Mournful Dottyback

description

Description. Dorsal­fin rays III, 26 – 27 (III, 26), last 11 – 27 (11) segmented rays branched; anal­fin rays III, 14, all segmented rays branched; pectoral­fin rays 15 – 18 (17 / 17); upper procurrent caudal­fin rays 7 – 8; lower procurrent caudal­fin rays 7; total caudalfin rays 31 – 32 (31); scales in lateral series 48 – 50 (49 / 50); anterior lateral­line scales 30 – 38 (? / 31); anterior lateral line terminating beneath segmented dorsal­fin ray 13 – 19 (? / 15); posterior lateral­line scales 6 – 20 + 0 – 2 (6 + 1 / 6 + 1); scales between lateral lines 4 – 6 (? / 5); horizontal scale rows above anal­fin origin 15 – 17 + 1 + 2 – 4 = 19 – 21 (16 + 1 + 3 / 16 + 1 + 3); circumpeduncular scales 20; predorsal scales 23 – 28 (26); scales behind eye 2 – 3 (3); scales to preopercular angle 4 – 6 (5); gill rakers 4 – 5 + 11 – 13 = 15 – 17 (4 + 13); pseudobranch filaments 10 – 11 (11); circumorbital pores 21 – 39 (21 / 21); preopercular pores 9 – 17 (10 / 9); dentary pores 4; posterior interorbital pores 1 – 2 (2). Lower lip incomplete; dorsal and anal fins without distinct scale sheaths, although sometimes with scales intermittently overlapping fin bases; predorsal scales extending anter

Pseudochromis lugubris and P. tonozukai, two new dottyback fish species from the Indo­Australian Archipelago (Perciformes: Pseudochromidae: Pseudochrominae)

diagnosis

Diagnosis. A species of Pseudochromis with the following combination of characters: dorsal­fin rays III, 26 – 27; anal­fin rays III, 14; scales in lateral series 48 – 50; and caudal fin truncate to emarginate, sometimes weakly trifurcate.

Pseudochromis lugubris and P. tonozukai, two new dottyback fish species from the Indo­Australian Archipelago (Perciformes: Pseudochromidae: Pseudochrominae)

materials_examined

Holotype: BPBM 36253, 38.4 mm SL, Papua New Guinea, Milne Bay, west of Wahawe Point, 10 ° 16 ' S 150 ° 42 ' 42 " E, cave in 6 m, rotenone, J. L. Earle, 13 December 1993. Paratypes: AMS I. 40685 ­ 001, 47.3 mm SL, Papua New Guinea, Louisiade Archipelago, Conflict Group, east end of Irai Island, 10 ° 46 ' S 151 ° 42 ' E, outer reef slope, coral and rock, 12 – 15 m, rotenone, G. R. Allen, 1 October 1997; BMNH 2001.3.8.1, 55.9 mm SL, collected with AMS I. 40685 ­ 001; USNM 364533, 59.2 mm SL, collected with AMS I. 40685 ­ 001; WAM P. 31355 ­ 015, 3: 45.7 – 65.9 mm SL, collected with AMS I. 40685 ­ 001.

Pseudochromis lugubris and P. tonozukai, two new dottyback fish species from the Indo­Australian Archipelago (Perciformes: Pseudochromidae: Pseudochrominae)

biology_ecology

It has been observed and collected from reef caves, reef overhangs and reef slopes in 6 - 15 m. According to Michael (2004: 122), it is “ not uncommon on sheltered fringing reefs and on reef faces in Milne Bay. ”

Pseudochromis lugubris and P. tonozukai, two new dottyback fish species from the Indo-Australian Archipelago (Perciformes: Pseudochromidae: Pseudochrominae).