Saturday, July 23, 2016

[Ichthyology • 2011] Odontanthias randalli • A New Anthiine Fish (Serranidae: Anthiinae) from East Lombok, Indonesia


Odontanthias randalli
White, 2011 

Abstract 
Odontanthias randalli, a new species of anthiine serranid fish from southeastern Indonesia, is described, bringing the number of known species in the genus to 14. The new species is clearly distinguished from other members of the genus by the following combination of characters: dorsal-fin soft rays 16–17, lateral-line scales 37 to 39, 3rd dorsal spine longest, 3rd dorsal-fin soft ray the only filamentous dorsal-fin ray, caudal fin lunate with extremely long filamentous lobes, depth of body 2.2 to 2. 5 in SL, vomerine-tooth patch arrowhead shaped, and body pinkish with bright yellow spots on upper half and four pale pink blotches below dorsal-fin base. The new species is compared with other members of the genus.

  Key words: Odontanthias, Serranidae, new species, Indo-Pacific, Indonesia


FIGURE 1. Lateral view of Odontanthias randalli n. sp., holotype MZB 20010, 121 mm SL, east Lombok, Indonesia. 

Diagnosis. Dorsal rays X, 16–17; anal rays III, 7; pectoral rays 15–16; lateral-line scales 37–39; gill rakers 10–13 + 21–27 (total = 32–39); body depth 2.2–2.5 in SL; spine at angle of preopercle moderately long, extending about half distance to margin of subopercle; vomerine tooth patch arrowhead-shaped; no teeth on mesopterygoids; scales dorsally on snout nearly reaching upper lip; 3rd dorsal spine elongate, 1.36–2.32 in head length; 3rd ray of dorsal fin the longest, greatly produced as a long filament; 2nd anal spine subequal to third, 2.32–2.78 in head length; caudal fin lunate, the lobes very long and filamentous, fin length 1.37–2.01 in SL. Colour when fresh mostly pink; scales on upper half of body each with a bright yellow spot; head pinkish with a vivid yellow, horizontal V-shaped marking originating on snout tip and extending posteriorly as two stripes; lower stripe running posteroventrally below eye to edge of opercle; upper stripe running posterodorsally through about the middle of eye to edge of the opercle just above primary opercular spine; nape yellowish; four pale pinkish blotches present below dorsal fin base; dorsal fin mostly yellow with some pink areas; anal fin pinkish with yellow pigment between second and third spines extending on to posterior portion of posteriorly adjacent fin membranes; caudal fin mostly pink with yellow pigment basally and extending along centre of filamentous lobes; pectoral fins pinkish with yellow stripe on anterior third extending from base of fin to about one-third distance of longest rays; pelvic fin mostly pink with yellow pigment on membrane between first and second soft rays.

Distribution. Currently known only from East Lombok in the Nusa Tenggara region of Indonesia. All type specimens were collected from the fish market at Tanjung Luar from handline fishers operating in local waters. 

Etymology. Named after John E. Randall, who has made such a significant contribution to the knowledge of anthiine fishes, and Indo–Pacific fishes in general. The review of the Odontanthias genus he co-authored provided detailed description of the nominal species and their relationships with closely related genera. Proposed vernacular name: Lombok Swallowtail 


William T. White. 2011. Odontanthias randalli n. sp., A New Anthiine Fish (Serranidae: Anthiinae) from Indonesia. Zootaxa. 3015: 21–28.