Records of anglerfishes (Lophiiformes: Lophiidae) from the western South Pacific Ocean, with descriptions of two new species

Species of Lophiidae collected from the western South Pacific Ocean are examined. Nine nominal species are recognized, all but one species with their distributions extended eastwards and southwards from the western Pacific Ocean. Two new species are described from Polynesia. Lophiodes iwamotoi n. sp. is described from five specimens collected from Savannah Seamount. It is characterized by a relatively long third dorsal‐fin spine (56·9–70·8% standard length, LS) that extends (when retracted) to between the end of the soft dorsal fin and caudal‐fin base; a relatively short fifth dorsal‐fin spine (10·5–13·1% LS); a relatively short and narrow head; 19–20 pectoral‐fin rays. Lophiodes maculatus n. sp. is described from 20 specimens collected from Marquesas Islands. It is characterized by an extremely long third dorsal‐fin spine (71·9–87·2% LS), extending well beyond the caudal‐fin base; a relatively short fifth dorsal‐fin spine (11·4–16·5% LS); 17–18 pectoral‐fin rays. A key to the lophiids in the western South Pacific Ocean is provided.