Parapercis kentingensis, Ho & Chang & Shao, 2012

Ho, Hsuan-Ching, Chang, Chia-Hao & Shao, Kwang-Tsao, 2012, Two New Sandperches (Perciformes: Pinguipedidae: Parapercis) From South China Sea, Based On Morphology And Dna Barcoding, Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 60 (1), pp. 163-172 : 164-168

Parapercis kentingensis , new species

(Figs. 1A–C, 2, 3A, C, E) New English name: Kenting sandperch

Parapercis somaliensis (non Schultz): Masuda et al., 1975: 259, Fig. 81-K (southwest Kii peninsula and Ryukyu Is., Japan). Masuda et al., 1984: 192, pl.261-B (southern Japan). Shao et al., 1993: 309, Fig. I (southern Taiwan, in part).

Parapercis shaoi (non Randall): Randall, 2008:171 (one paratype, BPBM40667 , is re-identified as present new species) .

Material examined. — Holotype: NMMB-P11453 (130.6 mm), Hengchun , Pingtung, southern Taiwan, northern part of South China Sea, hook and line, 50–150 m, purchased from Hengchun market by H.-C. Ho, 10 Oct.2010.

Paratypes: All collected from near the holotype locality: NMMB- P11437 (1 ex., 107.9 mm), 5 Sep.2010 ; NMMB-P11446 (1 ex., 117.5 mm), 10 Oct.2010 ; NMMB-P11447 (1 ex., 116.2 mm), 10 Oct.2010 ; NMMB-P11450 (1 ex., 125.7 mm), 10 Oct.2010 ; NMMB-P11454 (4 ex., 118.1–137.2 mm), 29 Sep.2010 ; NMMB- P11456 (1 ex., 121.8 mm), 11 Oct.2010 ; NMMB-P11459 (1 ex., 101.4 mm), 27 Sep.2010 ; NMMB-P11458 (1 ex., 131.3 mm), 11 Oct.2010 ; NMMB-P11462 (1 ex., 110.8 mm), 11 Oct.2010 ; NMMB- P11463 (1 ex., 111.4 mm), 11 Oct.2010 ; NMMB-P11464 (1 ex., 134.0 mm), 11 Oct.2010 ; QM I.33860 (1 ex., 127.4 mm), out of NMMB-P11454 , 29 Sep.2010 .

A

B

C

D

E

Fig. 1. A–C: Parapercis kentingensis n. sp. A, NMMB-P 11453 , holotype, 130.6 mm SL, fresh; B, preserved holotype, partially stained with blue; C , QM I. 38860, 127.4 mm SL, fresh. D, E: Parapercis shaoi Randall, 2008 . D, NMMB-P 11452 , non-type, 132.9 mm SL, fresh; E , ASIZP 65966 , preserved holotype, 126.0 mm SL .

Non-types: All specimens collected from off Pingtung, southern Taiwan. NMMB-P1214 (1 ex., 128.6 mm) and NMMB-P1218 (2 ex., 123.1–130.0 mm), Wanliton, 6 Oct.2005 ; NMMB-P1637 (2 ex., 147.1–147.2 mm), Oluanbi, 17 Apr.2004 ; NMMB-P4049 (1 ex., 119.0 mm), Houbihu, 31 Aug.2002 ; NMMB-P9609 (1 ex., 137.0 mm), Houbihu, 16 Mar.2008 ; NMMB-P9671 (1 ex., 110.1 mm), 21 Jun.2008 ; NMMB-P11437 (1 ex., 109.4 mm), Tongkang, 5 Sep.2010 ; BPBM40667 (1 ex., 138.0 mm), Hengchun, 26 May 1975 (paratype of Parapercis shaoi ) .

