São Tomé Comber

description

DESCRIPTION. — Measurements and counts are presented in tables 1 – 5. Body relatively slender and compressed, width over pectoral bases about half of HL, greatest body depth about 2.7 – 3.2 in SL and less than HL, which is about 2.4 – 2.6 in SL. Dorsal and ventral profiles gently curved from tip of snout to caudal fin. Snout shorter in length than orbit diameter; both substantially more than interorbital width. Lower jaw projecting slightly beyond upper jaw; maxilla extending to below posterior half of pupil. Preopercle margin serrated with flattened spines, those at angle largest. Mouth large with upper jaw reaching to the level of the rear edge of the eye or beyond. Premaxillary teeth in a narrow band, the outer series spaced and slightly enlarged; one or more large canines at anterior end. Dentary with a band of small teeth flanked by a series of slightly enlarged outer teeth that become larger posteriorly. Vomerine tooth band broadly V-shaped, followed on each arm by narrow band of small palatine teeth. Dorsal rays X, 12; first 4 – 5 spines of dorsal fin graduated, the 3 rd to 5 th spines longest, the spines following subequal; the soft rays slightly higher than longest spines,

A New Species of Serranus from São Tomé and Príncipe, Eastern Atlantic (Pisces Teleostei, Serranidae)

diagnosis

DIAGNOSIS. — Dorsal rays X, 12; dorsal fin notched between spinous and soft part; anal rays III, 7; pectoral rays usually 15 (rarely 14 or 16); pelvic rays I, 5; gill rakers 6 – 9 + 12 – 14 (19 – 23 total); pored lateral-line scales 42 – 49; circumpeduncular scales 20 – 25, usually 22 – 24; interorbital without scales. Caudal fin truncate, the upper lobe slightly produced, lower lobe rounded. Dorsal, anal, and pectoral fins scaly near base. Scales ctenoid, not deciduous; 5 – 6 rows of scales from the beginning of the dorsal fin to the lateral line; three opercular spines, the middle one largest, the upper one often obscure, the lower one sometimes invisible to the naked eye; rear margin of anterior nostril forming a flap usually fringed with 4 – 6 long cirri that reach well past the rear nostril; posterior nostril a simple opening lacking a raised rim. Lips red with dark bands; a short moustache-like red streak behind end of maxillary, running across hind margin of dentary and almost meeting opposite streak at midventral line and enclosing ivory-white of mandibular rami; another red diagonal streak running from upper edge of maxillary, across lower edge of preopercle, across intero

A New Species of Serranus from São Tomé and Príncipe, Eastern Atlantic (Pisces Teleostei, Serranidae)

discussion

REMARKS. — In the aquarium literature, Hemdal (2009) described and figured a Serranus species from the coast of Ghana called “ Peppermint basslet ”. It is similar to S. pulcher (compare Figs. 10 and 11) and almost certainly belongs to the same species. A tissue sample from a specimen collected for the aquarium trade at Ningo, east of Tema harbour in Ghana, at about 12 m depth (05 ° 41.177 ʹN, 000 ° 17.510 ʹE) will be analysed for its DNA sequence. Many years ago, the first author sent specimens and photographs of the new species to Phil Heemstra (SAIB), who agreed to describe it. But after several years during which he apparently made no progress on the description, Heemstra agreed to send all the specimens back. In the ensuing years, as collecting efforts using SCUBA on the islands of São Tomé and Príncipe became more common (see Afonso et al. 1999 and Wirtz et al. 2007), many more specimens of the new species became available. The species was, in fact, discovered to be quite common in coastal waters of the islands. It also appeared to be a species taken by aquarium collectors on the mainland coast of Africa off Ghana, although the identity of fish from that country has yet to be

A New Species of Serranus from São Tomé and Príncipe, Eastern Atlantic (Pisces Teleostei, Serranidae)

etymology

ETYMOLOGY. — pulcher, Latin, meaning beautiful. PROPOSED ENGLISH COMMON NAME. — São Tomé Comber.

A New Species of Serranus from São Tomé and Príncipe, Eastern Atlantic (Pisces Teleostei, Serranidae)