Taxonomic Status of Three Nominal Species of Indo-Pacific Flatfishes (bothidae) with Redescription of Japonolaeops Gracilis New Combination

The taxonomic status of three nominal species of Indo-Pacific bothid flatfishes, Laeops cypho Fowler, 1934, L. gracilis Fowler, 1934 and Japonolaeops dentatus Amaoka, 1969, is resolved. Japonolaeops gracilis (Fowler, 1934) is a new combination reflecting transfer of gracilis from Laeops to Japonolaeops. Japonolaeops gracilis, previously known only from the holotype, is redescribed based on 27 specimens, including the holotype. This species occurs between 48–440 m from the Saya de Malha Bank through Fiji, New Caledonia, the Philippines and Japan. Japonolaeops dentatus is a junior subjective synonym of J. gracilis. Laeops cypho, previously reported only from the holotype and paratype, is a junior subjective synonym of Neolaeops microphthalmus (von Bonde, 1922).