Pseudochromis fuligifinis, Gill, Anthony C. & Williams, Jeffrey T., 2011

Gill, Anthony C. & Williams, Jeffrey T., 2011, Description of two new species of Pseudochrominae from northern Palawan and Mindoro, Philippine Islands (Teleostei: Perciformes: Pseudochromidae), Zootaxa 3140, pp. 49-59 : 50-54

Pseudochromis fuligifinis new species

Soot-tail Dottyback

Figures 1-4 , Table 1

Holotype. PNM 15177 (from USNM 383120), 32.0 mm SL, Philippines, Mindoro Province, Verde Island, easternmost point on SE side where rocks emerge from water (hot water and bubbles coming out of rocks), 13°31.97’ N, 121° 06.18’ E, isolated pinnacle with dense coral cover and steep slope of hard and soft corals, 27–30 m, rotenone, J.T. Williams, M. Westneat, K. Carpenter, J.F. Finan, M. McGrouther, J. Janovetz, K. Parkinson, A Dantis and M. Santos, 28 May 2000 (field number MIN 00-42).

Paratypes. AMS I.40141-002, 30.9 mm SL, collected with holotype; ASU 19098, 23.8 mm SL, Philippines, Mindoro Province, Apo Reef, southern tip on outer reef, 12°37’01”N 120°29’24”E, coral, rubble field, some sand and soft corals, 5–33 m, J.T. Williams, M. Westneat, K. Carpenter, R. Mooi, et al., 3 Mar 2003 (field number BUS 03-05); ASU 19099, 26.0 mm SL, cleared and stained, collected with ASU 19098; FMNH 120316, 32.1 mm SL, collected with holotype; FMNH 120317, 3: 13.5–20.4 mm SL, collected with ASU 19098; USNM 383121, 31.9 mm SL, collected with holotype; USNM 382745, 2: 23.1–32.3 mm SL, collected with ASU 19098; USNM 383122, 24.4 mm SL, Philippines, Mindoro Province, Mamburao Reef, 13°10’04”N 120°35’12”E, rocky slope, rubble and sandy flat with silt, 30 m, rotenone, J.T. Williams, M. Westneat, K. Carpenter, M. McGrouther, et al., 3 June 2000 (field number MIN 00-62).

Diagnosis. Pseudochromis fuligifinis is distinguished from congeners by the following combination of characters: dorsal-fin rays III,25–26, with last 2–9 rays unbranched; anal-fin rays III,14–15 (usually III,15); circumpeduncular scales 16; dorsal-fin origin to pelvic-fin origin 23.4–25.9 % SL; horizontal scale rows below anterior lateral line 11–13; and caudal fin with sub-basal dark grey to black half-moon shaped marking on the caudal fin, with distal portion of fin posterior to dark spot and to distal tips of elongated dorsal and ventral lobes of fin sooty black.

