The Osteology of Lepidozygus Tapeinosoma (Pisces: Pomacentridae)

Lepidozygus tapeinosoma is a particulate plankton-picker with a terete body and forked tail. The neurocranium is bulbous, and the orbits large with minimal intrusion of pterosphenoid and basisphenoid. The lacrymal is expanded, and the other infraorbitals do not have serrations. The suspensorium is relatively robust but generalized; the jaws protrusible, but without the long ascending process on the premaxilla and with robust rather than small teeth which are typical of some other elongate plankton-picking pomacentrids. There are 3 predorsal bones, and 26 vertebral elements. The hypural plate in adults is in two parts: hypural 1 fused to 2, supported by the parhypural; and hypural 3 fused to 4. All hypural elements are separate in juveniles.