Two new parrotfishes of the genus Scarus from the Central and South Pacific, with further examples of sexual dichromatism

Scarus lauia (Jordan & Evermann) and Scarus formosus Valenciennes are junior synonyms oi Scarus dubius Bennett, the former based on the terminal phase and the latter on the initial phase. Scarus dubius is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands, one of five species of the genus in these islands. The initial phase of Scarus fiavipectoralis Schultz is grey to brown with whitish streaks on the abdomen, a dark caudal fin and yellow at the pectoral base. The range of this species is extended from the Philippines to the Marshall, Solomon, and Caroline Islands and the Great Barrier Reef. Scarusfasciatus Valenciennes is a junior svnonym of of the western Pacific 5. rivulatus Valenciennes. The initial phase is grey to brown with three pale stripes on the abdomen. Scarus lepidus Jenyns is a junior synonym of the wide-ranging Indo-Pacific S. globiceps Valenciennes. The initial phase is coloured like that of S. rivulatus. Scarus janthochir Bleeker, S. chlorodon Jenyns, and S. singaporensis Bleeker are junior synonyms of 5. prasiognathos Valenciennes; it occurs from the western Pacific to the Maldive Islands. Scarus elerae Jordan & Seale and S. urbanus (Smith) are junior synonyms of the wide-ranging Indo-Pacific S. tricolor Bleeker based on the terminal phase. Scarus dimidiatus Bleeker occurs in the western Pacific east to Samoa. Its initial phase, very similar to that of the western Indian Ocean S. scaber, is yellowish, shading to whitish ventrally, with five slightly diagonal dark bars on the upper half of the body. Callyodon mutabilis Gray is a junior synonym of S. quoyi Valenciennes. Scarus spinus (Kner) is the valid name for the distinctive bullet-headed parrotfish with a greenish yellow snout which was misidentified as S.formosus by Schultz. The initial phase is dark brown with pale bars. The terminal phase of the Pacific parrotfish Scarus schlegeli Bleeker is distinctive in possessing a pale bar on the side (yellow dorsally, light green ventrally). The drab initial phase with alternating dark and light bars was misidentified as S. venosus Valenciennes by Schultz, a junior synonym of S. psittacus Forsskǎl. The terminal phase of the western Pacific Scarus bleekeri de Beaufort has a characteristic large whitish patch bordered with blue-green on the cheek. The initial phase is dark brown, the edges of the scales narrowly orangish, shading to orange-red ventrally, with faint yellowish bars, caudal peduncle and caudal fin. A closely related species from Indonesia and the Andaman Sea is tentatively identified as 5. troschelii Bleeker. The terminal phase has a band of blue-green curving from the corner of the mouth to below the eye and back down to the pectoral base. Scarus japanensis (Bloch), identified in most recent papers as S. capistratoides Bleeker, is the terminal phase and senior synonym of the dark brown, red-tailed S. pyrrhurus (Jordan & Seale); it is restricted to the western Pacific (easternmost record, Samoa). Scarus gibbus Ruppell is differentiated into three populations based on colour. Scarus koputea sp. nov., unique in having four rows of scales on the cheek, is described from the Marquesas Islands. Scarus longipinnis sp. nov. is described from Pitcairn, Rapa, and the Capricorn Group of the Great Barrier Reef; its pelvic lins are longer and the dorsal fin more elevated than other Scarus.     

