DESCRIPTION OF A NEW FLATFISH OF THE INDO-PACIFIC GENUS CROSSORHOMBUS(TELEOSTEI, BOTHIDAE), WITH COMMENTS ON CONGENERS

Four species of the bothid genus Crossorhombus are currently recognize d: C. azureus, C. valderostratus, C. kanekonis, and C. kobensis. In th e present study no differences between C. kanekonis and C. azureus cou ld be found. Therefore, C. kanekonis is considered a synonym of C. azu reus. A new species, C. howensis, is described from Lord Howe Island a nd Taiwan based on six specimens (five males and one female). It diffe rs from known species by a combination of ocular-side pectoral-fin len gth (in specimens greater than approximately 70 mm SL; males-0.9-1.1 t imes in head length, 23.1-27.9% SL; females-approximately 1.3 times in head length, approximately 20.0% SL), number of lateral-line scales ( 53-55), caudal-fin coloration (without broad dark cross-bands), and sh ape of a bluish black marking on the blind side of males (V-shaped). I n contrast to statements in the literature, all species of Crossorhomb us have biserial upper-jaw dentition, and males of all species have oc ular flaps and a bluish black color pattern on the blind side, the sha pe of this pattern shows differences among species.