Tuesday, January 18, 2022

[Ichthyology • 2022] Redescription of Parapercis moki Ho & Johnson, 2013 (Trachiniformes: Pinguipedidae), with Its First Fresh Coloration Information


Parapercis moki Ho & Johnson, 2013

in Ho, Tang & Chuang, 2022.

Abstract
Two specimens of Parapercis moki Ho & Johnson were collected recently and detailed descriptions of their morphology and fresh coloration are provided. Its diagnosis is now revised as: band across head, six transverse bands on body and blade-like bar below eye; numerous small pores connected by canals forming about 9–10 vertical rows on cheek, opercle, and subopercle; scales on nape extending anteriorly to level of posterior margin of eyes; large spine on posteroventral corner of subopercle; very narrow interorbital space (1.7‒2.0% SL); 4 dorsal-fin spines, each spine progressively longer, last spine entirely connected by membrane to first dorsal-fin ray; four pairs of canine teeth anteriorly in lower jaw; and palatine teeth present, in two rows, and vomerine teeth stout, in two rows.

Key words: Teleostei, Actinopteri, taxonomy, ichthyology, Taiwan

Parapercis moki Ho & Johnson, 2013.
A‒C. NMMB-P35695, 92.3 mm SL, 1st dorsal-fin spine overlapped with 2ndspine.
D. NMMB-P35214, 58.6 mm SL.
A. Lateral view. B. Dorsal view. C. Preserved condition, lateral view. D. Fresh, lateral view.

Close-ups of head and anterior trunk of Parapercis moki, NMMB-P35695, 92.3 mm SL.
 A. Lateral view of left side, 1st dorsal-fin spine overlapped with 2nd spine. B. Dorsal view. C. Ventral view.

Parapercis moki Ho & Johnson, 2013
Mok’s sandperch

Diagnosis. A species of Parapercis with band across head, six transverse bands on body and blade-like bar below eye; numerous small pores connected by canals forming about 9–10 vertical rows on cheek, opercle, and subopercle; scales on nape extending anteriorly to level of posterior margin of eyes; large spine on posteroventral corner of subopercle; very narrow interorbital space (1.7‒2.0% SL); 4 dorsal-fin spines, each spine progressively longer, last spine entirely connected by membrane to first dorsal-fin ray; four pairs of canine teeth anteriorly in lower jaw; palatine teeth present, in two rows; and vomerine teeth stout, in two rows (revised from the original description).

Distribution. Known from southwestern Taiwan off Chong-chou and Ke-tzu-liao, Kaohsiung. Depth assumed not more than 100 m. It likely inhabits shallow waters in the southeastern Taiwan Strait.
 

Hsuan-Ching Ho, Chi-Ngai Tang, Hsiang-Chieh Chuang. 2022. Redescription of Parapercis moki Ho and Johnson, 2013 (Family Pinguipedidae), with Its First Fresh Coloration Information. Zootaxa. 5092(1); 127-133. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5092.1.7