Treffer: Resurrection of the five-ocellated left-eye flounder Pseudorhombus ocellifer Regan 1905 (Paralichthyidae), with redescriptions of Pseudorhombus pentophthalmus Günther 1862 and Pseudorhombus oculocirris Amaoka 1969.

Three valid species of five-ocellated left-eye flounders, Pseudorhombus ocellifer Regan 1905, Pseudorhombus oculocirris Amaoka 1969 and Pseudorhombus pentophthalmus Günther 1862 (Paralichthyidae), are redescribed, the first-mentioned having been previously regarded as a junior synonym of P. pentophthalmus, although morphologically similar to P. oculocirris. However, P. ocellifer is readily distinguished from both of the aforementioned congeners by the presence of scales on the ocular surface of the snout (vs. naked in the latter); very narrow space between the upper orbit and dorsal head contour, vertical distance between the upper orbit and dorsal-fin base almost always less than 50% of upper orbit diameter (UOD) [vs. relatively wide interspace, distance more than 40% of UOD in specimens >100 mm standard length (SL)]; and relatively short 2nd and 3rd dorsal-fin rays, almost equal to or shorter than UOD (vs. longer than UOD in specimens >70 mm SL). Moreover, P. pentophthalmus differs from P. oculocirris in having slightly fewer dorsal- and anal-fin rays [67–74 (mode 71) and 51–57 (mode 54), respectively vs. 71–78 (mode 74 or 75) and 53–58 (mode 56)]; and a relatively wide posterior region of the interorbital space, with 9–34 scales (usually 16 or more in large specimens) (vs. interorbital space restricted by a bony bump in large specimens, with fewer than 15 scales). The validity of the three species was also supported by DNA barcoding. Arnoglossus wakiyai Schmidt 1931 and Pseudorhombus annamensis Chabanaud 1929 are synonymized under P. ocellifer and P. pentophthalmus, respectively, and lectotypes of P. ocellifer and P. annamensis are designated herein. Pseudorhombus ocellifer, P. oculocirris and P. pentophthalmus are all distributed in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, P. ocellifer from Taiwan north to Japan, P. pentophthalmus from the Java Sea (Indonesia) north to Okinawa Island, Japan, and P. oculocirris from Vietnam to Japan. A key to the above three species, comprising the P. pentophthalmus species complex (defined herein), is also provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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