Nectamia Jordan , 1917

Fraser, Thomas H., 2008, Cardinalfishes of the genus Nectamia (Apogonidae, Perciformes) from the Indo-Pacific region with descriptions of four new species, Zootaxa 1691 (1), pp. 1-52 : 4-5

Nectamia Jordan, 1917

Figures 1–6 , Tables 1 –3

Type Species Apogon fuscus Quoy and Gaimard, 1824

Diagnosis. Species with IX dorsal spines as VII(I)–I, the eighth of nine dorsal spines reduced to a tiny nubbin hidden under the skin supported by a free sixth distal radial ( Fig. 1 ), dorsal spines slender, with slight thickening of the third spine; 9 soft dorsal rays; 8 soft anal rays; 13 pectoral-fin rays; 23–30 total rudiments and rakers on the first gill arch, 22–29 well-developed gill rakers, 16–18 shorter gill rakers present on the second ceratobranchial and hypobranchial ( Fig. 2 ); three supraneurals; two supernumerary spines on the first dorsal pterygiophore; one supernumerary spine on the first anal pterygiophore; one pair of slender uroneurals, three epurals, free parhypural, five free hypurals; procurrent caudal rays segmented; forked caudal fin, all head and body scales ctenoid, scales ctenoid or cycloid on base of pectoral fin, two large median pelvic scales, the posterior scale cycloid in some species, no developed accessory pelvic scale ( Fig 3 ), pored lateral-line scales with one or two distal openings above and below main lateralis canal ( Fig. 4 ); cephalic lateralis pores numerous ( Fig. 5 ), mostly as minipores, a terminal lachrymal pore, a pair of ventral lachrymal pores, an anterior dentary and mental pores, terminal end of supraorbital canal with a large pore near anterior nare, lateral margin of supraorbital canal near posterior nare small, lateral margin of supraorbital canal midway on interorbit with small pores, simple postorbital canal projections with minipores, anterior margin of supratemporal canal smooth, posterior supratemporal canal margin with complex projections and minipores, lateral margin of mandibular canal with many minipores, a small posterior articular pore; stomach and intestine black with pale peritoneum; dark peduncular spot or bar, dark cheek mark between angle of preopercle and eye, lachrymal and anterior infraorbitals with yellowish mark, no stripes on head, body or vertical fins, pale bars and dark saddles variable present or absent on body, dorsal and ventral caudal-fin edges pale to variously colored ( Fig. 6 , Tab.1).

Remarks. External color patterns are important distinguishing characters in this genus, particularly the caudal-peduncle marks, dorsal saddles, cheek marks, development of pale bars on the side of the body, and development of colored edges to the caudal fin. Historical and recent methods of handling postmortem specimens prior to fixing and during preservation techniques influence overall preserved markings: kinds and strength of alcohol, formalin in freshwater or saltwater, collection methods and the use of ice or cold water prior to photography. The yellowish mark on the lachrymal and anterior infraorbitals was common to all species with good underwater photographs. Such a lachrymal mark has not been described for other species complexes in Ostorhinchus . Thirteen pectoral-fin rays are present in all species, an uncommon number among species in Ostorhinchus , sensu lato. A pelvic axillary scale is absent, however, a longer than wide small rudimentary cycloid scale was hidden by the larger ctenoid scale in some individuals.

A broader survey of species variation across Ostorhinchus , sensu lato, for patterns of the cephalic lateralis pores, fused sixth dorsal radial ( Fig. 1B ) fewer developed gill rakers on the first and/or second arches ( Fig. 2A and B ), complex lateral-line scale pores ( Fig.3D ), pelvic base scales and a pelvic axillary scale ( Fig. 4B ) will determine usefulness in developing phyletic relationships. Here, simple pored lateral-scales, absence of a pelvic axillary scale and the absence of stripes on the head and body are enough to distinguish Nectamia in Mabuchi et al. (2006) group II from Ostorhinchus in their group III. A broad survey may show that a fused versus free sixth distal dorsal radial may be useful.

Nectamia is a well-resolved clade. Color pattern similarities among apogonid genera and within species groups suggest an evolutionary basis that will be more widespread than Mabuchi et al. (2006) demonstrated for some of the groupings in Apogon , sensu lato, including those species in their Ostorhinchus group II. Two other names are available for other branches of species placed in Group II: Jaydia as proposed by Smith (1961) and used by Gon (1996), but see Fraser (2000); and Apogonichthyoides proposed by Smith (1949). Nectamia is narrowly construed here: however, barred patterns and/or absence of head stripes may be enough to include these other lineages within Nectamia which would broaden the diagnosis and eliminate some characters used here to more strictly define Nectamia . A key to aid in the identification of species from preserved material follows.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Mid-dorsal fin bones and spine associated with the sixth proximal-medial element. (A) Nectamia fusca, USNM 112348, 62.3 mm SL, connection between the first and second dorsal-fin elements with a free sixth distal radial and tiny eighth dorsal spine. (B) Ostorhinchus fleurieu, USNM 171272, 79.1 mm SL, connection between the first and second dorsal-fin elements with a fused distal radial to the seventh proximal-medial element and absence of an eighth dorsal spine. Scale = 1.0 mm.

FIGURE 2. Gill rakers and rudiments on second arch. Ostorhinchus fleurieu, USNM 171272, 79.1 mm SL, (A) hypobranchial, dorsal view, (B) ceratobranchial, lateral view. Nectamia fusca, USNM 112348, 62.3 mm SL (C) hypobranchial, dorsal view, (D) ceratobranchial, lateral view. Scale = 1.0 mm.

FIGURE 3. Semi-diagrammatic drawings of the fourth lateral line scales from left side of body showing variation in the number of external peripheral pores. A. Nectamia fusca scale removed from body, USNM 139811, 60.2 mm SL. B. Nectamia viria, holotype USNM 319149, 57.4 mm SL, scale on body. C. Nectamia similus, holotype USNM 213123, 44.0 mm SL, scale on body. D. Ostorhinchus fleurieu, USNM 213216, 63 mm SL, scale on body. E. Nectamia luxuria, holotype, USNM 209644, 59.1 mm SL scale on body. F. Nectamia ignitops, holotype BPBM 21897, 68.1 mm SL, scale on body. Scale = 1.0 mm.

FIGURE 4. Comparison of the scales at the base of the pelvic spine for A. Nectamia fusca without an axillary scale, USNM 139811, 60.2 mm SL and B. Ostorhinchus fleurieu with an axillary scale, USNM 191794, 42.3 mm SL.

FIGURE 5. Semi-diagrammatic pattern of cephalic lateralis pores for Nectamia fusca, USNM 139811, 60.2 mm SL, Guam. A. Dorsal view. B. Lateral view. C. Ventral view. d. last dentary/anticular pore. n. anterior and posterior nares. e. posttemporal.

FIGURE 6. Underwater photographs of eight species of Nectamia. A. N. similis, new species, Calamian Is., Philippines, G. R. Allen. B. N. luxuria, new species, Andaman Sea, Thailand, U. Satapoomin. C. N. viria, new species, Raj Ampat, Indonesia, R. F. Myers. D. N. zebrinus, Red Sea, Egypt. R. F. Myers. E. N. annularis, Red Sea, Sudan, J. E. Randall. F. N. savayensis, Solomon Sea, Bougainville I., J. E. Randall G. N. bandanensis, Ogasawara Is., Japan, J. E. Randall. H. N. fusca, Red Sea, R. H. Kuiter.