Parapercis fuscolineata Fourmanoir, 1985

Ho, Hsuan-Ching, 2015, Description of a new species and redescriptions of two rare species of Parapercis (Perciformes: Pinguipedidae) from the tropical Pacific Ocean, Zootaxa 3999 (2), pp. 255-271 : 265-268

Parapercis fuscolineata Fourmanoir, 1985

Figs. 4 A–C; Table 2

Parapercis fuscolineata Fourmanoir, 1985:36 , Fig. 1 (type locality: Lubang Islands, the Philippines). Randall, 2001:3505 (in Key).

Status of type specimens. Fourmanoir (1985) stated four specimens were used to describe his new species (54, 63, 65 and 78 mm), all collected from station 51. He pointed out that the 63 mm specimen was sent to Bishop Museum ( BPBM 29668) and the 65 mm one was the holotype ( MNHN 1984-430). He also mentioned “although several rays of dorsal and anal fins are broken, we selected the specimen of 65 mm SL as type. The 78 mm specimen, designated paratype …” However, the only specimen in MNHN 1984-430 is 76.1 mm SL (originally entered as 78 mm in the database) and thus is not the holotype, but one of the paratypes. As no other specimen can be found from the same cruise or station in the collection, the holotype and 54 mm paratype are presumed to be lost.

Specimen examined. Paratypes. MNHN 1984-430 (76.1 mm SL), 13°58’59”N, 120°16’1”E, off Manila Bay, Lubang Island, the Philippines, 4 m beam trawl, 27 Nov. 1980. BPBM 29668 (62.5 mm SL), 13°59.3’N, 120°16.4’E, off Manila Bay, Lubang Island, the Philippines, 27 Nov. 1980. Non-type. MNHN 2000-5541 (1, 34.9 mm SL), 18°57’00”S, 163°22’01”E, New Caledonia, Coral Sea, 355 m, 18 Sep. 1985. MNHN 2001-3346 (1, 104 mm SL), 16°04’01”S, 167°06’00”E, Vanuatu, Coral Sea, perch trawl, 180-210 m, 5 Oct. 1994. MNHN 2002-3759 (1, 88 mm SL), 9°48’04”S, 160°50’02”E, Solomon Islands, Solomon Sea, 2001.

Diagnosis. A species of Parapercis with a prominent black longitudinal stripe extending from the opercle to the base of the caudal fin, ending with a large ocellus on the upper caudal fin base. A combination of the following characters also distinguish the species from its congeners: a small head (27.2–27.5% SL); a short snout (5.9–6.4% SL); large eyes (9.7–9.9% SL); narrow interorbital (1.4–1.7% SL); 4 pairs of canines at front of lower jaw; 2 or 3 rows of conical teeth on vomer and palatines; dorsal-fin rays IV, 23, the spines progressively longer posteriorly; anal-fin rays I, 19; pectoral-fin rays 19; pored lateral-line scales 61-63; scale rows between origin of dorsal fin and lateral line 3.5 or 4.5; total gill rakers on first arch 15 or 20 (based on two paratypes).

Description. The following data are given for the 76.1 mm and 63.0 mm paratypes, followed by three nontype specimens in parentheses when different, except where indicated otherwise.

Dorsal-fin rays IV, 23 (V, 23 in all three non-types), first spine very short (tiny first spine in 88-mm non-type specimen), the spines progressively longer, the last spine fully connected to the first dorsal-fin ray by membrane, all rays branched; anal-fin rays I, 19, all rays branched, the last one to the base; pectoral-fin rays 18, branched except the uppermost ray; principal caudal-fin rays 17, uppermost 2 and lowermost 1 rays unbranched; pored lateral-line scales 61–63 (60–61), not including 1–4 on the caudal-fin base (lost in both paratypes); scale rows between origin of dorsal fin posteroventrally to lateral line 3.5 or 4.5 (4 or 4.5); scale rows below lateral line posteroventrally to origin of anal fin ca. 12 (9 to 12); median predorsal scales 9 (8 or 9); circumpeduncular scale rows 18 (lost in 62.5 mm paratype; 21 or 22); rakers on outer side of first gill arch 7+ 13 in 76.1 mm paratype and 5+ 10 in 62.5 mm paratype (4+ 8 in 34.9 mm non-type, 5+ 9 in 88 mm non-type; 4+ 10 in 104 mm non-type); pseudobranchial filaments 11 in 62.5 mm paratype and damaged in 76.1 mm paratype (ca. 10 in 34.9 mm non-type, 15 in 88 mm non-type and 14 in 104 mm non-type); branchiostegal rays 6.

