Cheilodipterus lineatus Lacepède [ex Commerson] 1802—Large-toothed cardinalfish

Status at New Ireland. New record, based on a specimen photographed at Lissenung Island, Kavieng District, 10 m depth, by Dean Tully on 18 Sept. 2012; a video of a specimen taken at Tungelo Island, off southeastern New Hanover, at 3–46 m depth, St. KR 104, in 2014 (identified by Barry C. Russell).

Remarks. Fricke (1999: 233) treated Centropomus macrodon Lacepede [ex Commerson], 1802 in the synonymy of Cheilodipterus lineatus Lacepède [ex Commerson], 1801, but Gon (1993: 30) and Gon & Randall (2003 a: 32–33) believe that the latter name is unavailable as a secondary homonym of Perca lineata Forsskål in Niebuhr, 1775 . The latter is, however, not an independent species description, but a misidentification of Perca lineata Linnaeus, 1758, which is now Plectorhinchus lineatus (Linnaeus, 1758) . Cheilodipterus lineatus (sensu Gon & Randall 2003 a: 31–32) is a synonym of Cheilodipterus arabicus (Gmelin, 1789); it is restricted to the western Indian Ocean and Red Sea. As both Cheilodipterus lineatus and C. macrodon were frequently used, there is no way to retain C. macrodon, so that the species must be named Cheilodipterus lineatus (see Fricke 2008: 30).

Distribution and habitat. New Ireland: 1, 2.—General distribution: Red Sea, East Africa, Madagascar and Mascarenes east to Marshall Islands and Pitcairn Group, north to southern Japan, south to Western Australia, New South Wales (Australia), Lord Howe Island, Tonga and Rapa. Solitary in caves and under ledges in lagoon and seaward coral reefs, 0–40 m depth. Marine.