Cyclichthys spilostylus ( Leis and Randall, 1982)

Cyclichthys spilostylus ( Leis and Randall, 1982) View in CoL

Chilomycterus spilostylus Leis and Randall, 1982: 363 View in CoL , figs 1, 2 (Red Sea)*

*extant types

Based on examination of 23 museum specimens, including the types. This species was mis-identified as Cyclichthys echinatus (Linnaeus, 1758, ref. 2787) by some authors (see Leis and Randall, 1982, ref. 8453), but echinatus is most likely a synonym of Chilomycterus reticulatus (Linnaeus) . Other than this, there are no real questions as to the identity of this wide-ranging species. The pelagic stage of this species has a tentacle emerging from each spine. These tentacles are lost at settlement.

Distribution. Indo-Pacific

W Indian Ocean – Capetown, South Africa to Gulf of Elat, Red Sea, Muscat to western India and Mauritius (also a MediterraneanrecordfromIsraelbyGolani(1993),presumably via Suez Canal)

E Indian Ocean – Northwest Cape, Western Australia to Bali

W Pacific – Southern Japan to Hong Kong, Philippines, New Caledonia, and northern Great Barrier Reef.

E Pacific – Galapagos (single record, including photograph, by Humann [1997], repeated by Grove and Lavenberg [1997], ref. 24023).