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

 Family:  Malacanthidae (Tilefishes), subfamily: Latilinae
 Max. size:  32.9 cm SL (male/unsexed)
 Environment:  benthopelagic; 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: Not Evaluated  (Ref. 96402)
 Threat to humans:  harmless
 Country info:  Possibly endemic to the Philippines for it is rarely found (Ref. 89848).

 Entered by: Busson, Frédéric - 24.04.12
 Modified by: Reyes, Rodolfo B. - 17.05.17

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