Siphamia fraseri, Gon & Allen, 2012

Gon, Ofer & Allen, Gerald R., 2012, 3294, Zootaxa 3294, pp. 1-84 : 39-44

Siphamia fraseri new species

Figures 19, 20a; Table 8

Holotype: BMNH 1987.8 .25.24, 38.1 mm, female, Fiji, Kadavu Island , Kavala Bay, South Pacific Commission, 31 January 1978.

Paratypes: AMS IB.8340, 2: 14.1–22.6 mm, Fiji, Muklau Island , F. Shruiner, August 1968 ; BMNH 1987.8.25 : 25–31, 7: 28.0– 38.5 mm, 6 females and 1 (smallest) male, collected with holotype ; BPBM 28662 , 2 : 22.1–30.0 mm, males, New Caledonia, Nouméa, Ile aux Canards, coral on sand, 3–5 m, rotenone , R. Lubbock and P. Fourmanoir, 18 March 1975 ; BPBM 37996 , 31.5 mm, female, Tonga, Tongatapu Group, Tongatapu Island, Nuku’alofa ; off yellow pier, 5 m, among spines of Diadema , quinaldine, J.E. Randall, 6 March 1983 ; BPBM 38064 , 5 : 19.2–26.5 mm, males, Tonga, Vava’u Group , Fonua Unga Island, SW side, reef, sand and isolated coral head, 23–25 m, rotenone, J.E. Randall, 12 March 1983 ; SAIAB 1938 , 6 : 16.7–23.0 mm, Fiji, off east coast of Viti Levu, east side of Tuberua Island , 1 m , R.U. Gooding , 19 April 1970 ; ROM 43260, 18 : 15.1–41.0 mm, Fiji, N of Dravuni Island , A . R. Emery et al., 2 April 1983 ; ROM 65813, 3 : 23.8–40 mm, New Caledonia, W of Ile Nge , R. Winterbottom et al., 2 September 1991 ; ROM 65874, 2 : 27.7–32.1 mm, New Caledonia, Port de Goro , R. Winterbottom et al., 14 September 1991 ; SAIAB 1939 , 5 : 17.2–26.9 mm, largest female, Fiji, SE coast of Viti Levu, off west side of Nukulau Island , muddy sand slope, 18–20 m, in association with Astropyga Radiata, R.U. Gooding and T. Gilbert , 26 April 1970 ; USNM 207034 , 27.5 mm, collected with SAIAB 1939 ; USNM 207070 , 22.1 mm, collected with SAIAB 1938 ; USNM 341601 , 3 : 22.0– 24.8 mm, Tonga, Ha'Apai Group, Uoleva Island on west side, deep sloping reef on outside of fringing reef, live and dead coral, 18–23 m, J . T. Williams et al., 9 November 1993 ; USNM 341602 , 4 : 23.9–29.8 mm, Tonga, Vava'u Group, north side of Nuku Island at top of vertical dropoff on sloping rock/sand bottom, 12–26 m, J . T. Williams et al., 19 November 1993 ; USNM 341603 , 28.9 mm, Tonga, Vava'u Group, Mala Island , deep patch reef off west side of island, patch reef surrounded by sand, 26–30 m, J . T. Williams , 16 November 1993 .

