Alelia’s Damselfish

diagnosis

Diagnosis and description. A species of Altrichthys distinguished by the following combination of characters: dorsal rays XIV, 13 - 14; anal rays II, 15, tubed lateral line scales 14 - 15 (Table 1); preorbital and sensory pores small and numerous, usually more than 30, adult coloration in life pale green on upper half grading to white on lower part; iris silvery; pale yellow to gold outer margin of dorsal and upper and lower edges of caudal fin. Fins mainly white to translucent. Juveniles up to 16 mm in length are mostly white with a prominent yellow stripe along the lateral line (Figure 3). Adults are generally of the same size as other Altrichthys adults, approximately 70 - 80 mm TL. Altrichthys alelia differs from A. curatus by having long filaments at the trailing edges of the dorsal and caudal fins, and from A. azurelineatus by lacking any black lining of the outer edges of dorsal and caudal fins. These black margins are represented by yellow / gold margins in A. alelia (Figure 4). Pored lateral line scales easily distinguish A. curatus (17 - 18) and A. azurelineatus (10 - 14). Counts for A. alelia are most similar to and overlap A. azurelineatus counts, but exhibit a higher m

Altrichthysalelia, a new brooding damselfish (Teleostei, Perciformes, Pomacentridae) from Busuanga Island, Philippines

distribution

Distribution. Known from northern Busuanga Island at San Jose, Palawan Province, Philippines (Figure 2).

Altrichthysalelia, a new brooding damselfish (Teleostei, Perciformes, Pomacentridae) from Busuanga Island, Philippines

etymology

Etymology. The name Altrichthys alelia derives from the combined first names of Alessio Bernardi and Amalia Bernardi, who greatly helped during field-work on Altrichthys.

Altrichthysalelia, a new brooding damselfish (Teleostei, Perciformes, Pomacentridae) from Busuanga Island, Philippines

materials_examined

Comparative material. Altrichthys azurelineatus. Holotype: USNM 89957 (one specimen, Uson Island), Paratypes USNM 96398 (one specimen Tara island), USNM 96425 (one specimen, Tara Island). Altrichthys azurelineatus 5 specimens from Uson Island, A. curatus 5 specimens from Uson Island and Sangat Island.

Altrichthysalelia, a new brooding damselfish (Teleostei, Perciformes, Pomacentridae) from Busuanga Island, Philippines