gold-rim chromis

description

(Figs. 3 a – 3 c, Table 4; Morphbank 105; GenBank 106; Barcode 107)

Five new species of the damselfish genus Chromis (Perciformes: Labroidei: Pomacentridae) from deep coral reefs in the tropical western Pacific

description

Description. Dorsal rays XIV, 13 (12 in one paratype); anal rays II, 13 (14 in one paratype); all dorsal and anal rays branched, the last to base in some specimens; pectoral rays 19 (18 – 19), the upper 2 and lowermost unbranched; pelvic rays I, 5; principal caudal rays 8 + 7 = 15; upper and lower procurrent caudal rays 5, the anterior 3 spiniform, the posterior 2 segmented and unbranched; tubed lateral-line scales 16 | 17 (16 – 17); posterior midlateral scales with a pore or deep pit 8 (5 – 8); scales above dorsal fin to origin of dorsal fin 3.5 (3 – 3.5); scales below lateral line to origin of anal fin 10 (9 – 10.5); gill rakers 6 + 21 = 27 (6 – 7 + 20 – 21 = 26 – 27); surpaneural (predorsal) bones 3; vertebrae 12 + 13. Body moderately deep, depth 1.71 (1.68 – 1.86) in SL, and compressed, the width 3.02 (2.93 – 3.22) in body depth; head length 3.28 (3.18 – 3.37) in SL; dorsal profile of head with slight convexity anterior to eye, slight concavity dorsal to eye, and slight convexity on nape; snout shorter than orbit diameter, its length 3.71 (3.82 – 4.30) in head length; orbit diameter 2.61 (2.35 – 2.63) in head length; interorbital space convex, its width 2.61 (2.54 – 2.74) in he

Five new species of the damselfish genus Chromis (Perciformes: Labroidei: Pomacentridae) from deep coral reefs in the tropical western Pacific

diagnosis

Diagnosis. Dorsal rays XIV, 12 – 13 (usually 13); anal rays II, 13 – 14 (usually 13); pectoral rays 18 – 19; spiniform caudal rays 3; tubed lateral-line scales 16 – 17; gill rakers 6 – 7 + 20 – 21 (total 26 – 27); body depth 1.68 – 1.86 in SL; color when fresh mahogany brown with bright yellow distally on spinous portion of dorsal fin; soft portion of dorsal fin, caudal fin, and anal fin bright yellow.

Five new species of the damselfish genus Chromis (Perciformes: Labroidei: Pomacentridae) from deep coral reefs in the tropical western Pacific

discussion

Remarks. This species was first observed and photographed from a submersible by Patrick L. Colin at Enewetak in the Marshall Islands. An unconfirmed sighting and video clip of this species from the Mariana Islands requires verification. It was observed at Yap at depths of 98 – 120 m, in a group of about a dozen individuals living among large (~ 1 – 2 m) rock boulders just above the upper edge of a precipitous drop-off. A juvenile of approximately 40 mm SL was observed by the first author at a depth of 120 m, below the site where the type specimens were collected; its color pattern was consistent with that of the adults. Two photos appearing on p. 390 of Kuiter & Tonozuka (2001), labelled as Chromis analis 120 (Cuvier 1830), bear a remarkable resemblance to C. circumaurea, but differ in number of dorsal-fin spines (XIII vs. XIV) and color of body (paler in C. analis), caudal peduncle (dark centrally vs. entriely yellow), and central region of caudal fin (transparent vs. yellow). This species also bears a superficial resemblance in color to Chromis flavicauda 121 (Günther 1880) from the western Atlantic Ocean, but is readily distinguished from that species on the basis of body color

Five new species of the damselfish genus Chromis (Perciformes: Labroidei: Pomacentridae) from deep coral reefs in the tropical western Pacific