PROTOBLEPHARON ROSENBLATTI, A NEW GENUS AND SPECIES OF FLASHLIGHT FISH (BERYCIFORMES, ANOMALOPIDAE) FROM THE TROPICAL SOUTH-PACIFIC, WITH COMMENTS ON ANOMALOPID PHYLOGENY

Protoblepharon rosenblatti is described from a single large specimen c ollected at 274 m off Rarotonga, Cook Islands. It differs from other a nomalopids most notably in having a low number of gill rakers on the f irst arch (21 vs. 24 or more), high number of body scale rows (ca. 145 vs. 130 or fewer), no postorbital papillae, and a very small gap betw een the lacrimal and nasal for passage of the fibrocartilaginous stalk , which is twisted and not broadly exposed posteriorly. Protoblepharon is a primitive member of the lineage of flashlight fishes characteriz ed by a shutter mechanism for light-organ occlusion.