Branchiostegus saitoi Dooley & Iwatsuki, 2012
Branchiostegus saitoi
photo by Iwatsuki, Y.

Family:  Latilidae (Deepwater tilefishes)
Max. size:  32.9 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  benthopelagic; marine; depth range 210 - 220 m,
Distribution:  Pacific Ocean: possible endemic to the Philippines.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 7-7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 15-15; Anal spines: 2-2; Anal soft rays: 12-12; Vertebrae: 24-24. This species is distinguished from its congeners by the following set of characters: great body depth (28-29% SL; vs. the usual 27% SL); longer head length 30-31% SL (vs. usual 28%),: head profile oblique, about 130 degree angle (vs. usual 95-130 degrees); head depth 26-27% SL (vs. usual 26% SL); eyes high on head, interorbital width 31-34% HL; small orbital diameter 24–25% HL, only B. sawakinensis and B. albus with small orbital diameters, 23-24% HL) long predorsal length 35% SL (vs. usual 30-32% SL, rarely 33-34% SL), deep body 28-29% SL (vs. usual 24-27%, rarely, only in B. japonicus and B. semifasciatus, 28-29% SL); wide body 14-15% SL (vs. usual 11-13% SL); number of first arch gill rakers low 18 + 1 rudimentary (vs. most other species 18-24, modally 19-22) (Ref. 89848).
Biology:  This species inhabits burrows as do other tilefishes (Ref. 89848).
IUCN Red List Status: Data deficient (DD); Date assessed: 01 March 2017 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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