Saturday, March 28, 2020

[Ichthyology • 2020] Plectranthias cruentus • A New Species of Anthiadine Perchlet (Teleostei: Serranidae) from the Lord Howe Rise, Tasman Sea


Plectranthias cruentus Gill & Roberts. 2020

Plectranthias pelicieri Randall & Shimizu, 1994


Abstract
Plectranthias cruentus new species is described from the holotype and two paratypes collected off Ball’s Pyramid and a paratype from Lord Howe Island. It resembles P. pelicieri Randall & Shimizu 1994 in live coloration and most morphological details, including absence of predorsal scales anterior to the supratemporal commissure, but differs in having the fifth or sixth (versus third) dorsal-fin spine longest, at least some pectoral-fin rays branched (versus all unbranched), and inconspicuous (versus distinct) serrations on the interopercle. It also differs in live coloration details.

Keywords: Pisces, ichthyology, taxonomy, osteology, distributions

Plectranthias cruentus new species, AMS I.42725-007, 57.3 mm SL, freshly dead holotype, off Ball’s Pyramid, Lord Howe Island, Australia.
Photo by Robin McPhee/Kerryn Parkinson, NORFANZ voyage 2003

Plectranthias cruentus new species 
Common name: Bloody Perchlet

Etymology. The specific epithet is from the Latin, meaning stained or spotted with blood, and alludes to the bright red markings in life. 


 Plectranthias pelicieri, aquarium individual from New Caledonia.
Photo by Y.K. Tea.


 Anthony C. Gill and Clive D. Roberts. 2020. Plectranthias cruentus, A New Species of Anthiadine Perchlet (Teleostei: Serranidae) from the Lord Howe Rise, Tasman Sea. Zootaxa. 4750(4); 560–566. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4750.4.6 

The jigsaw: putting together the Bloody Perchlet puzzle