due to missing its tail (Table 6). Like  N. unimaculatus,  N. malayanus should be studied in more detail regarding geographic differentiation (Table 6, Fig. 7).</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/039287FEFC33FF9476BAEDF7FD5F97E4	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Uiblein, Franz;Nielsen, Jørgen G.	Uiblein, Franz, Nielsen, Jørgen G. (2023): Five new ocellus-bearing species of the cusk-eel genus Neobythites (Ophidiidae, Ophidiiformes) from the West Pacific, with establishment of three new species groups. Zootaxa 5336 (2): 179-205, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5336.2.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5336.2.2
039287FEFC32FF9476BAEFFEFA2C93D7.text	039287FEFC32FF9476BAEFFEFA2C93D7.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Neobythites steatiticus Alcock 1894	<div><p>Key to the  steatiticus species group</p><p>1 Anterior gill arch with 6–7 long rakers; anal fin without dark margin or band..................................... 2</p><p>- Anterior gill arch with 8–15 long rakers; anal fin with or without dark margin or band.............................. 3</p><p>2 Ocellus short, placed above anus with ocellus spot covering 9 dorsal-fin rays; longest gill filament 13.0% HL.......................................................................  N. meteori (off Sokotra Island, NW Indian Ocean)</p><p>- Ocellus long, placed above anterior part of anal fin with ocellus spot covering 14 dorsal-fin rays; longest gill filament 9.4% HL............................................................  N. lombokensis (off Lombok, E Indian Ocean)</p><p>4 Vertical, dark bar below ocellus spot; dorsal and anal fins without dark margin or band, dorsal-fin rays 99–103, dorsal-fin origin above vertebrae number 2–3, anal-fin origin below dorsal-fin ray number 23–25............................................................................................  N. malhaensis (Saya de Malha Bank, W Indian Ocean)</p><p>- None to a few indistinct, vertical, dark bars on body; dorsal and/or anal fin with dark margin or band, dorsal-fin rays 88–99, dorsal-fin origin above vertebrae number 4–6, anal-fin origin below dorsal-fin ray number 17–21..................... 4</p><p>4 Median part of anal fin dark, and distal and proximal parts light; head length 28–31% SL; longest gill filament 4.4–5.9% SL..............................................................  N. steatiticus (Bay of Bengal, NE Indian Ocean)</p><p>- Distal part of dorsal and anal fins dark and proximal part light; head length 21–28% SL; longest gill filament 1.3–4.9% SL.. ................................................................................................... 5</p><p>5 Developed gill rakers 8–11 (mostly 9 or 10); orbit length 4.2–5.6% SL and 37–46% upper-jaw length; precaudal vertebrae 13 (rarely 12).......................................................................................... 6</p><p>- Developed gill rakers 10–15 (mostly 11–15); orbit length 4.9–7.0% SL and 42–59% times in upper-jaw length; precaudal vertebrae 12 (rarely 13)................................................................................ 7</p><p>6 Preopercular spine indistinct or a flat process, upper-jaw length 44–52% HL, ostium height 0.77–0.93% SL, 21–25% sulcus length and 32–38% ostium length..................................  N. malayanus (Indonesia, Philippines, Vanuatu)</p><p>- Preopercular spine very short but distinct, upper-jaw length 54% HL, ostium height 0.65% SL, 17% sulcus length and 25% ostium length.................................................................  N. pako n. sp. (Solomon Sea)</p><p>7 Dorsal-fin rays 93–99, anal-fin rays 78–83, developed gill rakers 13–15, head length 21–24% SL, postorbital distance 11–14% SL, sulcus length 4.0–4.7% SL and ostium length 59–64% sulcus length.....................................................................................  N. monocellatus (Honduras to off Bahia, E Brazil, W and SW Atlantic)</p><p>- Dorsal-fin rays 89–95, anal-fin rays 72–78, developed gill rakers 10–13, head length 23–28% SL, postorbital distance 14–18% SL, sulcus length 3.4–4.1% SL, and ostium length 63–70% sulcus length........................................ 8</p><p>8 Longest gill filaments 1.4–3.7% SL; dorsal-fin rays in ocellus spot 8–12..............................................................................................  N. stefanovi (Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, NW Indian Ocean)</p><p>- Longest gill filaments 3.9–4.9% SL; dorsal-fin rays in ocellus spot 6–8.......................................................................................  N. gloriae (Arabian Gulf and inner Gulf of Oman, NW Indian Ocean)</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/039287FEFC32FF9476BAEFFEFA2C93D7	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Uiblein, Franz;Nielsen, Jørgen G.	Uiblein, Franz, Nielsen, Jørgen G. (2023): Five new ocellus-bearing species of the cusk-eel genus Neobythites (Ophidiidae, Ophidiiformes) from the West Pacific, with establishment of three new species groups. Zootaxa 5336 (2): 179-205, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5336.2.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5336.2.2
