A new species of Bathysphyraenops from the Indian Ocean with comments on the genus (Teleostei: Acropomatiformes: Howellidae).

A new species, Bathysphyraenops radhae, is described from the equatorial western Indian Ocean. It resembles Bathysphyraenops declivifrons in the shape of snout and number of pseudobranchial filaments in adults but can be readily distinguished from all known members of Howellidae by its characteristically armed preopercle and in strong reduction or absence of spinules on scales around the pectoral fin. The genus Bathysphyraenops is rediagnosed, and the characteristics useful in diagnosing the howellid genera are briefly discussed.