REDESCRIPTION OF A FLATHEAD, THYSANOPHRYS OTAITENSIS (SCORPAENIFORMES, PLATYCEPHALIDAE)

A platycephalid species, Thysanophrys otaitensis is redescribed on the basis of specimens collected from Papua New Guinea and Japan. The nam e is available satisfying current nomenclatural requirements, and corr esponds to a species of Thysanophrys with papillae on lip margins. T. otaitensis is distinguished from Platycephalus fuscus in having fewer lateral line scales, gill rakers, and dorsal and anal fin rays. T. ota itensis is confirmed as a senior synonym of P. malayanus, P. variolosu s and T. papillolabium. It differs from other species of the genus in having weakly developed sensory tubes from the suborbital bones and pr eopercle, as well as a small head with a wide interorbit and papillae on the lips, but absent from the eye.