Diagnosis. — Eight brown blotches on dorsal surface; a large brownish patch above opercle; an oblique reddish-yellow bar crossing cheek; a series of eight reddish bars below midline of lateral body; one to three small spots on posterior portion of cheek; three rows of small brownish spots on dorsal fin; pectoral fin base whitish with few small spots; a series of small spots, each restricted to the size of one scale, above midline of lateral body; four to five vertical rows of small spots on caudal fin; and a combination of the following characters: dorsal-fin rays V, 21; anal-fin rays I, 17; pectoral-fin rays 16–18 (mainly 17); pored lateral-line scales 52–54 (53–54); gill rakers on 1 st gill arch 14–19 (16–18); pseudobranches 17–24; three pairs of canine teeth anteriorly in lower jaw; no palatine teeth; vomerine teeth stout, in a single curved row; scales on body ctenoid, becoming cycloid on nuchal, prepectoral and prepelvic areas; margin of preopercle smoothly indented; V dorsal-fin spines, the fourth longest; caudal fin rounded, with a slight prolongation on upper lobe; and appressed pelvic fin not reaching origin of anal fin.

Description. — Morphometric and meristic data of type series are provided in Table 1. The following data are provided for the holotype, followed by the range of all types in parentheses (if different from that of holotype).

Dorsal-fin rays V, 21; anal-fin rays I, 17; all dorsal and anal soft rays branched, last soft ray branched to base; pectoralfin rays 17 (16–18, 16/ 17 in one paratype and 17/ 18 in another), branched except uppermost; pelvic-fin rays I, 5; principal caudal-fin rays 17, the uppermost and lowermost unbranched; upper procurrent caudal-fin rays seven (seven to nine); lower procurrent caudal-fin rays seven (six to seven); lateral-line scales 53 (52–54, not including two to four smaller pored scales on base of caudal fin); scales above first lateral-line scale to origin of dorsal fin six; scales above highest part of lateral line to base of dorsal fin 4.5; scales below lateral line postero-ventrally to origin of anal fin about 14 (13–15); median predorsal scales nine (eight to nine); circumpeduncular scales 24 (24–28); gill rakers 6+12 (4–8 + 10–12 = 14–19); pseudobranchial filaments 23 (17–24); branchiostegal rays 6; vertebrae 10+20 (seven specimens examined, including the holotype).

Body depth 5.2 times (4.8–5.7) in SL, 1.6 (1.5–1.8) in HL; body nearly cylindrical anteriorly, the width 5.0 (4.7–6.4) in SL, 1.6 (1.4–2.0) in HL, strongly compressed posteriorly; head length 3.2 (3.1–3.6) in SL; ventral part of head, chest, and abdomen slightly convex; snout length 3.1 (2.5–3.3) in HL; orbit diameter 3.7 (3.2–4.0) in HL; interorbital space flat, the least fleshy width 7.5 (6.0–10.1) in HL; caudal- peduncle depth 3.4 (2.9–3.5) in HL; caudal-peduncle length 3.3 (2.6–3.9) in HL.

Mouth large, the maxilla nearly reaching a vertical through center of eye, upper-jaw length 2.2 (2.2–2.5) in HL; mouth oblique, forming an angle of about 20° to horizontal axis of body, lower jaw projecting; front of upper jaw with three pairs of recurved canine teeth, the middle one on each side twice as large as the rest; side of upper jaw with row of about 20 slender conical teeth that curve medially and posteriorly, anterior eight increasingly larger and more strongly recurved; remaining teeth in outer row on side of jaw decreasing in length; broad band of villiform teeth medial to canines in about seven rows at front of upper jaw, gradually narrowing posteriorly to a narrow band in about three irregular rows; front of lower jaw with three pairs of incurved canine teeth, increasing in length laterally, third twice as large as second and strongly curving laterally as well as posteriorly; band of about five rows of villiform teeth medial to canines at front of lower jaw, medial row continuing laterally in jaw posterior to last canine as row of seven increasingly larger and more strongly recurved teeth, followed by a single row of small teeth to end of jaw; vomer with a chevron-shaped row of four (four to six) stout conical teeth, those of middle row largest, the lateral teeth progressively smaller; no palatine 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 cross-wise free fold. Gill rakers short and spinous, longest about onethird length of longest gill filaments. Nostrils small, anterior nostril in front of center of eye (viewed from side), a little more than half way to groove at edge of upper lip, with slight anterior rim and pointed posterior flap that reaches three-fourths internarial distance when laid back; posterior nostril dorso-posterior to anterior nostril, its aperture ovate, with slight rim.

