A new species of the genus Malakichthys (Perciformes : Acropomatidae) fromJapan

A new acropomatid, Malakichthys barbatus, is described on the basis of 27 s pecimens (76.3-180.1 mm SL) collected from Suruga Bay to Tosa Bay, along th e southern Pacific coast of Japan. The new species is unique in having nume rous pairs of spines on the chin (a pair of spines in other congeners). Alt hough the new species resembles M. elegans in having a slender body (the de pth less than 35% SL), the former is further distinguishable from the latte r in having a slender first proximal radial of the anal fin with no hollow (broad with a cone-shaped hollow in M. elegans), 43-48 lateral line scales (48-51), modally 21 gill rakers on the lower arm (modally 23), and a dark b lotch on the opercle (no remarkable blotch).