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| [upper] Verulux solmaculata Yoshida & Motomura, 2016 [lower] Verulux cypselurus (M. C. W. Weber, 1909) Fig. 1 a Preserved holotype of Verulux solmaculata sp. nov. (WAM P.31360-011, 37.3 mm SL, Papua New Guinea); b Fresh specimen of V. cypselurus (KAUM–I. 62903, 35.8 mm SL, Japan) |
Abstract
Verulux solmaculata sp. nov., a new cardinalfish based on 88 specimens collected from Papua New Guinea and Australia, differs from V. cypselurus, the only other known member of the genus, by the following characters: higher modal numbers of pectoral fin-rays (16 vs. 15 in the latter) and developed gill rakers (14 vs. 13), a broader black band extending over 3–5 (mode 4) rays on each lobe of the caudal fin (vs. 1–3, mode 2), and a black blotch on the caudal-fin base (vs. blotch absent).
Keywords: Teleostei, Verulux cypselurus, Taxonomy, Distribution
Diagnosis. A species of Verulux with the following combination of characters: pectoral-fin rays 16 (rarely 15 or 17); developed gill rakers 13–16 (modally 14); gill rakers including rudiments 17–20 (modally 18); distinct black blotch on caudal-fin base; black pigments on 3–5 (modally 4) rays on each caudal fin lobe.
Distribution. Verulux solmaculata sp. nov. is currently known only from Papua New Guinea and northern Western Australia (Fig. 3), at depths of 18–20 m.
Etymology. The specific name “solmaculata” is derived from Latin, meaning “sunspot”, in reference to the distinct blotch on the caudal-fin base.
Diagnosis. A species of Verulux with the following combination of characters: pectoral-fin rays 16 (rarely 15 or 17); developed gill rakers 13–16 (modally 14); gill rakers including rudiments 17–20 (modally 18); distinct black blotch on caudal-fin base; black pigments on 3–5 (modally 4) rays on each caudal fin lobe.
Distribution. Verulux solmaculata sp. nov. is currently known only from Papua New Guinea and northern Western Australia (Fig. 3), at depths of 18–20 m.
Etymology. The specific name “solmaculata” is derived from Latin, meaning “sunspot”, in reference to the distinct blotch on the caudal-fin base.
Tomohiro Yoshida and Hiroyuki Motomura. 2016. A New Cardinalfish, Verulux solmaculata (Perciformes: Apogonidae), from Papua New Guinea and Australia.
Ichthyological Research. DOI: 10.1007/s10228-016-0539-2
Ichthyological Research. DOI: 10.1007/s10228-016-0539-2
