Erdmann's Dottyback

description

Description (based on eight specimens, 48.7 – 81.5 mm; data for all types followed, where variation was noted, by data for holotype in parentheses): Dorsal-fin rays III, 25 – 27 (III, 26), all or all but first (all) segmented rays branched; anal-fin rays III, 13 – 14 (III, 14), all segmented rays branched; pectoral-fin rays 17 – 19 (18 / 18); upper procurrent caudal-fin rays 6; lower procurrent caudal-fin rays 5 – 6 (5); total caudal-fin rays 27 – 28 (28); scales in lateral series 40 – 45 (43 / 43); anterior lateral-line scales 33 – 36 (35 / 35); anterior lateral line terminating beneath segmented dorsal-fin ray 19 – 21 (20 / 20); posterior lateral-line scales 5 – 9 + 0 – 2 (9 + 0 / 9 + 1); scales between lateral lines 3 – 4 (4 / 4); horizontal scale rows above anal-fin origin 13 – 16 + 1 + 3 – 4 = 17 – 20 (15 + 1 + 3 / 14 + 1 + 3); circumpeduncular scales 20; predorsal scales 17 – 21 (17); scales behind eye 3 – 4 (4); scales to preopercular angle 6 – 8 (8); gill rakers 5 – 6 + 11 – 12 = 16 – 18 (5 + 12); pseudobranch filaments 13 – 16 (15); circumorbital pores 26 – 35 (35 / 32); preopercular pores 12 – 14 (14 / 14); dentary pores 4; posterior interorbital pores 1 – 2 (1). Lower li

Pseudochromis erdmanni, a new species of dottyback with medially placed palatine teeth from Indonesia (Teleostei: Perciformes: Pseudochromidae)

diagnosis

Diagnosis. A species of Pseudochromis with the following combination of characters: palatine tooth patches inserted medially behind vomerine tooth patch; large dark grey to black spot on posterodorsal corner of operculum; pale blue curved bar behind eye; and anal fin without broad dark distal stripe.

Pseudochromis erdmanni, a new species of dottyback with medially placed palatine teeth from Indonesia (Teleostei: Perciformes: Pseudochromidae)

discussion

Remarks. Kuiter and Tonozuka (2001) recognised a single species, P. moorei, from the Philippines to northern Australia, noting (p. 137): “ The Bali and Lombok population was recently described as a separate species P. s t e e n e i on the basis of colour differences. The Philippine and northern Australian populations lack white bar behind eye, but in Sulawesi […] it has a short stripe with other body and fin colours identical to Philippine fish. ” The implication is that the Sulawesi fish (P. erdmanni) are intermediate between P. s t e e n e i, and that there is a single widespread species (with P. howsoni forming the southern form in northern Australia). We interpret the distribution of coloration characters among species in the group as indicating nested sister-group relationships, rather than intermediate forms (see above).

Pseudochromis erdmanni, a new species of dottyback with medially placed palatine teeth from Indonesia (Teleostei: Perciformes: Pseudochromidae)

etymology

Etymology. Named for Mark Erdmann of Conservation International, Indonesia, who collected the type specimens. Mark has worked closely with the second author for the past six years and is responsible for numerous new discoveries, resulting from his deep scuba collections from the East Indian region, including several new pseudochromids.

Pseudochromis erdmanni, a new species of dottyback with medially placed palatine teeth from Indonesia (Teleostei: Perciformes: Pseudochromidae)