Verilus costai

Common Name

Brazilian Lanternbelly

Year Described

Schwarzhans, Mincarone & Villarins, 2020

Identification

Dorsal Fin: IX – I,10
Anal Fin: II, 9
Pectoral Fin: 16
Pelvic Fin: I, 5
Lateral Line Scales: <40
Gill Rakers: 27-31
Vertebrae: 10+15=25

Body fairly deep with body depth 2.9-3.4 times in SL. Lower and upper jaw symphyses with a large canine on either side. Mid-lateral side of lower jaw with a mix of canines and granular teeth. Vomer and palatine with granular teeth. Dorsal fins close together. Anterior margins of fin spines smooth. First anal fin pterygiophore straight, tapered, and pointed and bent at the antero-dorsal end. Occiput naked. 15-23 pseudobranchial filaments.

Color

Preserved material with no obvious pattern. Life colors unknown.

Size

Maximum size to 85mm SL.

Habitat

Captured from 233-294m.

Range

Known only from off Bahia State in SE Brazil.

References

Schwarzhans, W. W., Mincarone, M. M., & Villarins, B. T. 2020. A new species of the genus Verilus(Teleostei, Percomorpha, Acropomatidae) from Brazil. Zootaxa, 4751(3), zootaxa-4751.

Other Notes

Verilus pseudomicrolepis is the only close relative and differs in size, gill raker count, pseudobranch count, otolith shape, and snout length.