Body elongated and stout, nearly cylindrical anteriorly and gradually compressed posteriorly; head relatively short and rounded, its length 27.2–27.5% (25.8–30.4%) SL; ventral part of head, chest, and abdomen slightly convex; snout very short 5.9–6.4% (6.0–7.8%) SL; eye relatively large, its diameter 9.7–9.9% (9.5–9.6 % in two larger non-types, 13.2% in 34.9 mm specimen) SL; interorbital space very narrow, 1.4–1.7% (1.6–1.7%) SL.

Mouth small, maxilla nearly reaching a vertical from midpoint of eye; mouth oblique, forming an angle of about 20° to horizontal axis of body; lower jaw extends slightly beyond upper jaw anteriorly; upper jaw with outer row of conical teeth that curve medially and posteriorly, anterior 3 (3 or 4) distinctly larger (with a small tooth at jaw symphysis in 76.1 mm paratype); broad band of villiform teeth medial to canines in about 8 (7 or 8) rows at front of upper jaw, gradually narrowing posteriorly to a narrow band of about 1 or 2 irregular rows; 4 recurved canine teeth on each side of front of lower jaw (1 side with 3 in 88.0 mm specimen, which may have lost 1), outer one largest; band of about 8 rows of villiform teeth medial to canines at front of lower jaw, medial row continuing laterally in jaw posterior to first few canines as row of 8 or 10 (8) increasingly larger and more strongly recurved teeth (last 3 or 4 of these distinctly enlarged), followed by a single row of small teeth to middle portion of jaw; vomer with 2 rows of conical teeth, those on 2nd row smaller than that of 1st row; palatines with two rows of stout teeth; lips smooth, their inner surface with large fleshy papillae that interdigitate with anterior teeth; tongue broadly rounded, reaching forward to posterior vomerine teeth.

Gill membranes free from isthmus, with a broad transverse free fold. Gill rakers short and spinous, longest about 1/3 length of longest gill filaments. Nostrils small, anterior nostril tube-like, in front of center of eye (viewed from side), a little more than half way to groove at edge of upper lip, with a broadly pointed posterior flap that reaches posterior nostril when laid back; posterior nostril dorsoposterior to anterior nostril, ovate with slight rim; internasal distance about 2 (1–2) times diameter of posterior nostril.

Pores of cephalic sensory system relatively numerous and connected by canals beneath skin; row of 4 large pores above maxilla; 3 pores near nostrils, 1 pore above and 1 below the posterior nostril, 1 pore between both nostrils; 2 pores on each side of space between posterior nostril to anterior interorbital space; infraorbital series of pores numerous, about 9 branches, each with a subcutaneous canal extending ventrally to middle of the cheek; many pores on top of head, with three major branches, 1 continuing to anterior end of lateral line, 1 to the upper end of preopercular series, and 1 to dorsal end of infraorbital series; 2 irregular rows of pores on free margin of preopercle; 4 large pores on mandibular; 2 large pores at front of chin.

Opercle bearing a strong sharp spine, at about same level as ventral edge of pupil when viewed from the side; free margin of subopercle with a strong spine, slightly smaller than the opercular spine; preopercle broadly rounded, its free edge smooth; free margin of interorbital smooth.

Scales large, strongly ctenoid and imbricate in most parts of body; those on opercle large and ctenoid (scales lost in both paratypes); on space anterior to pectoral fin base ctenoid; on pectoral fin base small and ctenoid (lost in 76.1 mm paratype; few scales remained in 62.5 mm paratype); on nape anterior to a line from upper free end of gill opening to origin of dorsal fin cycloid (scales lost in both paratypes); on cheek large and strongly ctenoid (mostly lost in 62.5 mm paratype); on chest weakly cycloid (mostly lost in both paratypes); on abdomen ctenoid (mostly lost in both paratypes); on caudal fin progressively smaller and ctenoid, covering about 3/4 of the upper and lower lobes, and 1/2 of the middle portion (mostly lost in both paratypes); no scales on dorsal, anal, or pelvic fins; predorsal scales extending forward to, or slightly anterior to, a vertical from the hind margin of preopercle; lateral line broadly arched over pectoral fin, then gradually slanting to straight midlaterally on about posterior fourth of body.

Origin of dorsal fin over 3rd to 4th lateral-line scale, predorsal length about equal to head length; 4 dorsal spines, progressively longer posteriorly, the last spine entirely attached to 1st soft ray by membrane; soft dorsal-fin rays progressively longer posteriorly, penultimate soft dorsal-fin ray longest; pectoral fins broadly rounded when spread, 9th or 10th ray longest, reaching 1st or 2nd anal fin ray; origin of pelvic fins anterior to pectoral fin origin, below base of exposed part of opercular spine; pelvic fin relatively short, 4th pelvic-fin ray longest, just reaching anus (slightly beyond anus in 2 smaller non-types); origin of anal fin below base of 5th dorsal soft ray; anal-fin spine slender; penultimate anal soft ray longest; caudal fin truncated, with rounded upper and lower lobes.

