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| Cirrhilabrus cyanogularis
Tea, Frable & Gill, 2018
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Abstract
Cirrhilabrus cyanogularis, sp. nov., is described on the basis of the holotype and three paratypes from Banguingui Island, Sulu Archipelago, Philippines, and a paratype from Sulawesi, Indonesia. The new species belongs to a complex consisting of C. filamentosus (Klausewitz), C. rubripinnis Randall & Carpenter, and C. tonozukai Allen & Kuiter. Aside from similar nuptial male coloration, the four species share the following character combination: a single row of cheek scales; dorsal-fin spines taller than dorsal-fin rays (slightly incised between spinuous and soft dorsal fin in C. rubripinnis and C. cyanogularis; last three dorsal-fin spines converging to form a single filament in C. tonozukai and C. filamentosus); relatively long pelvic fins (reaching past anal-fin origin); and isthmus and breast blue. The new species differs from the other members of the complex in lacking a dorsal filament, as well as possessing six predorsal scales, more extensive blue coloration on the isthmus, lower head and breast, and a soft dorsal fin with narrow black, medial stripe. The status of Klausewitz’s Cirrhilabrichthys is briefly discussed.
Keywords: taxonomy, ichthyology, Banguingui Island, Sulu Archipelago, coloration, Pisces
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| FIGURE 5. Cirrhilabrus cyanogularis, aquarium specimen, approximately 75 mm TL, from Banguingui Island, Sulu Archipelago, Philippines. Image reversed, specimen not retained. Note the extensive blue coloration reaching the bases of the pectoral, pelvic and anal fins. Photo by Y.K. Tea. |
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| FIGURE 6. Cirrhilabrus cyanogularis, aquarium specimen from Sulawesi, Indonesia. Specimen not retained. Photo by K. Endoh. |
Cirrhilabrus cyanogularis n. sp.
Blue-throated Fairy-wrasse
Diagnosis. Cirrhilabrus cyanogularis differs from congeners in having the following combination of
characters: single row of cheek scales; six predorsal scales; dorsal-fin spines taller than segmented rays; no
filament on middle of dorsal fin; pelvic fins long, reaching past anal-fin origin; males in life with broad blue area
covering isthmus, lower part of head and breast to at least pelvic origin, and soft dorsal fin with narrow black,
medial stripe.
....
Etymology. The specific epithet is a combination of the Greek kyanos, blue, and Latin, gularis, throated,
alluding to the extensive blue throat coloration of males of the species. Gender is masculine.
Distribution and habitat. Cirrhilabrus cyanogularis is known from the type locality from Banguingui Island,
Sulu Archipelago, Philippines and from an unknown locality in Sulawesi, Indonesia (Figure 8). ....
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| FIGURE 9. Males of selected Cirrhilabrus species: A) Cirrhilabrus cyanogularis from Bali, Indonesia (photo by K. Nishiyama); B) C. tonozukai from Lembeh, Sulawesi, Indonesia (photo by G. Allen); C) C. rubripinnis from Anilao, Luzon, Philippines (photo by G. Allen); D) C. filamentosus from Nusa Penida, Bali, Indonesia (photo G. Allen). |
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| FIGURE 10. Males of selected Cirrhilabrus species in nuptial display: A) Cirrhilabrus cyanogularis from Derawan, Indonesia (photo by H. Chan); B) C. tonozukai from East Timor (photo by G. Allen); C) C. rubripinnis from Anilao, Philippines (photo by G. Allen); D) C. filamentosus from Bali, Indonesia (photo R. Kuiter). |
Yi-Kai Tea, Benjamin Frable and Anthony C. Gill. 2018. Cirrhilabrus cyanogularis, A New Species of Fairy Wrasse from the Philippines and Indonesia (Teleostei: Labridae). Zootaxa. 4418(6); 577–587. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4418.6.5
