Parapercis johnsoni, Ho, Hsuan-Ching, 2015

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 : 256-261

Parapercis johnsoni sp. nov.

New English name: Polynesian sandperch Figs. 1 A–C, 2A–B; Table 1

Holotype. MNHN 2000-5243 (106.7 mm SL), N. o. Alis, sta. cp1228, 9°43’59”S, 138°51’00”W, Hiva Oa, Polynesia, South Pacific Ocean, 107–108 m, perch trawl, 30 Aug. 1997.

Paratypes. Eighteen specimens, 68.0– 101.9 mm SL. All collected by N. o. Alis from Marquises Islands of French Polynesia under the expedition Campagne Musorstom 9. MNHN 2000-4491 (1, 80.6), sta. cp1159, 7°58’01”S, 140°43’01”W, Eiao, 145 m, perch trawl, 23 Aug. 1997. MNHN 2000-4556 (3, 80.3–89.7), sta. cp1177, 8°45’00”S, 140°13’59”W, Nuku Hiva, 108–112 m, perch trawl, 25 Aug. 1997. MNHN 2000-4567 (1, 82.8), sta. cp1227, 9°43’59”S, 138°52’01”W, Hiva Oa, 84–85 m, perch trawl, 30 Aug. 1997. MNHN 2013-1235. (10, 68.0- 101.9), collected with the holotype. MNHN 2000-4556 (1, 84.7), sta. cp1177, 8°45’S, 140°13’59”W, Nuku Hiva, 108–112 m, 25 Aug. 1997. MNHN 2000-5188 (1, 84.8), sta. cp1157, 7°58’59”S, 140°43’59”W, Eiao, 120 m, 23 Aug. 1997. MNHN 2000-5504 (1, 83.1), sta. cp1238, 9°40’59”S, 139°3’W, Hiva Oa, 280–370 m, 31 Aug. 1997. QM 39130 (2, 90.7–97.1), collected together with the holotype.

Diagnosis. A species of Parapercis differs from all congeners in having 4th and 5th dorsal-fin spines about equal in length, dorsal surfaces of head and body and dorsal fins uniformly brownish with 3–7 irregular black patches on soft dorsal fin. It can also be distinguished by a combination of the following characters: dorsal-fin rays V, 21; anal-fin rays I, 17; pectoral-fin rays modally 17; pored lateral-line scales modally 52 or 53; median predorsal scales 7 or 8; transverse scale rows modally 4/14; gill rakers on 1st gill arch 13–16; single row of teeth on vomer; no teeth on palatine; 3 pairs of enlarged canines at front of lower jaw; single large pore on front of chin; single row of 6 large pores on free margin of preopercle; and a prolongation on upper lobe of caudal fin.

Description. The following data or character states are provided for the holotype, followed by those taken from the 12 paratypes where different, except where indicated otherwise.

Dorsal-fin rays V, 21, 1st spine very short, 4th spine usually slightly longer than 5th, but both about equal and sometimes 5th slightly longer than 4th; the last spine fully connected to the 1st dorsal-fin ray by membrane, all rays branched; anal-fin rays I, 17, all rays branched, the last one to the base; pectoral-fin rays 17/18 (16–18, modally 17), branched except the uppermost ray; principal caudal-fin rays 17, uppermost 2 and lowermost 1 rays unbranched; pored lateral-line scales 51 (51–55, modally 52 or 53), not including 2/3 (1–4, usually 2 or 3) on the caudal-fin base; scale rows between origin of dorsal fin posteroventrally to lateral line 4 (3.5 or 4, modally 4); scale rows between lateral line posteroventrally and origin of anal fin 14 (13–15, modally 14); median predorsal scales 8 (7 or 8); circumpeduncular scale rows 23 (22–25, modally 23); rakers on outer side of 1st gill arch 4+10=14 (3– 5+9–11=13–16, mainly 14); pseudobranchial filaments 16 (13–18); branchiostegal rays 6; vertebrae 10+20=30 (12 specimens examined, including the holotype).

Body relatively short, nearly cylindrical anteriorly and gradually compressed posteriorly; head moderately long and depressed, its length 31.4% (28.9–32.0%) SL; ventral part of head, chest, and abdomen slightly convex; snout moderately long 11.1% (8.3–11.1%) SL; eye moderately large, its diameter 9.4% (8.6–9.6%) SL; interorbital space flat, moderately wide 4.3% (3.2–4.4%) SL.