Description (based on 12 specimens, 13.5–32.3 mm SL). Dorsal-fin rays III,25 (III,25 f4; III,26 f7), last 9 segmented rays branched (last 2–7 rays branched; no rays branched in 13.5 mm SL paratype); anal-fin rays III,14 (III,14 f1; III,15 f10), last 8 segmented rays branched (last 3–12 rays branched; no rays branched in 13.5 mm SL paratype); pectoral-fin rays 17/17 (16 f6; 17 16); upper procurrent caudal-fin rays 6 (6 f7; 7 f4); lower procurrent caudal-fin rays 6 (6 f10; 7 f1); total caudal-fin rays 29 (29 f7; 30 f3; 31 f1); scales in lateral series 37/37 (35 f6; 36 f9; 37 f4; 38 f2; 39 f1); anterior lateral-line scales 24/24 (20 f2; 21 f4; 22 f2; 23 f3; 24 f4; 25 f3; 26 f1; 27 f1); anterior lateral line terminating beneath segmented dorsal-fin ray 14/14 (12 f3; 13 f4; 14 f3; 15 f5; 16 f4; 17 f1); posterior lateral-line scales 6 + 0/6 + 0 (3–7 + 0–1; posterior lateral-line scales absent in three smallest paratypes, 13.5– 20.4 mm SL); scales between lateral lines 4/4 (3 f2; 4 f18); horizontal scale rows above anal-fin origin 12 + 1 + 2/ 11 + 1 + 1 (11–13 + 1 + 1–3 = 13–17); circumpeduncular scales 16; predorsal scales 17 (14 f1; 15 f1; 16 f4; 17 f3; 18 f1; scales incompletely developed in 13.5 mm SL paratype); scales behind eye 2 (2 f6; 3 f4); scales to preopercular angle 4 (3 f3; 4 f7); gill rakers 4 + 10 (3 + 10 f1; 3 + 11 f1; 4 + 10 f4; 4 + 11 f5); pseudobranch filaments 7 (7 f8; 8 f3); circumorbital pores 19/19 (12–19); preopercular pores 9/10 (7–11); dentary pores 4/4; posterior interorbital pores 1 (0–1).

Lower lip incomplete; dorsal and anal fins without scale sheaths, although sometimes with intermittent scales overlapping fin bases; predorsal scales extending anteriorly to anterior AIO pores; opercle with 4 distinct serrations; teeth of outer ceratobranchial-1 gill rakers well developed on raker tips only; 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 f2; S/S/S + 3/1 + 1/1/1/1/1/1 + 1 f6; /S + S/S + 3/1 + 1/1/1/1/1/1 + 1 f1; /S + S/S + 3/1 + 1/1/1/1/1 + 1/1 f1; S/S/S + 3/1 + 1/1/1/1/1 + 1/1 + 1 f1); dorsal-fin spines moderately slender and pungent; anterior anal-fin pterygiophore formula 3/1 + 1/1/1 + 1/1/1 + 1 (3/1/1 + 1/ 1/1 + 1/1 f8; 3/1 + 1/1/1/1 + 1/1 f2); anal-fin spines stout and pungent, second spine much stouter than third; pelvicfin spine varying from slender with weakly ossified tip to moderately slender with pungent tip; second segmented pelvic-fin ray usually longest, although sometimes sub-equal to third; caudal fin rounded with posterior margin truncate, sometimes in combination with prolongation of outer principal rays to give lyre-like shape; vertebrae 10 + 16; epineurals 13 (13 f2; 14 f5; 15 f2; not determined f2); epurals 3.

Upper jaw with 2–4 pairs of curved, enlarged caniniform teeth anteriorly, and 4–5 (at symphysis) to 1–2 (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 2–3 pairs of curved, enlarged caniniform teeth anteriorly, and 4–5 (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; palatine with 2–3 rows of small conical teeth arranged in elongate, suboval patch, anterior part of the tooth patch more-or-less contiguous with posterolateral arm of vomerine tooth patch; ectopterygoid edentate; tongue moderately pointed and edentate.

