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ZOOTAXA
ISSN 1175-5326 (print edition)
ISSN
1175-5334
(online edition)
Copyright © 2017 Magnolia Press
Zootaxa 4338 (2): 333
–
340
http://www.mapress.com/j/zt/
Article
333
https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4338.2.7
http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:87BF1C69-6B8E-42AE-9476-D82CD93B3801
Pseudochromis stellatus, a new species of dottyback from Indonesia
(Teleostei: Pseudochromidae)
ANTHONY C. GILL
1,2
, GERALD R. ALLEN
3
& MARK V. ERDMANN
4,5
1
Macleay Museum and School of Life and Environmental Sciences, A12 – Macleay Building, The University of Sydney, New South
Wales 2006, Australia. E-mail: gill.anthony@gmail.com
2
Ichthyology, Australian Museum, 6 College Street, Sydney, New South Wales 2010, Australia.
3
Western Australian Museum, Locked Bag 49, Welshpool DC, Perth, Western Australia 6986, Australia.
4
Conservation International, Jl. Dr. Muwardi No. 17, Denpasar, Bali 80235 Indonesia
5
California Academy of Sciences, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CA 94118 USA
Abstract
The Pseudochromis reticulatus complex is diagnosed to include species of Pseudochromis with the combination of a
pointed caudal fin (rounded with middle rays produced), a reticulated colour pattern on the upper part of the body, dorsal-
fin rays modally III,26, anal-fin rays modally III,15, and pectoral-fin rays modally 18. Members of the complex include
P. reticulatus Gill & Woodland, P. pictus Gill & Randall, P. tonozukai Gill & Allen, P. jace Allen, Gill & Erdmann and P.
stellatus new species. The last-named is herein described from six specimens from Batanta and Batu Hitam in the Raja
Ampat Islands, West Papua, Indonesia. It is distinguished from other members of the complex in live coloration, and in
having higher mean numbers of scales in lateral series and of anterior lateral-line scales (36–38 and 29–32, respectively),
and a deeper body as measured from the dorsal-fin origin to pelvic-fin origin (31.8–33.5 % SL).
Key words: taxonomy, Pseudochromis reticulatus complex, Raja Ampat Islands
Introduction
Fishes of the Indo-Pacific genus Pseudochromis Rüppell (1835) were revised by Gill (2004), who recognised 57
species. Fourteen new species have been described subsequently (see Gill & Senou 2016), taking the total number
of described species in the genus to 71. Additional potentially new species from the Coral Triangle region are
currently under study by the present authors. We herein describe one such species, collected from the Raja Ampat
Islands, West Papua Province, Indonesia.
Materials and methods
Methods of counting, measuring and presentation follow Gill (2004). Minimum and maximum values are
presented for counts and measurements of all type specimens, followed where different by values for the holotype
in parentheses. Bilateral counts for the holotype are separated by a slash; the first count is from the left side.
Museum codes for type specimens follow Fricke & Eschmeyer (2017). Comparisons with other similar species are
based on specimens listed in Gill (2004), Gill & Allen (2004) and Allen et al. (2008).
Pseudochromis stellatus sp. nov.
Greenhead Dottyback
Figures 1–3; Tables 1–2
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Holotype. MZB 23884, 46.5 mm SL, Indonesia, West Papua Province, Raja Ampat Islands, Batanta, Dayan
Channel (0°48’29”S 130°27’47”E), 55 m, M.V. Erdmann, 19 February 2012.
Paratypes. WAM P.33705-002, 1: 44.9 mm SL, collected with holotype; AMS I.47330-001, 1: 36.5 mm SL,
Indonesia, West Papua Province, Raja Ampat Islands, Batu Hitam (0°4’57”S 130°4’59”E), 62 m, M.V. Erdmann, 5
December 2011; WAM P.33630-001, 3: 25.5–47.0 mm SL, collected with AMS I.47330-001.
FIGURE 1. Pseudochromis stellatus, MZB 23884, 46.5 mm SL, holotype, Dayan Channel, Batanta, Raja Ampat Islands,
Indonesia. Photo by M.V. Erdmann.
