Helcogramma inclinata (Fowler, 1946)

Chiang, Min-Chia & Chen, I-Shiung, 2012, A new species of the genus Helcogramma (Blenniiformes, Tripterygiidae) from Taiwan, ZooKeys 216, pp. 57-72 : 64

Helcogramma inclinata (Fowler, 1946) Fig. 3b

Enneapterygius inclinatus Fowler 1946: 190 (Type locality: Aguni shima, Riu Kiu Island).

Helcogramma habena Williams and McCormick 1990: 1026 (Type locality: Philippines)

Helcogramma habena : Shen and Wu 1994: 19.

Helcogramma inclinatum : Fricke 1997: 446.

Helcogramma inclinata : Williams and Howe 2003: 164.

Material Examined for Description.

NTOU-P 2009-06-050, 1 specimen, 29.0 mm SL, Chenggong Township, Taitung County, Taiwan, 6 m depth, J. H. Huang, 12 June 2006; NTOU-P 2009-06-051, 2 specimens, 30.6 and 32.2 mm SL, Chenggong Township, Taitung County, Taiwan, 6-9 m depth, M. C. Chiang and I-S. Chen, 19 Aug 2006; NTOU-P 2009-06-052, 1 specimen, 37.5 mm SL, Ma-gang, Taipei County, Taiwan, 5-8 m depth, M. C. Chiang et al., 1 Sep 2006; NTOU-P 2009-06-053, 2 specimens, 33.4 and 36.3 mm SL, NW shore of Liouciou Township, Pingtung County, Taiwan, 5-12 m depth, M. C. Chiang et al., 8 July 2007; NTOU-P 2009-06-054, 2 specimens, 33.4 and 35.3 mm SL, Nan-ren-road Ferry, Pingtung County, Taiwan, 5-10 m depth, M. C. Chiang et al., 19 July 2007; NTOU-P 2009-06-055, 1 specimen, 34.2 mm SL, Feng-chui-sha, Hengchun Township, Pingtung County, Taiwan, 1-3 m depth, M. C. Chiang et al., 3 June 2008; NTOU-P 2009-06-056, 2 specimens, 30.2 and 34.3 mm SL, Xian-jiao-wan, Pingtung County, Taiwan, 9 m depth, M. C. Chiang and W. H. Li, 8 Sep 2008; NTOU-P 2009-06-057, 2 specimens, 29.0 and 30.9 mm SL, Wan-Li-Tong, Pingtung County, Taiwan, 6 m depth, M. C. Chiang and W. H. Li, 10 Sep 2008.

Description.

D III, XIV-XV (modally XV), 10-11. A I, 20-22 (usually 21-22). Lateral line with 25-32 pored scales. Dentary pore pattern 7-10+5-7+7-11 (modally 8+6+8). Supraorbital cirrus small and pointed. Nasal cirrus simple and slender. First dorsal-fin height almost equal to second dorsal-fin height. Nape scales present. Vertebrae 10+28-29. Head mottled red to reddish brown, a white or blue line extending from tip of the upper jaw to dorsal angle of the preopercle; males with dark brown or black mask on lower half of head and the the blusish white line beneath eye conspicuous. Body with 7-8 reddish brown to brown oblique single bars or Y-shaped markings; males with more densely scattered melanophores over body. Dorsal fin with alternating white and reddish brown bands on spines and rays, many tiny melanophores speckled on membrane especially near the basal and marginal parts of fins. Anal fin gray or yellowish brown to black. Caudal fin translucent with dusky area basally and distally on center of fin.

Distribution.

This species has been recorded from the northeastern, eastern and southern shores of Taiwan, Ryukyu Islands, and the northern Philippines ( Fricke 1997; Williams and Howe 2003).

Remarks.

Helcogramma inclinata was regarded as a junior synonym of Helcogramma hudsoni ( Jordan and Seale 1906) by Hansen (1986). However, it had been recognised as a valid species and a senior synonym of Helcogramma habena (Williams & McCormick, 1990) by Fricke (1997) and Williams and Howe (2003).