Redescriptions of the Indo-West Pacific atherinid fishes, Atherinomorus endrachtensis (Quoy and Gaimard, 1825) and A. duodecimalis (Valenciennes in Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1835)

The Indo-Pacific marine atherinid fishes, Atherinomorus endrachtensis (Quoy and Gaimard, 1825) and Atherinomorus duodecimalis (Valenciennes in Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1835), having long been confused with each other, are redescribed as valid species based on the types and nontype specimens collected from the eastern Indian Ocean and West Pacific. Atherinomorus endrachtensis, known from the Philippines, Palau, North Sulawesi and Maluku Is. (Indonesia), and New Guinea, differs from other congeners in lacking a tubercle on the dentary and having the posterior tip of the upper jaw not extending beyond a vertical through the anterior margin of the pupil, usually 10–11 anal fin soft rays, 33–35 midlateral scales, a narrow midlateral band (ca. half midlateral scale width at anal fin origin), and 3 distinct longitudinal broken black lines laterally and ventrolaterally on the body. A lectotype is designated for Atherina lineata Günther, 1872, regarded as a junior synonym of Atherinomorus endrachtensis. Atherinomorus duodecimalis, known from Sri Lanka, Thailand, Yaeyama Is. (Japan), the Philippines, Indonesia, New Guinea, Queensland (Australia), and New Caledonia, differs from other congeners in having a tubercle on the posterior end of the dentary, the posterior tip of the upper jaw not extending beyond a vertical through the anterior margin of the pupil, usually 12–13 anal fin soft rays, 35–38 midlateral scales, and a narrow midlateral band (ca. 1/2 or 3/4 midlateral scale width at anal fin origin). Atherina balabacensis Seale, 1910 is regarded as a junior synonym of Atherinomorus duodecimalis. Received: June 29, 2000 / Revised: October 31, 2000 / Accepted: January 16, 2001     

Halichoeres bleekeri (steindachner & döderlein), a valid japanese species of labrid fish, distinct fromH. tenuispinis (günther) from china

Halichoeres bleekeri (Steindachner &; Döderlein, 1887), previously regarded as a junior synonym ofH. tenuispinis (Günther), is a valid species. It is distinct fromH. tenuispinis in nearly always having 13 instead of 14 pectoral rays. 11–15 instead of 7–11 suborbital pores, longer dorsal soft rays (1.95–2.3 in head length vs 2.25–2.4 fortenuispinis). and some features of color such as the absence of a dark spot at the upper base of the caudal fin of the female.H. tremebundus Jordan and Snyder, 1902 is a synonym ofH. bleekeri based on the female form, andArtisia festiva de Beaufort is a synonym ofH. tenuispinis, also described from the female phase,H. bleekeri is known from Korea and in Japan from Tokyo to the Izu Islands.H. tenuispinis is recorded from Hong Kong and Xiamen. China, and Taiwan. Records ofH. tenuispinis from the Philippines by Fowler and Bean (1928) represent misidentifications ofH. papilionaceus (Valenciennes).     

The status of the gobioid genusParoxyurichthys

Examination of the holotype and only known specimen ofParoxyurichthys typus Bleeker, 1876, from Indonesia revealed it to have distinctions of the cephalic lateralis, post-cranial axial osteology and pigmentation diagnostic ofGobionellus oceanicus (Pallas, 1770) of the western Atlantic.Paroxyurichthys Bleeker, 1876, is a junior synonym ofGobionellus Girard, 1859. The only other species commonly referred toParoxyurichthys, Oxyurichthys laterisquamatus Weber, 1908, from New Guinea, has anterior nares medial to the oculoscapular canals of the snout. This feature is a synapomorphy of the genusStenogobius Bleeker, 1874. The new combination,Stenogobius laterisquamatus is proposed.     

A review of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Gerres subfasciatus</Emphasis> complex from the Indo-West Pacific,with three new species (Perciformes: Gerreidae)