Color when fresh. Based on Fourmanoir (1985): dorsal surface light brown; a brown longitudinal stripe extending from the posterior margin of eye to the dorsal fin base; a pale stripe above and adjacent to the brown stripe; dorsal surface of head brownish pink; snout and lower part of head yellow; eye yellow, with green-blue patch on upper part; 12 vertical bands on lower half of sides of body; a black ocellus (pyriform blotch) at upper half of caudal-fin base, 3 large reddish-yellow oblique stripes on rest of the fin. Fresh color unknown in non-types.

Color when preserved. Based on two paratypes: body pale brown; slightly deeper brown on dorsal surface of head and body; spinous dorsal fin brownish (an indistinct black spot on membranes of first 3 spines in both paratype); a slightly faded, brown longitudinal strip on dorsal third of body, extending from behind the eye to near the caudal fin base; lower two-thirds of body paler; a black spot on upper half of caudal fin base (an indistinct ocellus in 62.5 mm paratype); all fins transparent; posterior portion of eye with a narrow band or small patch of melanophores; scattered melanophores on pelvic fin.

Based on 88 mm and 104 mm non-types: body pale to yellowish-brown; dorsal surface slightly deeper brown; a prominent longitudinal stripe on dorsal third of body, extending from behind the eye to near caudal-fin base; lower two-thirds of body paler; a black spot on upper half of caudal fin base; scattered melanophores on snout and cheek (clearer under magnification); a cluster of scattered melanophores on center of pectoral-fin base (clearer under magnification); a small spot at upper base of pectoral fin in 104 mm specimen; spinous dorsal fin black; scattered melanophores on upper and posterior portions of eye, forming a black patch on posterior portion, about same level as the black stripe; scattered melanophores on pelvic fin.

Based on 34.9 mm non-type juvenile: body pale uniformly; a prominent black stripe on dorsal third of body, extending from behind the eye and ending with an ocellus (black spot circled by white) at upper half of caudal-fin base; spinous dorsal fin brownish with a small black patch; a small cluster of melanophores on posterior portion of eye, about same level as the black stripe

Distribution. The type series was collected from offshore of the Lubang Islands, Philippines at a depth of 170– 187 m. Three additional specimens were collected from Vanuatu, New Caledonia and Solomon Islands, respectively, at depths from 180– 355 m.

Remarks. Parapercis fuscolineata is similar to P. r a m s a y i from southern Australia, but differs in lacking a row of black patches on lower body and black margins on the anal and caudal fins. Although not mentioned in original description, two paratypes have a brownish patch on the spinous dorsal fin. This is also consistent in the three additional specimens.

Although the three non-type specimens were identified as the present species, several differences were noted, so the identifications for these are preliminary. There are five dorsal-fin spines in all three non-types, however, Fourmanoir (1985) reported four dorsal-fin spines in his specimens and this was confirmed in this study. The presence of four dorsal-fin spines is a rare but stable character which occurs in only 7 of 80 species of Parapercis .

There are 18 circumpeduncular scale rows in the 76.1 mm paratype (scales were lost and not counted in 62.5 mm paratype), whereas the non-types have 21 or 22. Counts of this feature are usually quite stable in other congeners, with intraspecific variation generally limited to about 2 scale rows.

Gill rakers on the first arch are 7+ 13 in the 76.1 mm paratype and 5+ 10 in the 62.5 mm paratype, whereas there are 5+ 9 in the 88 mm specimen, 4+ 10 in the 104 mm specimen and 4+ 8 in 34.9 mm specimen. According to Fourmanoir (1985), “the dark stripe is indistinct in the juvenile specimen and it disappears quickly in alcohol.” However, the smallest non-type specimen has a solid black longitudinal stripe on the upper body ( Fig. 4 C), after 30 years of preservation.

Although all other morphological characters of these three additional specimens appear identical to the original description and paratypes, the differences mentioned above may indicate the existence of an undescribed species and should be further assessed when more specimens become available.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Holotype of Pareparcis johnsoni sp. nov., MNHN 2000 - 5243, 106.7 mm SL, preserved. A. lateral view of left side. B. dorsal view. C. ventral view.

FIGURE 4. Parapercis fuscolineata Fourmanoir, 1985. A. MNHN 1984 - 430, paratype, 76.1 mm SL, lateral view of right body .. B. BPBM 29668, paratype, 62.5 mm SL, lateral view of left body. C. MNHN 2000 - 5541, non-type, juvenile, 34.9 mm SL, lateral view of right body.