Bennett’s Perchlet

description

We add the following new observations: scales with peripheral cteni; vertebrae 10 + 16 (9 + 17 reported by Allen & Walsh 2015, is apparently due to different counting methods); supraneurals 3; predorsal formula 0 / 0 + 0 / 2 / 1 + 1; dorsal pterygiophores in interneural spaces 9 – 13 1 / 1 / 1 + 1 / 1 + 1 / 1 + 1; no trisegmental pterygiophores associated with dorsal fin; terminal dorsal pterygiophore in interneural space 18; no trisegmental pterygiophore associated with anal fin; terminal anal pterygiophore in interhaemal space 5; ribs present on vertebrae 3 through 10; epineurals present on vertebrae 1 through 10; parhypural and hypurals autogenous; well-developed hypurapophysis on parhypural; epurals 3; single uroneural (posterior uroneural absent); ventral tip of cleithrum with well-developed posteroventral process; proximal tip of first anal-fin pterygiophore near distal tips of parapophyses on vertebra 10. Shepherd et al. (2020) described P. hinano from two specimens from Tahiti, French Polynesia. They also published a photograph of a similar species from Maloelap Atoll, Republic of the Marshall Islands. They noted that P. hinano is most similar to P. bennetti, with an uncorr

Review of Australian species of Plectranthias Bleeker and Selenanthias Tanaka (Teleostei: Serranidae: Anthiadinae), with descriptions of four new species

diagnosis

Diagnosis. The following combination of characters distinguishes P. bennetti from congeners: dorsal rays X, 15, fourth spine longest; pectoral rays 13, all unbranched; lateral line complete, with 29 – 30 scales; lower part of preopercle with three enlarged antrorse spines; scales on head extending anteriorly to point varying from mid-interorbital to anterior part of interorbital, but well short of posterior nostrils; no scales on snout, maxilla, infraorbitals, mandibles or chin.

Review of Australian species of Plectranthias Bleeker and Selenanthias Tanaka (Teleostei: Serranidae: Anthiadinae), with descriptions of four new species

discussion

Remarks. Allen & Walsh (2015) described P. bennetti on the basis of the holotype collected by Cairns Marine aquarium fish collector T. Bennett at Holmes Reef, Coral Sea. They noted that the collector had collected one other specimen of the species, but it had been sold to the Japanese aquarium trade. However, we located an additional specimen (WAM P. 33842 - 001), which had been collected at Holmes Reef by T. Bennett in 2012 but had been misidentified as P. winniensis. The specimen has damaged tips to median and pectoral-fin ray rays and some missing scales on the right side but is otherwise in good condition (Figure 14 A). Two additional specimens were available for study, both collected by T. Bennett at Holmes Reef subsequent to the original description. The three specimens agree well with Allen & Walsh’s (2015) original description of P. bennetti in all salient features, including those in the above diagnosis. They extend known meristic variation in the following characters (counts from non-type specimens given first, followed by those from Allen & Walsh in parentheses): gill rakers 7 + 14 – 16 (5 + 13); pseudobranchial filaments 13 – 16 (15); serrations on vertical portion of p

Review of Australian species of Plectranthias Bleeker and Selenanthias Tanaka (Teleostei: Serranidae: Anthiadinae), with descriptions of four new species

materials_examined

Material examined. Coral Sea, Australia. AMS I. 49489 - 001, 47.0 mm SL, Holmes Reef, outer reef slope, 125 m, T. Bennett, 3 Dec 2019; QM I. 39334, 50.3 mm SL (holotype, radiograph only), Holmes Reef, 16 ° 24.327 ′ S, 147 ° 49.442 ′ E, 63 m, T. Bennett, 11 May 2015; WAM P. 33842 - 001, 44.7 mm SL, Holmes Reef, 16 ° 29.73 ′ S, 147 ° 51.83 ′ E, 40 m, T. Bennett, Jan 2012; ZRC 61168, 55.1 mm SL, Holmes Reef, T. Bennett (no other data; obtained through Singapore aquarium trade).

Review of Australian species of Plectranthias Bleeker and Selenanthias Tanaka (Teleostei: Serranidae: Anthiadinae), with descriptions of four new species