Pores of cephalic sensory system as shown in Fig. 2 . Row of three large pores above maxilla; two pores near nostrils, one above and one below; two pores on either side anteriorly in interorbital space; irregular series of small pores medially on posterior half of interorbital space, followed by two irregular transverse series of pores posteriorly on occiput, connected by a canal under the skin, divided into three double series, one series continuing to ventroposterior margin of eye, a second series continuing to above the free margin of preopercle, and a third series continuing to anterior end of lateral line on body; series of two small pores at dorsal-posterior corner of eye connected to anterior series of occiput series; row of four pores below anterior half of eye; series of six large pores along the margin of preopercle, central two close together, continuing to series of four large pores on mandible; a large medial pore at front of chin.

Opercle with single sharp spine level with ventral edge of pupil (when viewed from side); margin of interopercle smooth except for four (three to five) tiny, close-set serrae on a small bony prominence on upper edge; preopercle broadly rounded, its free edge smooth except for slight indentations at each pore site, extending from level of ventral edge of orbit downward and forward to slightly in front of vertical at posterior edge of orbit.

Scales finely ctenoid on body, becoming cycloid anterior to a line from base of third dorsal spine to anterior end of lateral line, and on prepectoral and prepelvic areas; scales on opercle cycloid except above spine where a few are very weakly ctenoid; those on subopercle large and ctenoid; those on cheek cycloid, small, mostly nonimbricate, in about 16 (14–16) irregular horizontal rows, from below center of eye to posterior edge of preopercle, with 8 additional short rows extending dorsally to behind ventral half of orbit; no scales on dorsal, anal, or pelvic fins; progressively smaller scales extending out on basal portion of caudal fin for at least twothirds length of fin; base of pectoral fin with up to 4 rows of small cycloid scales; lateral line broadly arched over pectoral fin, then gradually slanting to straight midlateral portion on about posterior fourth of lateral body.

Origin of dorsal fin over second to third lateral-line scale, predorsal length 3.1 (3.1–3.3) in SL, equal to head length; 1 st dorsal-fin spine 11.7 (7.3–11.8)in HL; second dorsal-fin spine 7.2 (5.2–8.0) in HL; third dorsal-fin spine 5.1 (3.7–5.1) in HL; fourth dorsal-fin spine longest, 4.5 (3.0–5.0) in HL; fifth dorsal-fin spine 6.1 (4.0–6.1) in HL, full length of spine attached to first soft ray by membrane; last dorsal soft ray longest, 2.3 (1.8–2.4) in HL; origin of anal fin below base of fourth dorsal soft ray, preanal length 2.0 (1.9–2.2) in SL; anal-fin spine 6.0 (4.6–9.3) in HL; last anal soft ray longest, 2.5 (2.2–2.9) in HL; caudal fin rounded, with prolonged upper lobe centered on third branched ray, extending about twothirds orbit diameter posterior to central margin of fin, total fin length 5.2 (4.8–6.1) in SL, 1.6 (1.3–1.7) in HL; pectoral fins broadly rounded when spread, tenth ray longest, 5.3 (4.6–5.3) in SL, 1.7 (1.4–1.7) in HL; origin of pelvic fins anterior to pectoral-fin origin, below base of exposed part of opercular spine, prepelvic length 3.6 (3.4–3.7) in SL, 1.1 (1.0–1.1) in HL; pelvic-fin spine slender, 4.3 (4.2–4.3) in HL; pelvic fins extending to anus, but not reach origin of anal fin; fourth soft pelvic ray longest, 4.5 (4.3–5.0) in SL, 1.4 (1.3–1.5) in HL.

Colour when fresh. — See Figs. 1A, C, 3A, C, E. Pale reddish-brown dorsally, grading to white ventrally, bright white between pectoral and pelvic fins; both jaws and anterior portion of snout reddish; eight brownish blotches evenly distributed on dorsal surface of body; a row of eight reddish bars on body below mid-lateral line; a large brownish patch above opercle; an irregular series of small brown spots, each restricted to one scale, above the lateral body axis; a yellowish ventroposteriorly directed bar with reddish margin on cheek, three horizontal series of brownish spots on soft portion of dorsal fin; spinous portion of dorsal fin reddish yellow anteriorly and dorsally; one to three small spots on posterior portion of cheek; pectoral-fin base whitish with few small spots; a short row of brownish spots behind pectoral fin base; caudal fin with alternating yellow and pale blue stripes and four to five vertical rows of small reddish spots; anal fin yellow, with a pale blue base.

