Selenanthias analis Tanaka 1918

Andréfouët, Serge, Chen, Wei-Jen, Kinch, Jeff, Mana, Ralph, Russell, Barry C., Tully, Dean & White, William T., 2019, Checklist of the marine and estuarine fishes of New Ireland Province, Papua New Guinea, western Pacific Ocean, with 810 new records, Zootaxa 4588 (1), pp. 1-360 : 126

Selenanthias analis Tanaka 1918 —Pearl-spotted fairy basslet

Status at New Ireland. New record from New Guinea, based on NTUM 12361 (1 male, 21.7 mm SL, St. CP 4496- 1, northwest of New Hanover ).

Distribution and habitat. New Ireland: 1.—General distribution: Philippines north to southern Japan, south to northern Australia and New Caledonia. 129–269 m depth. Marine.

Remarks. This specimen mostly agrees with Selenanthias analis , except that the black blotch on the anal fin is missing, and the sides of the body are spotted with yellow in life. Additional research may demonstrate that this is a distinct, undescribed species.

Additional specimens were collected off southwestern New Britain (NTUM 12358, 1 specimen, St. CP4335-8; NTUM 12359, 1 specimen, St. CP4336-16; NTUM 12360, 1 specimen, St. CP4337-24).