Suezichthys

RUSSELL, BARRY C. & WESTNEAT, MARK W., 2013, A new species of Suezichthys (Teleostei: Perciformes: Labridae) from the southeastern Pacific, with a redefinition of the genus and a key to species, Zootaxa 3640 (1), pp. 88-94 : 90-91

Key to the species of Suezichthys

1. Scale rows above lateral-line 1½, no scaly sheath at base of dorsal and anal fins................................... 2

- Scale rows above lateral line 2½, low scaly sheath at base of dorsal and anal fins.................................. 6

2. Anal fin rays III,11 ( Isla San Felix, Isla Juan Fernandez and Isla San Ambrosio)..................... S. rosenblatti n.sp.

- Anal fin rays III,10................................................................................... 3

3. Horizontal cheek scale rows behind eye 1; horizontal cheek scale rows below eye 2, rarely 1 (S.E. Australia, N.E. New Zealand)......................................................................................... S. aylingi

- Horizontal cheek scale rows behind eye 2–3; horizontal cheek scale rows below eye 3.............................. 4

4. Black spot present on basal half of membrane between first 2 or 3 dorsal spines in IP and TP; TP with diagonal black band or series of black spots from upper part of caudal fin base to posterior edge of caudal fin.............................. 5

- Black spot not present on anterior part of dorsal fin in IP, but present in TP; TP lacking dark diagonal band or spots on caudal fin ( Korea, Japan, Vietnam, S.E. Australia, New Caledonia)........................................... S. gracilis

5. Brown band from middle of upper lip to anterior margin of eye; upper lobe of caudal fin slightly produced in TP; TP with series of 4–6 black spots in an arc from upper part of caudal fin base to middle outer two thirds of fin (N.W. Australia; Japan)............................................................................................. S. soelae

- No brown band in front of eye; caudal fin rounded; TP with diagonal black band from upper part of caudal fin base to posterior edge of caudal fin (Red Sea, W. Indian Ocean).................................................. S. caudovittatus

6. Dorsal fin rays IX,11................................................................................. 7

- Dorsal fin rays IX,12–13 ( Tristan da Cunha, Gough I., Vema Seamount, St Paul I., Amsterdam I.)............. S. ornatus

7. Lateral-line scales with simple, unbranched laterosensory canal tube............................................ 8

- Lateral-line scales with bifurcate laterosensory canal tube (S. Australia)................................ S. bifurcatus

8. IP and TP with black blotch or blotches above dorsoposterior margin of eye ( Japan, Hawaii, N.W. Australia).... S. notatus

- IP and TP lacking dark blotches above eye................................................................ 9

9. IP with black spot on caudal peduncle about equal in size to diameter of pupil; TP with 3 slightly oblique blue bands extending downward from lower part of preopercle onto interopercle (S.W. Australia)........................... S. cyanolaemus

- IP with black spot on caudal peduncle less than size of diameter of pupil; TP with 1 or 2 oblique bands extending downward from lower part of preopercle onto opercle................................................................ 10

10. IP with dark scribblings on nape above and behind eye; TP with 2 slightly oblique blue bands extending downward from lower part of preopercle onto interopercle (N.E. New Zealand, New Caledonia, Norfolk I., Lord Howe I., S.E. Australia; Japan).............................................................................................. S. arquatus

- IP lacking dark scribblings on nape; TP with 1 lavender-pink band extending downward from corner of preopercle onto interopercle (Red Sea, W. Indian Ocean)............................................................... S. russelli