Other material: ROM 65749, 39.0 mm, New Caledonia, Ile Nou, G. Klassen and M. Kulbicki, 29 August 1991 ; ROM 65752, 13.6 mm, New Caledonia, Ile Ua , R. Winterbottom and P. Tirard, 13 September 1991 ; ROM 65770, 2 : 28.1–28.7 mm, New Caledonia, Ile Te Ndu , R. Winterbottom and G. Klassen, 30 August 1991 ; ROM 65880, 32.5 mm, New Caledonia, Dumbea Bay , R. Winterbottom et al., 2 September 1991 ; ROM 65822, 2 : 13.6–30.7 mm, New Caledonia, Recif Laregnere , R. Winterbottom et al., 6 September 1991 ; ROM 65832, 42.7 mm, New Caledonia, Ile Ua , R. Winterbottom et al., 12 September 1991 ; ROM 65864, 28.8 mm, New Caledonia, Ile de Crouy , G. Klassen and P. Tirard, 16 September 1991 ; SAIAB 1936 , 4 : 13.3–28.7 mm, New Caledonia, Ilot , Maitre in lagoon off Nouméa, 2–3 m , R.U. Gooding , 2 January 1970 ; SAIAB 1940 , Fiji, Lau Group , west side of Ogea Levu, 0.5 m , R.U. Gooding , 6 May 1970 ; USNM 262494 , 2 : 19.3–21.8 mm and USNM 245641 , 52 : 18.2–37.8 mm, Fiji, Lau Group, Ono Ilau , Yanutha Islet, lagoon side of barrier reef, 0–5 m , V.G. Springer et al., 30 April 1982 ; USNM 341596 , 3 : 18.6–27.2 mm and USNM 341597 , 25.4 mm, Tonga, Ha'Apai Group, Lifuka Island, reef south of Pangai , 8–12 m, J . T. Williams et al., 11 November 1993 ; USNM 341598 , 19.0 mm, Tonga, Eua, deep, mostly dead reef south of Ohonua Harbour , 18–27 m, J . T. Williams et al., 2 November 1993 ; USNM 341600 , 28.1 mm, Tonga, Tongatapu Group, Malinoa Island , outer reef on north side of island, 11–17 m, J . T. Williams et al., 27 October 1993 .

Diagnosis: Dorsal rays VII+I,9; anal rays II,8; pectoral rays 14–15 (rarely 13); tubed lateral-line scales 8–13; median predorsal scales 4–5; total gill rakers 3–4 + 10–12; developed gill rakers 1 + 9–11; gill rakers on ceratobranchial 8 (rarely 7 or 9). Body depth 2.6–3.1 in SL and body width 1.9–2.2 in the depth; eye diameter 2.8–3.6 in head length; first dorsal spine 2.5–4.0 in second spine; second dorsal spine 4.0–5.4, spine of second dorsal fin 3.5–4.4, and second anal spine 4.7–5.9, all in head length; pectoral-fin length 4.6–5.1 and pelvic-fin length 3.9–4.6 in SL; caudal-peduncle length 1.3–2.1 in distance between pelvic spine insertion and anal-fin origin; light organ 1.1–1.4 in caudal peduncle length. Preopercular edge fully serrate, with 20–38 (usually more than 25) serrations; preopercular ridge smooth. Scales spinoid; lateral-line scales with vertical series of papillae. Tip of light organ on each side of tongue bound by membrane.

Colour in life: Collecting one of the paratypes ( BPBM 37996 ) in Tonga J.E. Randall remarked: “When first observed, dark brown; after spearing stripes appeared; after death silvery; fins light red.”

Colour when fresh (from colour slides by J.T. Williams): pale brown with purplish tinge, and with variable amount of dark dots of various sizes overlaid with variable amount of orange-brown dots; dark dots on body and head may expand and join each other to form dark markings ( Fig. 20a); snout and lower jaw with pinkish hue and orange-brown pigment may be present on iris; tip of lower jaw sometimes orange-brown; premaxilla with blackish dots anteriorly becoming dark line posteriorly; branchiostegal rays with dark dots; fins with orange-brown dots mostly along margins of spines and rays, denser near caudal-fin base; pectoral-fin base sometimes orange-brown; spines of first dorsal, anal and pelvic fins with dark dots; spine of second dorsal fin apparently dark only near its base; light organ silvery with dark vertical striations.