Diagnosis. A species of Pseudochromis with the following combination of characters: dorsal-fin rays III,24–
26 (usually III,26); anal-fin rays III,15; pectoral-fin rays 18–19, usually 18; scales in lateral series 36–38;
circumpeduncular scales 16; caudal fin pointed (rounded with middle rays extended to form slight to obvious
point); and dorsal-fin origin to pelvic-fin origin 31.8–33.5 % SL.
Description. Dorsal-fin rays III,24–26 (III,26), all segmented rays branched; anal-fin rays III,15, all
segmented rays branched; pectoral-fin rays 18–19 (18/18); upper procurrent caudal-fin rays 6; lower procurrent
caudal-fin rays 6; total caudal-fin rays 29; scales in lateral series 36–38 (38/36); anterior lateral-line scales 29–32
(30/?); anterior lateral line terminating beneath segmented dorsal-fin ray 19–22 (21/21); posterior lateral-line scales
7–11 + 0–2 (10 + 0/11 + 1); scales between lateral lines 3–4 (3/3); horizontal scale rows above anal-fin origin 13–
15 + 1 +3 = 17–19 (13 + 1 + 3/14 + 1 + 3); circumpeduncular scales 16; predorsal scales 19–22 (19); scales behind
eye 2–3 (3); scales to preopercular angle 5–7 (5); gill rakers 5–7 + 12–13 = 17–19 (5 + 12); pseudobranch filaments
10–12 (12); circumorbital pores 26–31 (29/29); preopercular pores 9–13 (13/12); dentary pores 4; posterior
interorbital pores 1–2 (2).
Lower lip incomplete; dorsal and anal fins without scale sheaths; predorsal scales extending anteriorly to
posterior nasal pores; opercle with 5–7 moderately developed serrations; teeth of outer ceratobranchial-1 gill rakers
well-developed on tips or distal halves of rakers only, though sometimes with teeth running most of length of upper
few rakers; anterior dorsal-fin pterygiophore formula S/S/S+3/1+1/1/1/1/1+1*/1 (S/S/S+3/1+1/1/1/1/1/1+1);
dorsal-fin spines stout and pungent; anterior anal-fin pterygiophore formula 3/1+1/1/1+1/1/1+1; anal-fin spines
stout and pungent, second spine stouter than third; pelvic-fin spine stout and pungent; second segmented pelvic-fin
ray longest; caudal fin pointed (rounded with mid-rays extended to form slight to obvious point), though rounded
in smallest (25.5 mm SL) paratype; vertebrae 10 + 16; epineurals 12–13 (13); epurals 3.
Upper jaw with 2–3 pairs of curved, enlarged caniniform teeth anteriorly, and 4–5 (at symphysis) to 2 (on sides
of jaw) inner rows of small conical teeth, outermost of rows of conical teeth much larger and more curved than
inner rows; lower jaw with 1–3 pairs of curved, enlarged caniniform teeth anteriorly, and 3–4 (at symphysis) to 1
(on sides of jaw) inner rows of small conical teeth, teeth on middle of jaw slightly larger and curved; vomer with 1–
2 rows of small conical teeth, forming chevron; palatines with 2–3 rows of small conical teeth arranged in elongate,
suboval patch, anterior part of tooth patch more-or-less contiguous with posterolateral arm of vomerine tooth
patch; ectopterygoid edentate; tongue moderately pointed and edentate.
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NEW PSEUDOCHROMIS SP. FROM INDONESIA
FIGURE 2. Pseudochromis stellatus, paratypes, AMS I.47330-001 (third from uppermost specimen) and WAM P.33630-001
(all other specimens), Batu Hitam, Raja Ampat Islands, Indonesia. Photo by M.V. Erdmann.