Mouth large, maxilla reaching a vertical from anterior half 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 2 (2 or 3) slightly larger, other teeth smaller and subequal in size; 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 1 or 2 irregular rows; front of lower jaw with 3 pairs of recurved canine teeth (some with 1 or 2 teeth lost), outer tooth largest; band of about 8 (7 or 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 (6–8) 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 single row of 6 (5–9) stout conical teeth (some paratypes with irregular arrangement), 2 (0–4) smaller teeth behind these teeth; palatines without 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 few in number, connected by canals beneath the skin. Row of 3 large pores above maxilla; 3 pores near nostrils, 1 pore above and 1 below the posterior nostril and 1 between nostrils; 2 pores on each side of space between posterior nostril to anterior interorbital space; single row of large pores at anterior half of infraorbital series, becoming 2 rows at posterior half, those on the lower row with an subcutaneous canal connecting to those on upper row; row of 6 (6 or 7) large pores on free margin of preopercle; pores on occiput relatively few, originating from row of 2 pores on posterior interorbital space, divided into two main series, 1 continues to dorsal end of the infraorbital series and 1 to anterior end of lateral-line, then branches to upper end of preopercular series; 4 large pores on mandibular; single large pore at front of chin (2 pores in 1 paratype).

Opercle bearing a strong posteriorly-directed sharp spine, at about same level as ventral edge of pupil when viewed from the side; free margin of subopercle with a small cluster of 3/5 (3–5) spinules; preopercle broadly rounded, its free edge smooth; free margin of interorbital smooth.

Scales strongly ctenoid and imbricate in most parts of body; those on opercle large and ctenoid; on space anterior to pectoral fin base cycloid; on pectoral fin base small and cycloid; on nape anterior to a line from upper free end of gill opening to origin of dorsal fin cycloid; on cheek cycloid, mostly embedded under the skin, except those on dorsal-posterior region are imbricate; on chest cycloid; on abdomen cycloid; on caudal fin progressively smaller and weakly ctenoid, except for some cycloid on posteriormost region, covering about two-thirds of the upper and lower lobes and half of the middle portion; no scales on dorsal, anal, or pelvic fins; predorsal scales extending forward to, or slightly anterior to, a vertical from 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; the first 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 2nd (2nd or 3rd) anal-fin ray; origin of pelvic fins anterior to pectoral fin origin, below base of exposed part of opercular spine; pelvic fin relatively long, reaching 2nd (2nd or 3rd) ray of the anal-fin, 4th pelvic-fin ray longest; origin of anal fin below base of 5th dorsal soft ray; anal-fin spine slender; penultimate anal soft ray longest; caudal fin with a long prolongation on upper lobe, about 1 (0.8–1.5) times of eye diameter, and lower lobe rounded.

Coloration. Coloration when fresh unknown, but presumable reddish dorsally and pale ventrally with marks or spots that remained in preservation. Coloration when preserved: dorsal surface of head and body brownish; scales on upper third of body with brown posterior margins; symmetrical curved line extending from posterior interorbital space to upper end of preopercle, some paratypes with symmetrical Λ-shaped pattern at same region; opercle brownish; dorsal fin densely covered by brown melanophores; soft dorsal fin brownish with 3 (3–7) large irregular black patches, each usually crosses 2 or 3 fin membranes, two paratypes with a row of about 15 small black spots on soft dorsal fin at anterior margin of fin rays; a faint stripe or row of spots on lower lateral body axis; caudal fin slightly brownish, posterior margin dusky.

Distribution. Known from the type series collected from Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia, at a depth of 84– 114 m.

Etymology. I am pleased to name this species after Jeffrey W. Johnson of the Queensland Museum for his contribution to our knowledge of pinguipedid fishes and for providing valuable information/discussion for my studies.

Comparison. Parapercis johnsoni sp. nov. belongs to a species group, herein recognized, characterized by the following features: body reddish generally; 5–8 saddles on dorsal surface; 50–58 pored lateral-line scales; V, 21 dorsal-fin rays; the 4th dorsal-fin spine longest; last dorsal-fin spine fully connected to the 1st dorsal-fin ray by membrane; I, 17 anal-fin rays; modally 17 pectoral-fin rays; no teeth on palatines; single row of teeth on vomer; 6 or 8 (usually 6) enlarged canines at front of lower jaw; snout moderately long, about equal to eye diameter; interorbital space moderately wide; and usually a prolongation on upper lobe of caudal fin.

