This dataset contains the digitized treatments in Plazi based on the original journal article Kaga, Tatsuya (2017): Redescription of Ateleopus japonicus Bleeker 1853, a senior synonym of Ateleopus natalensis Regan 1921 (Teleostei: Ateleopodiformes: Ateleopodidae). Zootaxa 4238 (4): 583-592, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4238.4.6

Abstract

Ateleopus natalensis Regan 1921, described from off the coast of Natal, South Africa, has been regarded as a valid species. Regan (1921) stated that the difference between the two species is the condition of the lower-jaw teeth: toothless in A. natalensis vs. teeth present in Ateleopus japonicus Bleeker 1853. However, the condition of lower-jaw teeth of Ateleopus has been proved an unreliable character because the lower-jaw teeth are very deciduous. Although Regan (1921) also implied that the differences between the two species include several body proportions, my examination of two syntypes and non-type specimens of A. natalensis from the western Indian Ocean revealed their close similarity to the range of many specimens of A. japonicus. Ateleopus japonicus is redescribed as a senior synonym of A. natalensis.

Key words: Ateleopus japonicus, A. natalensis, syntypes, taxonomy, synonymy, western Indian Ocean

GBIF url: https://www.gbif.org/dataset/947c4dad-ee7b-414b-b38e-4823cbb3f7c5
Homepage: https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/summary/FFE9F672A35EFFEEC16F5E2F3D30FFA8
Citation: Kaga T, plazi (2017). Redescription of Ateleopus japonicus Bleeker 1853, a senior synonym of Ateleopus natalensis Regan 1921 (Teleostei: Ateleopodiformes: Ateleopodidae). Plazi.org taxonomic treatments database. Checklist dataset https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4238.4.6 accessed via GBIF.org on 2026-02-12.