Okinawan Tilefish
(Branchiostegus okinawaensis)
Image source: Jo's Animal Database
General data
A new tilefish, Branchiostegus okinawaensis, is described on the basis of 9 specimens collected from Okinawa Island, Ryukyu Islands, Japan.
This species is easily distinguished from other congeners by the following combination of characters: 5–6 diagonal scale rows on cheek with 2 enlarged scales in the middle of row, its maximum diameter 2.2–3.0 in orbit diameter; scales on cheek not covered with skin; head length 3.0–3.3 in standard length; first dorsal-fin spine
1.7–2.3 in orbital diameter; second dorsal-fin spine 0.9–1.3 in orbit diameter; second pelvic-fin soft-ray longest; pelvic-¿n length shorter than the longest dorsal-fin soft ray length (13th); longitudinal lateral-line scales 75–86; silvery cheek; a rectangular, dusky-yellow blotch on the fin membrane between first and third dorsal spines; upper half of caudal fin bright yellow and lower half greenish grey with 2 yellow stripes running horizontally from the middle of caudal peduncle to
caudal-fin margin.
It is known only from Okinawa Island on sandy to muddy bottoms of the type locality at depths of 100–200 m.