Colour in alcohol: pale brown to brown with dense dark dots of various sizes, those on top of head larger; 1–2 faint dark stripes or irregular dark blotches may be present on body, the latter sometimes only below level of lateral line; pelvic-fin base usually dark; 6–8 short, diffuse diagonal dark lines may be present on area between first dorsal-fin base and lateral line; a series of dark dots may be present on premaxilla and along edge of preopercular ridge; spines of first dorsal and pelvic fins usually with single series of dark dots on rear margin; peritoneum with dense dark dots of various sizes; stomach and intestine with smaller dark dots. (See also colour in alcohol of holotype.)

Smallest specimen, ROM 65752 and 65822, 13.6 mm, and largest specimen examined, ROM 65832, 42.7 mm, both from New Caledonia .

Description: Proportional measurements of the holotype and selected paratypes are given in Table 8. Dorsal rays VII+I,9; anal rays II,8; last soft ray of dorsal and anal fins branched to base; pectoral rays 15 (14–15), two upper and lowermost rays unbranched; pelvic rays I,5, all soft rays branched; principal caudal rays 17, some with tips damaged; upper and lower procurrent caudal rays 8 (6–8); tubed lateral-line scales 11 (8–13); vertical scale rows 24 (23–24); horizontal scale rows at level of second dorsal fin origin 7 (6–7); median predorsal scales 5 (4–5); circumpeduncular scales 12; developed gill rakers 1 + 10 (1 + 9–11); gill rakers on ceratobranchial 8 (7–9); branchiostegal rays 7.

Body compressed and relatively slender, its depth 2.9 (2.3–3.1) in SL and its width 1.9 (1.9–2.2) in depth; head length 2.2 (2.0–2.3) in SL; snout length 4.9 (4.2–5.6), eye diameter 3.4 (2.8–3.6), and flat interorbital space 5.3 (4.8–5.4), all in head length.

Mouth terminal, oblique and large; maxilla reaching posteriorly to vertical at posterior edge of pupil (to middistance between edges of pupil and orbit, respectively, in several paratypes); upper jaw length 2.0 (1.8–2.1) and lower jaw 1.8 (1.65–1.8) in head length; both jaws with band of small, conical teeth; upper jaw band with single series at symphysis, increasing to 4–5 series at middle of jaw; lower jaw band with 3 series at symphysis tapering to single series posteriorly; inner series teeth of both jaws enlarged; vomer with single series of small conical teeth; palatines with a single irregular series of similar teeth anteriorly, widening into two series posteriorly (single series, sometimes irregular, in most paratypes).

Rear nostril in front of eye slightly below level of dorsal edge of pupil, its vertical diameter about 4–5 times in pupil diameter; anterior nostril about the same size, with slightly raised fleshy rim, at level of middle of eye and slightly closer to tip of snout than to rear nostril.

Preopercular edge completely serrate; total serrations 38 (20–35), largest around angle; preopercular ridge smooth; exposed edge of posttemporal with 3 (3–5) small serrations.

Body scales large, thin and easily shed; scales spinoid, with 0–6 minute spines on posterior edge; lateral-line scales with vertical series of papillae; caudal fin with low scaly sheath of 2 or 3 scale series across its base; other fins without scales or scaly sheath.

Dorsal-fin origin over third lateral-line scale and slightly behind vertical through upper pectoral-fin base; first dorsal spine damaged 3.2 (2.5–4.0) in second spine; second dorsal spine 4.5 (4.0–5.4) and third dorsal spine longest 2.5 (2.1–2.85) in head length; spine of second dorsal fin 3.9 (3.5–4.4) and longest dorsal soft ray 2.0 (1.9–2.1) in head length; first anal spine 2.8 (2.1–4.25) in second spine; second anal spine 5.9 (4.7–5.8) and longest anal ray 2.6 (2.1–2.65) in head length; pectoral fin length 5.1 (4.6–5.0) in SL; pelvic-fin origin slightly in front of vertical though upper pectoral-fin base; pelvic fin length 4.2 (3.9–4.6) in SL and pelvic spine length 1.6 (1.3–1.7) in fin’s length; caudal fin with shallow fork and rounded lobes, 3.8 (3.05–3.7) in SL.

