Tuamotuichthys bispinosus, a new genus and species from off Tuamotu Islands, South Pacific Ocean (Ophidiiformes, Bythitidae)

A new by t hit id genus and species, Tuamotuichihys bispinosus, is described from an adult male (88 mm SL), caught by dredge in 1990, off Morane Atoll, Tuamotu Archipelago (23 deg 08 min 43 sec N S, 137 deg 09 deg 19 sec N W,536m). It is characterized by having large scales on head and body, two opercular spines, few gill rakers (total 11, 3 of them long), depressed head, vertically expanded posterior maxilla, and a short predorsal (29% SL), each of which resembles several known genera (Calamopteryx, Cataetyx, Diplacanthopoma, Grammonus, and Lucifuga). The combination of character states, however, does not fit any of the known bythitid genera.