Gerres japonicus Bleeker, 1854, and Gerres subfasciatus Cuvier in Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1830, are redescribed, and Gerres akazakii sp. nov. (Japanese endemic), Gerres ryukyuensis sp. nov. (Okinawa I., Japan), and Gerres shima sp. nov. (Indo-Malayan region, including the Andaman Sea, Southeast Asia, southern China and Taiwan, and Ryukyu Is., Japan) are described. Gerres ovatus Günther, 1859, and Gerres kapas Bleeker, 1854, are recognized as junior synonyms of G. subfasciatus and Gerres oyena (Forsskål, 1775), respectively. All species (except G. oyena) have a small (<170?mm in standard length: SL), moderately deep (depth 36–48% SL), body with dark vertical bars, dorsal fin rays X, 9 or IX, 10, and 31/2 or 41/2 scale rows between the 5th dorsal fin spine base and lateral line, defined as the G. subfasciatus complex. The five species can be variously differentiated from each other by dorsal head squamation, and differing meristic, morphometric, and color characters. They are generally distributed sympatrically in the Indo-West Pacific. Other nominal species of uncertain status or relationship are discussed.     

Systematic observations on tropical Asian medakas or ricefishes of the genusOryzias, with descriptions of four new species

The so-calledOryzias melastigma (McClelland, 1839), reported from India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Malaysia by numerous authors beginning with Day (1877), is based mainly or entirely onAplocheilus panchax (Hamilton, 1822). India and Bangladesh have two species ofOryzias, both large. The deeper-bodied of these two species is reported for the first time asO. dancena (Hamilton, 1822). The other is identified asO. carnaticus (Jerdon, 1849). Myanmar has one large species,O. dancena, and one tiny species,O. uwai new species.Oryzias minutillus Smith, 1945 andO. uwai differ from all otherOryzias in having 4/5 instead of 5/6 principal caudal fin rays.Oryzias uwai differs fromO. minutillus in being more conspicuously pigmented and having large, 6-rayed pelvic fins often extending to anal fin origin instead of much smaller and shorter 5-rayed pelvic fins. In Thailand (including its part of the Mekong basin) three species are known: a large estuarine species tentatively identified asO. javanicus (Bleeker, 1854) and two tiny inland species,O. mekongensis Magtoon & Uwa, 1986, andO. minutillus. Oryzias minutillus from many localities are more or less melanoproctic, i.e. have a darkly pigmented genital or vent area not seen in other species. The Mekong basin in Laos has two large species,O. latipes (Temminck & Schlegel, 1846) andO. pectoralis new species, distinguished by a prominent black blotch on the pectoral fin base, both recently collected in the Nam Theun watershed in central Laos; and two tiny species,O. mekongensis andO. minutillus. Only one species ofOryzias is known from the Mekong delta in Vietnam, the small moderately deep-bodiedO. haugiangensis new species, with 19–22 anal and 9–10 pectoral fin rays. The Indonesian island of Java has one large species,O. javanicus (Bleeker, 1852) with 21–25 anal and 11 pectoral fin rays, and one small species,O. hubbsi new species, with only 17–21 anal and 9 pectoral fin rays.     

Revision of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Nuchequula</Emphasis> with descriptions of three new species (Perciformes: Leiognathidae)

The leiognathid genus Nuchequula can be defined by the following combination of characters: mouth protruding downward; a narrow band of small, slender, villiform teeth in both jaws; teeth on upper jaw strongly recurved; the lateral line almost complete; a dark blotch on the nape. Although the genus was first established as a subgenus of Eubleekeria, it is here raised to generic level on the basis of the aforementioned morphological characters and recent molecular biological evidence. The genus comprises six valid species: N. blochii (Valenciennes 1835), distributed in India and Thailand; N. flavaxilla sp. nov., occurring only at Panay I., Philippines; N. gerreoides (Bleeker 1851), widely distributed in the Indo-West Pacific, from the Persian Gulf to Cape York, Australia, and north to Taiwan; N. glenysae sp. nov., from northern Australia and Ambon, Indonesia; N. longicornis sp. nov., from the Gulf of Thailand and Indonesia; and N. nuchalis (Temminck and Schlegel 1845), occurring in southern China including Taiwan, and southern Japan. Diagnostic characters of the species belonging to the genus are as follows: N. blochii—breast scaled, cheek naked, and a conspicuous black blotch distally on spinous dorsal fin; N. flavaxilla sp. nov.—breast naked, dorsolateral body surface fully scaled, preorbital spine bicuspid and not expanded distally, and second dorsal and anal fin spines conspicuously elongated; N. gerreoides—breast naked, anterior part of dorsolateral surface of body almost completely scaled, and second dorsal and anal fin spines not conspicuously elongated; N. glenysae sp. nov.—breast completely scaled, cheek scaled, and unique complicated sensory canals present on the suborbital area, extending to the nape; N. longicornis sp. nov.—breast naked, dorsolateral body surface fully scaled, preorbital spine bicuspid or tricuspid and extended distally, and second dorsal fin spines only conspicuously elongated; N. nuchalis—breast naked, anterior part of dorsolateral surface of body widely naked, and a conspicuous dark blotch distally on spinous dorsal fin.     