As percentage of SL (based on holotype and 8 paratypes, 23.1–32.3 mm SL): head length 25.3 (24.6–28.1); orbit diameter 10.0 (8.7–11.1); snout length 5.9 (5.5–6.2); fleshy interorbital width 5.6 (4.9–5.9); bony interorbital width 3.8 (3.4–3.9); body width 12.2 (11.5–12.6); snout tip to posterior tip of retroarticular bone 12.8 (12.8–14.3); predorsal length 32.8 (31.9–34.8); prepelvic length 30.3 (30.7–32.7); posterior tip of retroarticular bone to pelvicfin origin 18.8 (18.8–20.4); dorsal-fin origin to pelvic-fin origin 25.0 (23.4–25.9); dorsal-fin origin to middle dorsal-fin ray 32.8 (31.1–34.5); dorsal-fin origin to anal-fin origin 40.0 (38.6–40.8); pelvic-fin origin to anal-fin origin 30.9 (28.3–31.8); middle dorsal-fin ray to dorsal-fin termination 27.8 (24.8–26.6); middle dorsal-fin ray to anal-fin origin 22.8 (21.8–24.6); anal-fin origin to dorsal-fin termination 34.7 (32.5–34.8); anal-fin base length 27.8 (26.0– 27.9); dorsal-fin termination to anal-fin termination 15.0 (13.9–15.2); dorsal-fin termination to caudal peduncle dorsal edge 11.3 (10.9–11.7); dorsal-fin termination to caudal peduncle ventral edge 18.4 (17.2–19.6); anal-fin termination to caudal peduncle dorsal edge 19.7 (18.9–20.4); anal-fin termination to caudal peduncle ventral edge 12.5 (11.6–12.7); first dorsal-fin spine 1.3 (0.9–2.0); second dorsal-fin spine 3.4 (3.4–5.0); third dorsal-fin spine 6.3 (5.3–7.0); first segmented dorsal-fin ray 11.6 (8.8–11.8); fourth last segmented dorsal-fin ray 15.6 (13.6–18.0); first anal-fin spine 1.9 (1.6–2.2); second anal-fin spine 5.3 (5.0–5.9); third anal-fin spine 6.3 (4.4–7.0); first segmented anal-fin ray 10.6 (8.8–10.8); fourth last segmented anal-fin ray 16.9 (13.5–17.3); third pectoral-fin ray 15.0 (12.9–15.2); pelvic-fin spine 8.8 (7.8–9.8); second segmented pelvic-fin ray 22.2 (16.9–19.5); caudal-fin length 24.7 (20.6–24.8).

Freshly dead coloration (based on photographs of specimens from Verde Island and Apo Reef (Mindoro Province); Figs. 1–3 ): Brown colour form with head yellowish brown becoming greyish yellow on cheeks, lips and chin; body brown, becoming whitish tan ventrally on chest and abdomen; mid-posterior portion of orbital rim with black crescent, posterodorsal portion of crescent with posteriorly directed dusky bar extending to about preopercle, ventral part of crescent with pinkish line extending anteriorly from black marking, along ventral orbital rim to angle of mouth; mid-basal portion of operculum with several short reddish horizontal lines; iris yellowish brown to bright yellow with blue sub-oval ring; body scales with dark brown centers giving appearance of broken longitudinal lines along body; dorsal fin either blackish with broad yellow stripe basally from dorsal-fin origin to about ray 10 to 12, with small pinkish spot at base of each spine from this point posteriorly, narrow reddish sub-marginal stripe extending length of fin, remainder of fin dusky to black, sometimes with faint dark spots in central portion of fin; anal fin greyish to black with narrow pale pink basal stripe and narrow pale pink sub-distal stripe; caudal fin with basal half dark brown to purplish grey, posterior half with large half-moon shaped black spot outlined posteriorly with narrow orange-yellow border, distal portion of caudal fin sooty black posterior to large spot and to distal tips of elongated dorsal and ventral lobes of caudal fin; pectoral-fin pinkish to reddish with membranes translucent; pelvic fins dusky with pinkish tint.

Pinkish red colour form with head pinkish yellow to brilliant orange-red, upper part of head, lips and sometimes lower part of head pinkish yellow to bright reddish orange; mid-posterior edge of orbital rim with black streak as described above for brown form, but with pale blue line instead of pinkish line ventrally; mid-basal portion of operculum with several short purplish red horizontal lines; iris yellowish orange to bright yellow with blue sub-oval ring; body pinkish brown to maroon red becoming pinkish white or pinkish red ventrally on chest and abdomen; body scales brown with pale pinkish centers; dorsal fin bright pinkish red basally followed by pinkish grey stripe, then bright red stripe, distal half of fin yellowish and pinkish hyaline to hyaline with dark grey marginal stripe; anal fin either pinkish hyaline with pale distal margin, or purplish grey basally, becoming pinkish hyaline distally, with narrow greyish marginal stripe; caudal fin similar to dark form except basal half reddish brown to red; pectoral and pelvic fins as described for dark form.