As percentage of SL: head length 27.2–28.6 (27.5); orbit diameter 9.7–11.8 (9.7); snout length 6.2–7.6 (6.2);
fleshy interorbital width 5.4–6.0 (5.4); bony interorbital width 4.1–4.5 (4.1); body width 12.5–13.3 (12.7); snout tip
to posterior tip of retroarticular bone 14.8–16.1 (14.8); predorsal length 33.5–35.7 (35.1); prepelvic length 30.7–
32.6 (32.5); posterior tip of retroarticular bone to pelvic-fin origin 17.6–18.6 (18.3); dorsal-fin origin to pelvic-fin
origin 31.8–33.5 (32.9); dorsal-fin origin to middle dorsal-fin ray 32.9–35.1 (35.1); dorsal-fin origin to anal-fin
origin 43.5–45.2 (45.2); pelvic-fin origin to anal-fin origin 27.8–32.1 (30.5); middle dorsal-fin ray to dorsal-fin
termination 23.7–26.7 (23.7); middle dorsal-fin ray to anal-fin origin 28.1–30.2 (28.6); anal-fin origin to dorsal-fin
termination 34.0–37.6 (34.0); anal-fin base length 25.4–29.3 (25.4); dorsal-fin termination to anal-fin termination
16.0–17.8 (17.0); dorsal-fin termination to caudal peduncle dorsal edge 10.9–12.9 (11.6); dorsal-fin termination to
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caudal peduncle ventral edge 19.4–21.6 (20.2); anal-fin termination to caudal peduncle dorsal edge 20.3–22.0
(20.6); anal-fin termination to caudal peduncle ventral edge 12.0–13.3 (12.7); first dorsal-fin spine 2.2–3.9 (2.6);
second dorsal-fin spine 5.2–7.1 (5.6); third dorsal-fin spine 7.1–9.8 (7.1); first segmented dorsal-fin ray 10.8–11.7
(10.8); fourth last segmented dorsal-fin ray 16.5–19.8 (17.2); first anal-fin spine 1.7–2.5 (1.7); second anal-fin
spine 4.2–5.5 (4.3); third anal-fin spine 6.0-8.2 (6.7); first segmented anal-fin ray 9.4–12.5 (10.8); fourth last
segmented anal-fin ray 14.5–17.2 (15.1); third pectoral-fin ray 14.8–17.2 (14.8); pelvic-fin spine 10.5-12.2 (10.8);
second segmented pelvic-fin ray 20.8–26.3 (21.1); caudal-fin length 27.8–36.7 (30.3).
FIGURE 3. Pseudochromis stellatus, underwater photos, Batu Hitam, Raja Ampat Islands, Indonesia. Photos by M.V.
Erdmann.
Live coloration (based on colour photographs of the holotype and paratypes when freshly dead, and of live
individuals at Batanta and Batu Hitam; Figures 1–3): head and predorsal area yellowish green to olive, becoming
greyish green in interorbital area and on snout, the remainder of head pale yellow or pale pink to pale grey; lips
bluish to yellowish grey; posterior rim of orbit bright yellow, this edged posteriorly with bluish grey to pale blue
curved stripe, which sometimes extends to rear third of upper jaw; anterior part of operculum with series of about
5–10 very short reddish brown bars, these sometimes broken into spots or irregular markings; iris yellow-grey to
bright yellow with outer bright blue suboval ring; body bluish grey, becoming pale yellow to pale grey on abdomen
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NEW PSEUDOCHROMIS SP. FROM INDONESIA
and breast, sometimes with upper rear part of abdomen pale pink to pale orange; scales on upper part of body each
with a bright yellow basal spot, these becoming less distinct ventrally and posteriorly; dorsal fin greyish hyaline
with spines and anterior segmented rays yellow to bright yellow; basal part of dorsal fin bright yellow, this edged
dorsally with bluish grey to blue; distal margin of dorsal fin narrowly bluish grey to blue, edged proximally on
anterior part of fin with bright yellow; middle part of fin membranes sometimes with indistinct yellow stripes; anal
fin greyish hyaline, with basal part of fin pale bluish grey; basal part of caudal fin bluish grey, bordered dorsally
and ventrally with pale blue stripes, the remainder of fin greyish hyaline; pectoral fins pinkish to yellowish hyaline;
pelvic fins bluish to yellowish hyaline, sometimes with spine and distal tip of second segmented ray pale blue.