Redescription of Polydactylus sexfilis (Valenciennes in Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1831), a senior synonym of P. kuru (Bleeker, 1853) with designation of a lectotype (Perciformes: Polynemidae)

Polydactylus kuru (Bleeker, 1853), originally described from Jakarta, Java, Indonesia, has been regarded as a valid species. However, examination of two syntypes of Polynemus kuru revealed their close similarity to three syntypes of Polynemus sexfilis Valenciennes in Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1831, in the synonym of which the former is herein included. Polydactylus sexfilis, which is widely distributed in the Indo-Pacific region, is redescribed on the basis of a newly-designated lectotype and two paralectotypes, and a wide range of non-type material. The species is characterized by six pectoral filaments, 15 or 16 pectoral fin rays, 61–67 pored lateral line scales, 8–10 scales above the lateral line, 12–14 below, 11–14 and 15–18 upper and lower series gill rakers, respectively (27–31 total), teeth present on vomer and a long second dorsal fin ray (mean 26% [range 21–30%] of standard length). Received: July 7, 2000 / Revised: August 29, 2000 / Accepted: September 30, 2000     

Juveniles of Kyphosus vaigiensis (Quoy and Gaimard 1825) with reference to a senior synonym of Cantharus lineolatus Valenciennes 1830

The juveniles of Kyphosus vaigiensis (Quoy and Gaimard 1825), collected from the Indian Ocean and Japanese waters, are described with some ontogenetic morphological changes based on six specimens having 14 dorsal and 13 anal fin soft rays, 56–62 scales in a longitudinal row along the midbody, and 30–32 gill-rakers on the first gill-arch. The juveniles of K. vaigiensis smaller than ca. 42 mm in standard length (SL) have the proximal parts of the dorsal and anal fin soft-rayed portions covered with small scales, and the single outer row of the upper jaw teeth consisting of incisor-like and conically pointed teeth, the former with polycuspid tips differing from the specimens greater than ca. 68 mm SL. The holotype of Cantharus lineolatus Valenciennes 1830, 41.5 mm SL, was included here in the juveniles as K. vaigiensis. Therefore, K. vaigiensis is recognized as a senior synonym of C. lineolatus.     

Redescription of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bregmaceros mcclellandi</Emphasis> Thompson, 1840 (Gadiformes: Bregmacerotidae)

 This study redescribes Bregmaceros mcclellandi Thompson, 1840, based on one specimen (74.4 mm SL) from the Bay of Bengal and 66 specimens (30.0–84.7 mm SL) from Mumbai (Bombay), India, because the type specimens have apparently been lost. The present specimens are characterized by having black dorsal, pectoral, and caudal fins and show the following morphology: caudal fin slightly forked; body chromatophores present mainly at the dorsal part; no scales on cheek; vertebrae 52–55 (13–15 + 38–41); dorsal rays 52–59; anal rays 54–60; pectoral rays 18–20; caudal rays 27–31 (principal rays 14); transverse scales 14–15. In the 66 Mumbai specimens, it was confirmed that the distinctive black fin pigmentation developed sequentially with growth, with complete pigmentation first on the anterior lobe of the dorsal fin, then simultaneously on the posterior lobe of the dorsal fin, the caudal fin, and the pectoral fin, and last, on the anal fin. This species is known only from the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, and Gulf of Thailand. A review of 16 nominal Bregmaceros species indicates that, besides B. mcclellandi, the distinctive dark fin pigmentation is found in B. atripinnis (Tickell), B. atlanticus Goode and Bean, B. japonicus Tanaka, and B. lanceolatus Shen. B. atripinnis is considered a junior synonym of B. mcclellandi, and the others are clearly distinct from B. mcclellandi. Comments are made on some of the characters to more fully characterize the species and for reference in future revisionary and phylogenetic studies. Received: June 17, 2002 / Revised: December 2, 2002 / Accepted: December 24, 2002     

