Gold-spotted Dottyback

description

Description (based on 19 specimens, 31.1 – 64.7 mm SL; data for all types followed, where variation was noted, by data for holotype in parentheses). Dorsal-fin rays III, 28 – 31 (III, 29), all or all but first 1 – 3 segmented rays branched (all segmented rays branched); anal-fin rays III, 18 – 19 (III, 19), all segmented rays branched; pectoral-fin rays 17 – 19 (19 / 19); upper procurrent caudal-fin rays 7 – 9 (8); lower procurrent caudal-fin rays 7 – 8 (7); total caudal-fin rays 31 – 34 (32); scales in lateral series 47 – 52 (51 / 49); anterior lateral-line scales 36 – 43 (42 / 40); anterior lateral line terminating beneath segmented dorsal-fin ray 21 – 26 (24 / 23); posterior lateral-line scales 5 – 13 + 0 – 2 (10 + 1 / 8 + 1); scales between lateral lines 3 – 4 (3 / 3); horizontal scale rows above anal-fin origin 12 – 15 + 1 + 2 – 4 = 16 – 19 (14 + 1 + 3 / 14 + 1 + 3); circumpeduncular scales 19 – 22 (20); predorsal scales 19 – 24 (20); scales behind eye 3; scales to preopercular angle 5 – 6 (6); gill rakers 3 – 5 + 10 – 12 = 14 – 17 (4 + 11); pseudobranch filaments 8 – 11 (11); circumorbital pores 33 – 76 (54 / 53); preopercular pores 16 – 42 (25 / 24); dentary pores 3 – 5 (5 /

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, 28 – 31; anal-fin rays III, 18 – 19; scales in lateral series 47 – 52; scales below lateral-line 12 – 15, usually 13 – 14; scales on upper flank each with dark blue to dark purple basal spot; and scales on posterior part of body with gold basal spots.

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

discussion

Remarks. Research on the niche ecology and conservation genetics of P. chrysospilus is currently underway as part of 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 is from the Greek “ chrysos, ” gold, and “ spilos, ” spot, and alludes to the distinctive gold spots on the body.

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