Integrative taxonomy reveals a rare and new cusk-eel species of Luciobrotula (Teleostei, Ophidiidae) from the Solomon Sea, West Pacific

With six valid species, Luciobrotula is a small genus of the family Ophidiidae, commonly known as cusk-eels. They are benthopelagic fishes occurring at depths ranging from 115–2300 m in Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. Among them, bartschi only species West Pacific. Three specimens were collected Philippine Sea, Bismarck Solomon Sea during AURORA, PAPUA NIUGINI, MADEEP expeditions under Tropical Deep-Sea Benthos program, all them initially identified L. bartschi. Subsequent examination with integrative taxonomy indicates that they belong to two distinct specimen representing new which described here. In terms morphology, polylepis sp. nov. differs its congeners by having relatively longer lateral line (end below 33rd dorsal-fin ray) fewer vertebrae (abdominal 13, total 50). inferred COI gene tree, western do not form monophyletic group. The genetic K2P distance between 13.8% on average locus.