Preserved coloration: Head and body pale brown to brown; short black crescent behind eye as described for fresh colour; body scales slightly dusky basally with faint dark lines barely evident; dorsal fin either sooty black or hyaline to pale with dark grey basal stripe; anal fin dusky or hyaline; caudal fin with basal half brown and black half-moon shaped spot over most of distal half, margins and elongate dorsal and ventral lobes sooty black or with scattered melanophores; pectoral and pelvic fins dusky hyaline.

Habitat and distribution. Pseudochromis fuligifinis is known only from Verde Island, west coast of Mindoro and Apo Reef in the Philippines. It was collected from coral reef slopes and dropoffs at depths as deep as 33 m.

Comparisons. Pseudochromis fuligifinis mostly resembles P. elongatus Lubbock (1980) from Indonesia and P. striatus Gill, Shao & Chen (1995) from the Batanes Islands, Taiwan and the Ryukyu Islands, and keys to the couplet (number 46) differentiating the two species in Gill’s (2004) key to Pseudochromis species. The three species are distinguished from all other pseudochromines in having 25–27 segmented dorsal-fin rays with the last 2–9 rays unbranched, 14–15 (usually 15) segmented anal-fin rays, 16 circumpeduncular scales, a slender body (dorsal-fin origin to pelvic-fin origin 21.9–25.9 % SL), and a sub-basal dark grey to black half-moon shaped marking on the caudal fin. Pseudochromis fuligifinis differs from P. striatus in having more horizontal scale rows below the anterior lateral line (11–13 versus 9–10), and faint dusky stripes on the body (versus five to nine clearly defined dark stripes on alternating scale rows). It is similar to P. elongatus , but is distinguished by several characters: head colour not contrasting sharply with body colour (vs. red to yellow head abruptly contrasting with brown to grey body); dark form with yellow stripe basally in dorsal fin (vs. no yellow stripe basally); distal border of caudal fin sooty black (vs. hyaline or with scattered melanophores distally on tips of ventral caudal rays); and total caudal-fin elements modally 29 (vs. modally 31; Table 1).

Remarks. Pseudochromis fuligifinis is a small species; the largest specimen examined measures 32.3 mm SL.

Etymology. The specific epithet fuligifinis is a combination of the Latin fuligo, meaning soot, and the Latin finis, meaning end. It refers to the sooty appearance of the distal ends of the caudal-fin rays. To be considered a noun in apposition.

Upper procurrent caudal-fin rays Lower procurrent caudal-fin rays

6 7 8 5 6 7 P. elongatus 2 18 1 1 4 16 P. fuligifinis 8 4 - - 11 1

Total caudal-fin rays

28 29 30 31 32 P. elongatus 1 - 5 14 1 P. fuligifinis - 8 3 1 -

Figures

FIGURE 1. Pseudochromis fuligifinis, PNM 15177 (from USNM 383120), holotype, 32.0 mm SL, Verde Island, Mindoro Province, Philippines. (Photo by J. T. Williams)

FIGURE 2. Pseudochromis fuligifinis, USNM 382745, paratype, 32.3 mm SL, Apo Reef, Mindoro Province, Philippines. (Photo by J. T. Williams)

FIGURE 3. Pseudochromis fuligifinis, USNM 382745, paratype, 23.1 mm SL, Apo Reef, Mindoro Province, Philippines. (Photo by J. T. Williams).

FIGURE 4. Distribution records for Pseudochromis elongatus (blue squares), P. fuligifinis (yellow squares) and P. s t r i a t u s (red squares) (based in part on Gill, 2004: fig. 38).