Monday, December 22, 2025

[Ichthyology • 2025] Sayonara flavolineata • A New Deep-water anthiadid perchlet (Perciformes: Anthiadidae) from Vietnam


 Sayonara flavolineata
Tang, Vo & Gill, 2025

  RAFFLES BULLETIN OF ZOOLOGY. 73

Abstract
 A new species of deep-water anthiadid perchlet, Sayonara flavolineata, is described from seven specimens collected off Nha Trang, southeastern Vietnam. Based on morphological features, it is assigned to a recently resurrected genus Sayonara Jordan & Seale, 1906, a former junior synonym of Plectranthias. Sayonara flavolineata, new species is distinctive in having yellow and reddish orange stripes when fresh, a horizontal dusky stripe in the middle of spinous dorsal fin, and a slightly concave dorsal profile of the head. It is further distinguished from other anthiadids by the following combination of characters: dorsal-fin rays X, 15; pectoral-fin rays 15–16; branched caudal-fin rays 8+7; lateral-line scales 31–35; circumpeduncular scales 12; predorsal scales extending anteriorly to posterior nostrils; body scales bearing basal cteni; scales present on maxilla, infraorbital, and mandibles; presence of trisegmental pterygiophores in both dorsal and anal fins; and two supraneurals. We updated and revised the record of species previously classified under Plectranthias in Vietnam. Including the new species, five species are now known from Vietnam and are reclassified to recently resurrected genera including Sayonara, Xenanthias, and Zalanthias.

Key words. taxonomy, species diversity, Plectranthias

Fresh colouration of Sayonara flavolineata, new species.
 A, holotype, OIM-E.55852 (field code: Q.01204-2), 101.1 mm SL; B, paratype, NMMB-P 41621 (field code: Q.01204-1), 107.9 mm SL.
Photos by Q. V. Vo.


CHI-NGAI TANG, QUANG VAN VO & ANTHONY C. GILL. 2025. Sayonara flavolineata (Perciformes: Anthiadidae), A New Deep-water anthiadid perchlet from Vietnam.  RAFFLES BULLETIN OF ZOOLOGY. 73698–708.