Dorsal profile of head straight, predorsal distance 2.3 (2.2–2.5), preanal distance 1.4 (1.4–1.5) and prepelvic distance 2.5 (2.2–2.65) in SL; caudal peduncle depth 1.4 (1.3–2.1) in its length; the length 5.7 (4.75–5.8) in SL and 2.0 (1.3–1.95) in distance between pelvic-fin base and anal-fin origin; latter distance 2.8 (2.7–4.0) in SL; light organ 1.1 (1.2–1.4) in peduncle length and 6.5 (6.0–8.0) in SL.

Colour in life: unknown.

Colour in alcohol: pale brown with dark brown dots of various sizes covering body and head; dark dots on head more spaced than on body and those on top of head somewhat larger; line of faint dark dots on premaxilla; dark dots denser on narrow region above light organ from anterior anal-fin base to lower pectoral-fin base; three irregular dark brown blotches on middle lower part of body; indistinct vertically narrow mark on upper part of caudal peduncle in front of caudal-fin base; cheek dark except for pale area below level of upper edge of maxilla; series of dark dots along edge of preopercular ridge; first dorsal-fin spines with series of faint dark dots along posterior margin; pelvic-fin base blackish and pelvic-fin spine with dark dots on proximal part; fins otherwise pale; branchiostegal rays with dark dots on inner side; peritoneum with dense blackish dots of various sizes; stomach with smaller blackish dots; intestine with patches of minute dark dots, denser near anus and absent on middle portion of hind gut.

Remarks: See Tables 1–3 for frequency distributions of pectoral rays, lateral-line scales and gill rakers. One of 44 specimens had 8 soft rays in the second dorsal fin. Some specimens with 15 pectoral-fin rays had three lower unbranched rays, the third being the lowermost, rudimentary ray. Of 17 specimens with a full complement of median predorsal scales 8 had four and 9 had five scales. When present, the fifth scale (immediately in front of first dorsal spine) was usually small and almost completely covered by the fourth scale. In several specimens only one jaw had enlarged teeth on the inner series.

Siphamia fraseri is a member of the S. tubifer species group and closely resembles S. randalli . Both species are relatively slender, have a similar number of tubed lateral-line scales and a relatively high number of developed gill rakers ( Tables 2, 3). However, S. randalli differs in having a shorter light organ (1.65–2.7 in caudal peduncle length, Fig. 3b), and in having modally fewer serrations (19–25) on the edge of the preopercle. Other species of this group that may have overlapping geographic ranges include S. jebbi , S. majimai , S. fuscolineata , S. spinicola and S. tubifer . Both S. jebbi and S. majimai have only a few tubed lateral-line scales ( Table 2). In addition, S. majimai has six spines in the first dorsal fin and fewer gill rakers ( Table 3) while S. jebbi is a small, pale species with minute, inconspicuous dark dots on the body, and two developed gill rakers on the upper limb of the first gill arch. The number of tubed lateral-line scales is generally higher ( Table 2), and the number of gill rakers is modally lower ( Table 3) in S. spinicola , S. tubifer and S. fuscolineata . Additionally, S. fuscolineata has a shorter light organ, 1.3–2.3 in the caudal peduncle length.

This species occurs at New Caledonia, Tonga and Fiji ( Fig. 8). It was collected in a variety of habitats, including reef areas with live and dead coral on sandy bottom, a turbid lagoon channel with small patch reef, and a deep patch reef surrounded by sand and muddy sand slope, at depths of 0– 30 m. Some specimens from Tonga and Fiji were found among the spines of the sea urchins Astropyga radiata and Diadema setosum . The material of this species included a 28.0 mm brooding male with an egg cluster in its mouth.

Etymology: This species is named fraseri for Dr. Thomas H. Fraser of the Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota, Florida in recognition of his numerous contributions to our knowledge of apogonid systematics.