FIGURE 4. Examples of yellow-spotted Pseudochromis from A) Rouw, Cendrawasih Bay, West Papua, Indonesia; B) Milne
Bay, Papua New Guinea. Photos by M.V. Erdmann.
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FIGURE 5. Pseudochromis sp., aquarium photo of individual from Cebu, Philippines. Note the fish was photographed under
artificial lighting that has imparted a violet/blue cast on the fish. Photo by J. Ma.
Preserved coloration: head and body dark greyish brown dorsally, becoming pale yellowish brown ventrally;
yellow spots and markings on head, body and fins become pale yellowish brown; curved blue marking behind eye
becomes greyish brown; bluish grey to blue markings on fins become greyish brown.
Habitat and distribution. Pseudochromis stellatus is known from Batanta and Batu Hitam in the northern
Raja Ampat Islands of West Papua Province, Indonesia, where it has been collected in 55–62 m and observed to at
least 70 m depth. The new species is found on deep reef slopes with gentle incline but exposed to strong currents,
and is generally found in association with small gorgonian sea fans or low-growing barrel sponges. It is most likely
more widely distributed in the region, but confusion with similar yellow-spotted pseudochromids makes
underwater identification difficult (see Comparisons). The species possibly ranges to Cebu, Philippines (see
Remarks).
Comparisons. Pseudochromis stellatus resembles Pseudochromis reticulatus Gill & Woodland (1992), P.
pictus Gill & Randall (1998), P. jace Allen, Gill & Erdmann (2008) and P. tonozukai Gill & Allen (2004) in having
a pointed caudal fin (rounded with middle rays produced), a more-or-less reticulated pattern on the upper part of
the body, and similar fin-ray counts (dorsal rays modally III,26; anal rays modally III,15; pectoral rays modally
18). Gill & Allen (2004) originally suggested a close relationship between P. tonozukai with P. bitaeniatus (Fowler
1931) and P. lugubris Gill & Allen (2004), but its morphology is more suggestive of P. reticulatus and relatives,
which we herein call the P. reticulatus complex. Pseudochromis tonozukai is readily distinguished from the
remaining species in the complex by its distinctive coloration, most notably in having an orange (in females) to
dark purple or grey (in males) mid-lateral stripe. The remaining species are distinguished from each other also by
live and preserved coloration (though live coloration is unknown for P. reticulatus). Most notably, they differ in the
degree of development of the reticulated dark stripe on the dorsal part of the body. The stripe is best developed and
intense in P. jace, where it extends from the upper lip to the eye, then behind the eye to the upper part of the caudal
peduncle. It is less distinct in P. reticulatus, in which it is broadly interrupted by a pale area between the dorsal edge
of the gill opening and the anterior part of the dorsal fin. In P. p i ct us , the stripe is uninterrupted on the head, though
indistinct. As such, it is somewhat intermediate between the conditions shown by P. j ac e and P. reticulatus. The
stripe is least well developed in P. stellatus, being present only as a diffuse dark grey area on the dorsal body.
The five species in the P. reticulatus-complex also differ in certain scale and gill-raker counts (Table 1) and in
various morphometric details (Table 2). Pseudochromis stellatus is distinguished from the other four species in
having higher mean numbers of scales in lateral series and of anterior lateral-line scales, and in dorsal-fin origin to
pelvic-fin origin ratios.
We have collected similar yellow-spotted Pseudochromis from various localities in southern and eastern
Indonesia and in eastern Papua New Guinea (Figure 4). These specimens are currently under study by us, and
appear to represent several different species. They differ most notably from P. stellatus in having shorter, rounded
caudal fins (caudal-fin length less than 26% SL), and appear to be more closely related to P. litus Gill & Randall
(1998).
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TABLE 1 . Frequencies for selected meristic characters of members of the Pseudochromis reticulatus complex. *
indicates characters for which bilateral counts are included.
TABLE 2 . Comparison of selected morphometric characters of members of the Pseudochromis reticulatus complex,
expressed as percentages of standard length (SL).
