Synchiropus tudorjonesi Allen and Erdmann, 2012

Fricke, Ronald, 2016, Synchiropus novaehiberniensis, a new species of dragonet from New Ireland, Papua New Guinea, western Pacific Ocean, with a review of subgenus Synchiropus (Neosynchiropus) and description of a new subgenus (Teleostei: Callionymidae), Journal of Natural History 50, pp. 3003-3028 : 3014-3015

Synchiropus tudorjonesi Allen and Erdmann, 2012

Redback dragonet

Synchiropus tudorjonesi Allen and Erdmann, 2012: 10 , figs 1, 2 (oceanic patch reef, 2° 25.830' S, 134°54.409' E, north of Tridacna Atoll , Cenderawasih Bay, West Papua Province, Indonesia, 70 m depth; holotype: MZB 20019).

Distribution and habitat. Indonesia (Bali, Sulawesi, West Papua); Papua New Guinea (Milne Bay). Sand and rubble, 50– 120 m.

Key to the species of the subgenera Synchiropus (Neosynchiropus) and Synchiropus (Acommissura) subgen. nov.

1. All anal-fin rays branched (the last divided at its base)......................................................... ................................................ subgenus Synchiropus (Neosynchiropus) ( Nalbant, 1979) , 2

– Anal-fin rays unbranched (the last divided at its base) ......................................................... .......................................................... subgenus Synchiropus (Acommissura) subgen. nov., 7

2. Preopercular spine with one dorsal point additional to main tip................................ 4

– Preopercular spine with two dorsal points additional to main tip.............................. 3

3. Upper part of pectoral-fin base with a large dark blotch; males: all spines of first dorsal fin filamentous; first dorsal fin black, with many oblique white lines; second dorsal fin irregularly spotted; caudal fin with many irregular vertical rows of dark spots; females: back and sides of body irregularly marbled with dark brown ...................................................................................... Synchiropus marmoratus

– Upper part of pectoral-fin base without a dark blotch; males: spines of first dorsal fin not filamentous; first dorsal fin light brown, with short ocellate dark streaks on second and third membranes; second dorsal fin with short, ocellate dark streaks; caudal fin with three vertical dark streaks; females: back and sides of body light brown, with six or seven characteristic dark brown saddles ............ ........................................................................................................................ Synchiropus bartelsi

4. Sides of body with a series of large ocelli .................................................. Synchiropus circularis

– Sides of body without ocelli ........................................................................................................ 5

5. Lateral line with two ventral branches below the occipital region; in males first dorsal fin with ocelli on second and third membranes ............ Synchiropus stellatus

– Lateral line without ventral branches below the occipital region; in males first dorsal fin with ocelli on first and second membranes .................................................... 6

6. Body colour overall red in life; first dorsal fin in male usually with two (rarely three) ocelli; caudal fin with irregular blotches in three or four vertical bands ....................... ................................................................................................................................ Synchiropus moyeri

– Body colour overall brown in life; first dorsal fin in male usually with four (rarely three to six) ocelli; caudal fin blotches in two vertical bands ..................................... ..................................................................................................................... Synchiropus ocellatus

7. Colour in life bright red with black pectoral-fin base; first dorsal fin in male without ocelli, but with four oblique ocellate bands reaching from first to third membranes; first dorsal fin in female mainly black ........................................... ........................................................................................................... Synchiropus tudorjonesi

– Colour in life not bright red with black pectoral-fin base; first dorsal fin in males not as described above, if ocellate bands are present they would not reach the first membrane; first dorsal fin in female not mainly black .................................................... 8

8. Preopercular spine with one or two dorsal points additional to main tip ............. 9

– Preopercular spine with three dorsal points additional to main tip ................................ ............................................................................... Synchiropus novaehiberniensis new species

9. Preopercular spine with one dorsal point additional to main tip .............................. ........................................................................................................................... Synchiropus ijimai

– Preopercular spine with two dorsal points additional to main tip .......................... 10

10. Base of preopercular spine with one or two antrorse points ............................................. ....................................................................................................................... Synchiropus sechellensis

– Base of preopercular spine without antrorse points ................ Synchiropus morrisoni