Socotra Dottyback

description

Description (based on 44 specimens, 22.5 – 71.0 mm SL; data for all types followed, where variation was noted, by data for holotype in parentheses). Dorsal-fin rays III, 29 – 31 (III, 31), last 6 – 22 (11) segmented rays branched; anal-fin rays III, 18 – 20 (III, 19), last 5 – 16 (15) segmented rays branched; pectoral-fin rays 17 – 19 (19 / 19); upper procurrent caudal-fin rays 6 – 8 (8); lower procurrent caudal-fin rays 6 – 7 (7); total caudal-fin rays 29 – 32 (32); scales in lateral series 41 – 47 (44 / 44); anterior lateral-line scales 29 – 36 (32 / 30); anterior lateral line terminating beneath segmented dorsal-fin ray 16 – 22 (20 / 19); posterior lateral-line scales 5 – 10 + 0 – 1 (6 + 0 /? + 0); scales between lateral lines 3 – 5 (4 / 4); horizontal scale rows above anal-fin origin 12 – 15 + 1 + 2 – 4 = 15 – 19 (13 + 1 + 3 / 13 + 1 + 3); circumpeduncular scales 19 – 22 (20); predorsal scales 20 – 25 (22); scales behind eye 3 – 4 (3); scales to preopercular angle 4 – 6 (5); gill rakers 4 – 6 + 11 – 12 = 15 – 18 (5 + 12); pseudobranch filaments 7 – 11 (9); circumorbital pores 15 – 42 (34 / 42); preopercular pores 9 – 24 (21 / 24); dentary pores 4 – 5 (4 / 4); posterior interorb

Pseudochromine and pseudoplesiopine dottyback fishes from the Socotra Archipelago, Indian Ocean, with descriptions of two new species of Pseudochromis Rüppell (Perciformes: Pseudochromidae)

diagnosis

Diagnosis. A species of Pseudochromis with the following combination of characters: dorsal-fin rays III, 29 – 31; scales in lateral series 41 – 47; anterior lateral-line scales 29 – 36; head with two bright blue to turquoise stripes and conspicuous black pigmentation around upper laterosensory pores; body and fins generally dark grey to black.

Pseudochromine and pseudoplesiopine dottyback fishes from the Socotra Archipelago, Indian Ocean, with descriptions of two new species of Pseudochromis Rüppell (Perciformes: Pseudochromidae)

discussion

Remarks. Putative synapomorphic coloration characters (Table 4) suggest that P. dutoiti, P. s o c o tr a e ns i s and P. springeri form a clade exclusive of P. aldabraensis (synapomorphy: conspicuous black pigmentation surrounding upper laterosensory pores on the head). Relationships within this clade are inconclusive: one character (blue wedge extending under pectoral fin from pectoral-fin axil to pelvic-fin base) suggests a sister relationship between P. s o c o t r a e n s i s and P. dutoiti, while the dark anal fin, caudal-fin and body coloration suggests a sister relationships between P. socotraensis and P. springeri. Research on the niche ecology and conservation genetics of P. s o c o t r a e n i s is currently underway as part of by a joint project of the second author with H. Pulch of the BiK-F.

Pseudochromine and pseudoplesiopine dottyback fishes from the Socotra Archipelago, Indian Ocean, with descriptions of two new species of Pseudochromis Rüppell (Perciformes: Pseudochromidae)

etymology

Etymology. The specific epithet refers to the known distribution of the species.

Pseudochromine and pseudoplesiopine dottyback fishes from the Socotra Archipelago, Indian Ocean, with descriptions of two new species of Pseudochromis Rüppell (Perciformes: Pseudochromidae)