Atrosalarias hosokawai, a new species of blenny (perciformes: Blenniidae) from the western pacific

A new species of blenny,Atrosalarias hosokawai is described on the basis of 15 specimens from the western Pacific. It is distinguished from the only known congeneric species,A. fuscus (=A. fuscus fuscus+A. fuscus holomelas), by the following: supraorbital cirrus broad and flat (vs. slender and thread-like inA. fuscus); dorsal fin broadly contacting caudal fin (vs. narrow contact); anal fin narrowly contacting caudal fin (vs. usually free or (rarely) very narrow contact); posteriormost dorsal and anal fin rays long (vs. short); first or posteriormost soft dorsal fin ray shortest (vs. posteriormost ray shortest); first soft anal fin ray shortest (vs. posteriormost ray shortest); caudal fin rays branched in specimens over 36.0 mm SL (vs. unbranched); a large dark spot on base of pectoral fin absent (vs. present or absent); a red margin on anterior dorsal fin absent (vs. present). Futhermore,A. hosokawai differs fromA. f. fuscus in having a lower number of dorsal fin spines (ten vs. eleven) and geographical distribution (western Pacific Ocean vs. Indian Ocean and Red Sea). AlthoughA. hosokawai occurs sympatrically withA. f. holomelas, it can be further distinguished from the latter in lacking a large dark spot on base of pectoral fin.     

Lepturacanthus roelandti (Bleeker, 1860), a valid species of hairtail (Perciformes: Trichiuridae)

A trichiurid, Lepturacanthus roelandti (Bleeker, 1860), previously regarded as a synonym of L. savala (Cuvier, 1829), is redescribed as a valid species on the basis of the holotype of the former and four non-type specimens. This species differs from the two valid congeners, viz., L. savala and L. pantului (Gupta, 1966), in having a gold sheen or yellowish-silver color when fresh (vs. steel-blue with metallic sheen in the latter two), posterior margin of maxilla reaching or extending beyond a vertical through hind eye margin (vs. not extending beyond a vertical through hind eye margin), pectoral fin slightly longer than snout (vs. slightly shorter than snout), tip of pectoral fin clearly extending beyond dorsal outline when vertically orientated (vs. not reaching dorsal outline), gill rakers absent or reduced to stiff ossified structures (vs. well developed, spinelike), first anal fin spine situated below the 40th–43rd dorsal fin ray (vs. below 35th–39th in L. pantului and 35th–40th in L. savala), precaudal vertebrae 42–43 (vs. 35–39 in L. pantului and 36–40 in L. savala), and attaining larger sizes [882–1200 mm in total length (TL) vs. less than 800 mm TL in the latter two].     

Redescription of Ammodytoides gilli, the tropical eastern Pacific sand lance (Perciformes: Ammodytidae)

Ammodytoides gilli (Bean, 1895) is the correct name for the tropical eastern Pacific sand lance. Its range is extended from Cabo San Lucas, Baja California south to Panama, Ecuador, and the Galapagos Islands. Ammodytes lucasanus Beebe and Tee-Van, 1938 is a junior synonym. Types of both nominal species were re-examined. The species is redescribed based on 50 specimens (42.3-115 mm SL) from 12 lots and is compared with other known species of Ammodytoides. Changes in ontogeny from the smallest known specimen (42.3 mm SL, illustrated) are detailed including reduction in the posterior dorsal fin lobe and development of branched dorsal and anal fin rays.     