Colour in alcohol. — See Fig. 1B. Creamy white with eight blackish blotches on dorsal surface of body, blotches progressively smaller from anterior to posterior, first between posterior margin of neurocranium and origin of dorsal fin, middle six immediately below soft dorsal fin base, and last on caudal peduncle; a large brownish patch above opercle; three series of small spots on soft dorsal fin; a horizontal series of small black spots, each restricted to one scale, above midline of lateral body; spinous portion of dorsal fin brownish gray; dorsoposterior portion of eye brownish; opercle and subopercle pale brownish; peritoneum pale brown; and gill cavity pale to grayish.

Distribution. — Known from the type series collected at Hengchun, Pingtung, southern tip of Taiwan, northern part of South China Sea, at depths between 50– 150 m. Present in Japan, as confirmed by examination of colour figure in Masuda et al. (1975: 259, pl. 81-K).

Etymology. — Named after the Kenting National Park in southern Taiwan, the type locality for the species.

Remarks. — Parapercis kentingensis is most similar to P. shaoi (Fig. 1D, E), sharing meristic values for fin elements and vertebrae and having similar proportional measurements. The species are sympatric in Taiwan and southern Japan based on our observations and from literature records. Parapercis kentingensis can be distinguished from P. shaoi by its relatively depressed head and somewhat pointed snout (vs. head relatively deep and snout less pointed); a yellow bar below the eye (vs. a broad reddish patch); yellow patch on snout tip not extending posteriorly to middle of upper jaw (vs. extending to about four-fifths of upper jaw length); one to three reddish spots on cheek (vs. spots absent); anterior pectoral fin base pale or with a very narrow reddish bar (vs. with a broad reddish band); usually presence of a few brownish spots on pectoral fin base (vs. spots absent); three horizontal series of brownish spots on dorsal fin (vs. three to four broken bluish strips); small spots above the lateral body axis (vs. spots much larger); lateral body below the axis yellowish, but not forming a clear band (vs. forming a clear band); four to five vertical rows of small brownish spots on caudal fin (vs. spots absent) (Fig. 3A, C, E vs. Fig. 3B, D, F); and different CO I DNA structure.

Parapercis kentingensis also resembles P. somaliensis and P. albipinna Randall, 2008 in having similar formulae for fin elements, vertebrae, and similar proportional measurements. It differs from P. somaliensis mainly in colouration of fins and head and in having a smoothly indented preopercle (vs. distinctly serrate) and other characters used to separate P. shaoi from P. somaliensis (see Randall, 2008: 174). It differs from P. albipinna in the colouration of the fins and body, and in having the prolongation of the upper lobe of the caudal fin (vs. prolongation absent), and other characters used to separate P. shaoi from P. albipinna (see Randall, 2008: 174).

Genetics. — The 594 bp of CO I gene sequences were obtained from three specimens each of P. kentingensis and P. shaoi . Genetic distances between specimens of P. kentingensis and P. shaoi are 10–11% K2P genetic distance,

A

C B

D

E F

Fig. 3. Selected comparative views of P. kentingensis n. sp. (A, C, E) [QM I.38860, paratype, 127.4 mm SL] and P. shaoi Randall, 2008 (B, D, F) [NMMB-P11455, non-type, 127.5 mm SL]. A, B: lateral view of left head. C, D: middle left side of body. E, F: left of caudal fin. All photographed from freshly caught specimens.

whereas those of individuals of each species were not more than 1% ( Fig. 4 ).

Figures

Fig. 2. Dorsal-lateral view (above) and ventral view (below) of head showing the cephalic pore system of Parapercis kentingensis n. sp., from the holotype.

Fig. 4. Neighbour-joining tree of P. kentingensis and P. shaoi inferred from COI gene sequences with 10000 bootstrap replicates. Bootstrap values> 50% are indicated.