Sixteen species are currently recognized in the species group: P. albipinna Randall, 2008 from New Caledonia; P. basimaculata Randall et al., 2008 from Okinawa Islands; P. bicoloripes Prokofiev, 2010 from Vietnam; P. colemani Randall & Francis, 1993 from Norfolk Island, Lord Howe Rise and northern Norfolk ridge; P. compressa Randall, 2008 from Indonesia; P. flavolabiata Johnson, 2006 from eastern Australia; P. flavolineata Randall, 2008 from Indonesia; P. katoi Randall et al., 2008 from southern Japan; P. kentingensis Ho et al., 2012 from western Pacific; P. punctata (Cuvier, 1829) from western Indian Ocean (fresh coloration unknown); P. randalli Ho & Shao, 2010 from western Pacific; P. rubromaculata Ho et al., 2012 from Taiwan; P. rufa Randall, 2001 from Taiwan and the Philippines; P. sagma Allen & Erdmann, 2012 from Vanuatu and Indonesia; P. shaoi Randall, 2008 from northwestern Pacific; and P. somaliensis Schultz, 1968 from western Indian Ocean.

The presence of 3–7 large black patches on soft dorsal fin readily separate P. johnsoni sp. nov. from all above mentioned species, as well as other congeners. All other 16 species have 5–8 saddle-like blotches on dorsal surface and row(s) of much smaller spots on soft dorsal fin may be present. It can be further distinguished from P. albipinna by having a prolongation on the upper lobe of caudal fin and the free posterior margin of preopercle is smooth (17 well-spaced, small nodular bumps on the margin); from P. basimaculata by having 3 pairs of canines at front of lower jaw (vs. 4 pairs), single row of pores on the free margin of preopercule (vs. 2 irregular rows), and lacking black spots on base of soft dorsal fin and caudal fin.

It can be further distinguished from P. bicoloripes by having cycloid scales on the cheek (vs. ctenoid scales), scale rows between origin of dorsal fin and lateral line 4 or 4.5 (vs. 3.5), pored lateral line scales 51–55 (vs. 55–57), a uniformly pale pelvic fin (vs. the fin largely blackish), and no vertical bars on caudal fin (vs. 3–5 vertical bars); from P. colemani by having pored lateral-line scales 51–55 (vs. 55–58), scale rows between origin of dorsal fin and lateral line 4 or 4.5 (vs. 8), medium predorsal scales 7 or 8 (vs. 9), and circumpeduncular scales 22–25 (vs. 29); from P. compressa by having a relatively cylindrical body (vs. more laterally compressed), cycloid scales on the cheek, chest, and abdomen (ctenoid scales on these areas), and the free posterior margin of preopercle is smooth (vs. many serrae on upper two-fifths of the margin).

It can be further distinguished from P. flavolabiata by having 3 pairs of canines at front of lower jaw (vs. 4 pairs), scales between origin of dorsal fin and lateral line 4 or 4.5 (vs. 5 or 6), and scales between lateral line and origin of anal fin 13–15 (vs. 11 or 12); from P. flavolineata by having scale rows between lateral line and origin of anal fin 13–15 (vs. 11 scales rows) and lacking black spots on top of head (vs. present); from P. k a t o i by having mainly 52–53 pored lateral-line scales (vs. 56–58), scales between origin of dorsal fin and lateral line 4 or 4.5 (vs. 5.5, counted by author), median predorsal scales 7 or 8 (vs. 9 or 10), 9–11 rakers on lower limb of 1st gill arch (vs. 12 or 13), and circumpeduncular scales 22–25 (vs. 29).

It can be further distinguished from P. kentingensis and P. shaoi by having 4 or 4.5 scale rows between origin of dorsal fin and lateral line (vs. 6), a relatively large eye (8.6–9.6% SL, vs. 7.7–8.9% SL in P. kentingensis and 7.1–9.0% in P. shaoi ), and a relatively long pelvic fin (23.1–26.3% SL, vs. 20.3–23.4% SL in P. kentingensis and 16.8–24.1% SL in P. shaoi ); from P. punctata by having a smooth free margin of preoperculum (vs. strongly serrated), pseudobranchial filaments 13–18 (vs. 24–27), and lacking spots on dorsal body (vs. present); from P. randalli by having scale rows between origin of dorsal fin and lateral line 4 or 4.5 (vs. 6), scales between lateral line and origin of anal fin mainly 14 (vs. 11 or 12), and lacking black spots on caudal fin (vs. 2 irregular rows of black spots present on caudal fin).