Validity of the atherinid fish, Atherinomorus vaigiensis (Quoy and Gaimard, 1825), with comments on its synonymy

The Australian marine atherinid fish, Atherinomorus vaigiensis (Quoy and Gaimard, 1825), having long been synonymized under A. lacunosus (Forster in Bloch and Schneider, 1801), is redescribed as a valid species based on the holotype and non-type specimens. Atherinomorus vaigiensis, known only from eastern and western Australia, differs from other congeners in lacking a distinct tubercle on the posterior end of the dentary and having the posterior tip of the upper jaw not extending beyond a vertical through the anterior margin of the pupil, 12–15 anal fin soft rays, 24–28 lower gill rakers, 39–42 midlateral scales, and a narrow midlateral band (width about 2/3 to 5/6 that of midlateral scale at level of anal fin origin). Atherina cylindrica Valenciennes in Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1835 and Pranesus ogilbyi Whitely, 1930 are regarded as junior synonyms of Atherinomorus vaigiensis. Received: April 26, 2001 / Revised: July 11, 2001 / Accepted: July 16, 2001     

Four new records of fish species (Cypriniformes：Nemacheilidae,Balitoridae; Characiformes：Prochilodontidae) and corrections of two misidentified fish species (Tetraodontiformes：Tetraodontidae; Beloniformes：Belonidae) in Yunnan,China

In this study, six fish species of five families are reported for the first time from Yunnan Province, China. The nemacheilid Schistura amplizona Kottelat, 2000 is reported from the Luosuojiang River and Nanlahe River subbasins, Mekong basin; the prochilodontid Prochilodus lineatus (Valenciennes, 1837), the balitorid Vanmanenia serrilineata Kottelat, 2000, and the tetraodontid Monotrete turgidus Kottelat, 2000, from Nanlahe River subbasin, Mekong basin; the balitorid Beaufortia daon (Mai, 1978), and the belonid Xenentodon canciloides (Bleeker, 1854), both, from Black River subbasin, Red River basin. The freshwater puffer M. turgidus and the needlefish X. canciloides have been previously misidentified as Tetraodon leiurus (Bleeker, 1950) and Tylosurus strongylurus (van Hasselt, 1823), respectively.     

Taxonomic status of Hoplichthys regani Jordan 1908 (Scorpaeniformes: Hoplichthyidae), with comments on its authorship

Validity of a ghost flathead, Hoplichthys regani Jordan 1908, which has sometimes been regarded as a junior synonym of Hoplichthys gilberti Jordan and Richardson 1908, was evaluated. We conclude that H. regani is a valid species from comparison of specimens of both species, including the name-bearing types. Hoplichthys regani can be distinguished from H. gilberti by the length of the longest free pectoral fin ray and length of each dorsal fin spine in males. We also redescribe H. regani and discuss its authorship, following the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature.     

Nomenclatural status of the fish names created by J. C. van Hasselt (1823) and of some cobitoid genera

The nomenclatural status of the 16 genera and 42 species of fishes described by van Hasselt is reviewed. One genus is preoccupied and 4 genera and 26 species are nomina nuda. The status of some cobitoid generic names is reviewed with greater details:Noemacheilus van Hasselt is a nomen nudum;Acantophthalmus van Hasselt is a junior synonym ofCobitis Linnaeus andAcanthophthalmus Bleeker is an incorrect spelling; the fishes usually calledAcanthophthalmus arePangio Blyth;Acanthopsis Bleeker is an incorrect spelling ofAcantopsis van Hasselt;Acanthopsis Agassiz is valid and its type species isA. angustus Agassiz.