Remarks. In describing their new species Pseudochromis litus, Gill and Randall (1998) commented on three
specimens collected by the late R. Lubbock from Cebu Strait, Philippine Islands (BMNH 1983.3.25.186-188). The
specimens appear to be more similar to P. stellatus than P. litus, and are most likely the juveniles of a species that
has been photographed by Japanese divers in Cebu. This species is very similar to P. stellatus in coloration and
Scales in lateral series*
30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 mean
stellatus ------ 23537.3
jace 1--14- ---33.2
pictus ---112---34.3
reticulatus ---19471135.0
tonozukai ----211--34.8
Anterior lateral-line scales*
24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 mean
stellatus -----162130.3
jace 113- - - - - - 25.4
pictus 2- 11- - - - - 25.3
reticulatus - 14411 21- 27.5
tonozukai - 111- - - - - 26.0
Circumpeduncular scales Lower gill rakers
16 17 18 19 20 mean 12 13 mean
stellatus 6----16.0 5112.2
jace --11119.0 -313.0
pictus ----220.0 2-12.0
reticulatus 12----16.0 8412.3
tonozukai 2----16.0 2-12.0
P. stellatus P. jace P. pictus P. reticulatus P. tonozukai
Number of specimens: SL (mm) 6: 25.5–47.0 3: 37.9–62.5 2: 50.3–66.5 7: 36.0–55.6 2: 62.6–65.9
Head length 27.2–28.6 24.6–28.0 22.7–25.2 23.1–25.4 23.6–24.4
Bony interorbital width 4.1–4.5 4.2–4.5 4.2–4.4 3.6–4.0 3.8–4.6
Dorsal-fin origin to pelvic-fin origin 31.8–33.5 29.1–30.9 30.5–31.2 25.6–27.8 27.6–28.2
Middle dorsal-fin ray to anal-fin origin 28.1–30.2 28.1–28.8 28.9–30.9 24.2–27.4 24.4–25.0
Dorsal-fin origin to middle dorsal-fin ray 32.9–35.1 35.7–36.9 38.0–38.5 34.3–37.4 32.3–34.6
Anal-fin origin to dorsal-fin termination 34.0–37.6 34.9–36.4 37.1–38.0 32.8–34.9 33.8–34.8
Dorsal-fin termination to anal-fin
termination
16.0–17.8 16.3–17.3 16.7–18.1 14.7–16.2 14.5–14.7
Anal-fin base length 25.4–29.3 26.4–28.1 28.9–29.4 25.0–27.5 27.5–28.4
Fourth last segmented dorsal-fin ray 16.5–19.8 17.7–18.9 19.8–23.9 17.5–19.5 16.8–18.5
Fourth last segmented anal-fin ray 14.5–17.2 16.9–17.4 17.9–20.3 15.2–17.4 15.8–17.4
Second pelvic-fin ray 20.8–26.3 21.9–25.0 27.4–32.0 22.6–29.2 29.3–30.7
Caudal-fin length 27.8–36.7 32.2–37.4 37.9–41.2 29.4–51.1 29.2–34.7
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caudal fin shape. We are aware of one adult individual that was collected for the aquarium trade (Figure 5), but we
are not aware of any additional museum specimens. Material is needed in order to determine whether the Cebu fish
are conspecific with P. stellatus.
Etymology. The specific epithet is from the Latin, meaning starry or starred, and alludes to the yellow spots on
the upper part of the body. The name was selected by high school students as part of a science activity in the
Macleay Museum.
Acknowledgements
The first author’s studies were greatly assisted by access to facilities at the Australian Museum, and by assistance
from A. Hay, S.E. Reader and M. McGrouther. He also thanks Y.K. Tea for bringing the Cebu fish to his attention.
GRA and MVE would like to thank Wolcott Henry and the Paine Family Trust for their ongoing financial support
of our ichthyological studies, and Ken and Josephine Wiedenhoeft and the crew of the MV Putiraja for serving as a
cheerful and reliable dive platform for the expeditions where the specimens described herein were collected. We
also thank the Raja Ampat government for their ongoing support of our studies, and Renny Hadiaty from the
Indonesian Institute of Sciences for her curatorial assistance. R.D. Mooi and an anonymous reviewer provided
helpful comments on the submitted manuscript.
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