It can be further distinguished from P. rubromaculata by having scale rows between origin of dorsal fin and lateral line 4 or 4.5 (vs. 6), 13–15 (modally 14) scale rows between lateral line and origin of anal fin (vs. 11), andvertebrae 10+20=30 (vs. 10+19=29); from P. r u f a by having more pores on head (vs. fewer, see Ho & Causse, 2012, fig. 3), a relatively long pelvic fin (23.1–26.3% SL, vs. 20.3–22.8% SL), single pore at front of chin (vs. 2 pores), and lacking a large ocellus above pectoral-fin base (vs. present); from P. sagma by having scales between origin of dorsal fin and lateral line 4 or 4.5 (vs. 6), 7 or 8 predorsal scales (vs. 9 or 10), and line pattern on top of head (vs. spots on same region); and from P. somaliensis by having a smooth free margin of opercle (vs. distinctly serrate) and scales between origin of dorsal fin and lateral line 4 or 4.5 (vs. 6.5).

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.

Tables

TABLE 1. Morphometric and meristic data of selected type series of Parapercis johnsoni sp. nov.

	Holotype	Holotype+paratypes
SL (mm)	106.7	71.3–106.7 (n=13)
% SL		Mean (range) SD
Head length	31.4	30.3 (28.9–32.0) 0.9
Body depth	16.6	16.7 (13.7–18.3) 1.4
Body width	18.7	18.7 (17.0–19.5) 0.7
Snout length	11.1	9.7 (8.3–11.1) 1.0
Orbital diameter	9.4	9.2 (8.6–9.6) 0.3
Interorbital width	4.3	3.9 (3.2–4.4) 0.4
Upper-jaw length	12.0	11.5 (10.5–12.5) 0.5
Predorsal length	30.9	30.3 (29.3–31.3) 0.6
Prepelvic length	28.3	29.2 (26.6–31.7) 1.8
Preanal length	49.8	49.7 (47.8–51.4) 1.3
Dorsal-fin base	58.3	60.0 (57.8–62.1) 1.4
1st dorsal-fin spine	2.0	1.9 (1.2–3.1) 0.5
2nd dorsal-fin spine	3.3	3.7 (2.9–4.8) 0.6
3rd dorsal-fin spine	5.9	5.9 (4.9–6.7) 0.6
4th dorsal-fin spine	6.3	6.9 (5.8–8.1) 0.6
5th dorsal-fin spine	6.0	6.7 (5.8–7.2) 0.5
Longest dorsal-fin ray	17.1	14.9 (11.6–17.1) 1.7
Anal-fin base	44.8	43.5 (41.3–45.9) 1.5
Anal-fin spine	4.3	4.9 (3.8–5.8) 0.5
Longest anal-fin ray	12.4	12.9 (12.4–13.4) 0.3
Pectoral-fin length	20.5	21.0 (19.5–22.3) 0.7
Pelvic-fin length	24.4	24.5 (23.1–26.3) 0.9
Pelvic-fin spine length	8.3	8.4 (6.7–10.0) 0.8
Caudal-fin length 1	17.5	18.0 (16.7–20.1) 1.0
Caudal-fin length 2	23.5	23.7 (21.5–26.3) 1.3
Caudal-peduncle length	9.4	8.6 (7.6–9.4) 0.6
Caudal-peduncle depth	9.5	9.0 (8.1–9.5) 0.4
Meristics		Value (mode)
Dorsal-fin rays	V, 21	V, 21
Anal-fin rays	I, 17	I, 17
Pectoral-fin rays	17/18	16–18 (17)
Principal caudal fin rays	17	17
Pored lateral-line scales	51	51–55 (52 or 53)
Median predorsal scales	8	7 or 8 (8)
Scale rows above LL	4	3.5 or 4 (4)
Scale rows below LL	14	13–15 (14)
Circumpeduncular scales	22	22–25 (23)
Pseudobranchial filaments	16	13–18 (14–16)
Gill rakers	4+10=14	3–5+9–11 (13–16)