A new species of deep water mosaic fish, Branchiostegus healthy sp. nov.It is described based on five specimens collected from the area between the Xisha Islands and the island of Hainan, China. This species can be distinguished from the congeners by its unique cheek marker and a combination of characteristics. Among the mosaic fish species that are distributed in the southern China Sea, this species is the only one with vertical stripes in the body. Based on the sequences of COI, CYTB and 12S, a phylogenetic tree of maximum probability shows that the B. SANAE sp. nov. forms a separate clad and is the brother group of the clado that consists of B. Sawakinensis, B. Albus, B. Argentatus, B. Biendong, B. Japonicus, B. auratus, and B. okinawaensis. A key to gender Branchiostegus It is also compiled.
Keywords: Lower fish, Hainan, Malacanthidae, Phylogeny, Taxonomy
#Branchiostegidae #South #China #Sea
