Palauan anthias

description

Description. Dorsal fin X, 16 (17), last soft ray branched to base; anal fin III, 8, last soft ray branched to base; pectoral-fin rays 14; pelvic-fin rays I, 5; principal branched caudal rays 14, upper procurrent unbranched caudal rays 6, lower procurrent unbranched caudal rays 4; pored lateral-line scales 33 (33 - 34); scale rows above lateral line to origin of dorsal fin 4; scale rows below lateral line to origin of anal fin 15 (14 - 15); gill rakers on upper limb 11, on lower limb 22 (22 - 23); vertebrae 26 (10 + 16). Body ovoid, compressed, its greatest depth 2.62 (2.57 - 2.64) in SL, the width just posterior to gill opening 2.40 (2.22 - 2.56) in depth; head length 2.93 (2.35 - 2.77) in SL; snout short, its length 5.66 (4.28 - 7.00) in head; orbit diameter 2.41 (2.53 - 2.85) in head; interorbital convex, the least bony width 3.42 (3.45 - 5.41) in head; least depth of caudal peduncle 2.78 (2.99 - 3.40) in head. Mouth large, oblique and protractile; lower jaw not projecting beyond the upper when mouth closed; maxilla 2.01 (1.92 - 2.20) in head, expanded distally, reaching below posterior border of pupil, slightly diagonal, the gape forming an angle of ca. 20 ° to the horizontal,

Tosanoidesannepatrice, a new basslet from deep coral reefs in Micronesia (Perciformes, Percoidei, Serranidae)

diagnosis

Diagnosis. A species of Tosanoides (sensu Katayama and Masuda 1980) distinguished by the following combination of characters: fourth or fifth dorsal spine the longest; dorsal-fin soft rays 16 - 17; anal-fin soft rays 8; pored lateral-line scales 33 - 34; head 2.3 - 2.9 in SL; body depth 2.6 in SL; color in life of males: head and body rose-pink, crossed by four bright yellow stripes, the third continuing as a bright red stripe with magenta edges along the middle of the body, becoming yellow centered on base of caudal fin; dorsal fin with a very broad middle yellow stripe with magenta margin; base of anal fin colored like body anteriorly, grading broadly to magenta posteriorly; pelvic fins yellow, except for magenta last two rays; eye magenta with an uneven ring of yellow around pupil; color of immature and presumed female yellow with irregular, near-vertical, wavy red lines following scale margins; anal fin magenta anteriorly, grading posteriorly to purple, with a greenish yellow streak; pelvic fins bright magenta.

Tosanoidesannepatrice, a new basslet from deep coral reefs in Micronesia (Perciformes, Percoidei, Serranidae)

discussion

Discussion. Tosanoides annepatrice is yet another example of several new fish species that have been discovered on deep coral reefs over the past several decades, mostly involving the use of modern mixed-gas closed-circuit rebreather diving technology (Pyle 1996 a, 1996 b, 2000, in press). In recent years there has been increased attention focused on mesophotic coral ecosystems (MCEs), coral-reef habitat at depths of approximately 30 - 150 m in tropical regions worldwide (Hinderstein et al. 2010, Baker et al. 2016, Loya et al. in press). Many more new species of fishes and other reef-associated marine organisms are likely to be discovered as a result of continued exploratory work in this poorly documented environment (Pyle and Copus in press, Pyle et al. in press), and particularly throughout Micronesia (Rowley et al. in press).

Tosanoidesannepatrice, a new basslet from deep coral reefs in Micronesia (Perciformes, Percoidei, Serranidae)

distribution

Distribution. Tosanoides annepatrice is known on the basis of four specimens, one (the holotype) collected at a depth of 115 m in Palau, and three paratypes collected at a depth of 148 m near Pohnpei. Additional individuals have been observed at depths of ~ 120 - 150 m at Pohnpei. The species likely occurs at similar depths throughout much of Micronesia, and perhaps more broadly within the tropical western Pacific; but more exploration of habitat at appropriate depths throughout this region is necessary to determine its complete geographic range.

Tosanoidesannepatrice, a new basslet from deep coral reefs in Micronesia (Perciformes, Percoidei, Serranidae)