Parapercis macrophthalma (Pietschmann, 1911)

Ho, Hsuan-Ching & Johnson, Jeffrey W., 2013, Redescription of Parapercis macrophthalma (Pietschmann, 1911) and description of a new species of Parapercis (Pisces: Pinguipedidae) from Taiwan, Zootaxa 3620 (2), pp. 273-282 : 274-279

Parapercis macrophthalma (Pietschmann, 1911)

English name: Narrow barred grubfish Figs. 1A–C , Tables 1–2

Neopercis macrophthalma Pietschmann, 1911:431 , fig. 1 (original description; type locality: Taiwan).

Parapercis macrophthalma (Pietschmann) : Cantwell, 1964: 245 (new combination, with doubtful status); Johnson, 2006: 55. Ho and Shao, 2011: tab. 1;?Department of Fisheries Malaysia, 2009: 82.

Parapercis muronis (non Tanaka, 1918): Masuda et al, 1984: pl. 260, fig. E; Shen, 1984a: 115, pl. 115, fig. 37-12a, c (in part); Shen, 1984b: 376;?Chen and Yu, 1986: 694; Shen et al., 1993: 488, pl.164-4.

Parapercis sp.: Shinohara in Okamura and Amaoka, 1997:553, fig. 7.

Parapercis sp. 2: Shimada in Nakabo, 2002: 1064, 1586.

Material examined. Holotype: ZMB 16160 (108.3 mm SL), Takao [= Kaohsiung], SW. Taiwan, coll. K. A. Haberer. Non-type: Taiwan: ASIZP 61408 (1, 111.6 mm), Audi, Taipei, bottom trawl, 200 m, 15 Nov. 2000, coll. C.-H. Wu. ASIZP 61551 (1, 90.6 mm), Tashi, Yi-lan, bottom trawl, 100 m, 17 Jul. 2000, coll. C.-H. Wu. ASIZP 62349 (1, 87.0 mm), Fonggang, Pingtung, bottom trawl, 200 m, 1 Mar. 2001, coll. J.-H. Wu. CSIRO H.6293-08 (1, 88.2 mm), Tashi fish market, near Yi-Lan, Taiwan, coll. W. White, 22 May 2005. NMMB-P0492 (1, 103.5 mm), Tungkang, Pingtung, coll. H.-K. Mok. NMMB-P1692 (1, 102.1 mm), Tongkang, Pingtung, 7 Feb. 1985. NMMB-P2453 (1, 112.6 mm), Kaohsiung, 9 Apr. 2002, coll. J.-P. Chen. NTUM 4116 (1, 106.1 mm), Kaohsiung, 28 Mar. 1980. NTUM 4468 (1, 113.6 mm), Chung-chou, Kaohsiung, 26 Feb. 1984. NTUM 5613 (4, 98.2–111.6 mm) Chung-chou, Kaohsiung, 24 July 1979. NTUM 5614 (4, 88.9–102.6 mm), Chung-chou, Kaohsiung, 31 Oct. 1982. QM I.37582 (1, 107.2 mm), Donggang, Pingtung, Taiwan, 24 Jul. 2005. Japan: BSKU 44047 (1, 116.2 mm), Mimase fish market, Kochi city (offshore trawl in Tosa Bay), Japan, 2 Oct. 1987. BSKU 44049 (1, 117.5 mm), Mimase fish market (offshore trawl in Tosa Bay), Kochi, Japan, 2 Oct. 1987. BSKU 44053 (1, 112.1 mm), Mimase fish market (offshore trawl in Tosa Bay), Kochi, Japan, 2 Oct. 1987. BSKU 44054 (1, 110.3 mm), Mimase fish market (offshore trawl in Tosa Bay), Kochi, Japan, 2 Oct. 1987. BSKU 44069 (1, 95.6 mm), Mimase fish market (offshore trawl in Tosa Bay), Kochi, Japan, 2 Oct. 1987. BSKU 44183 (1, 69.3 mm), Tosa Bay, Japan, 33º 17.79’N, 133º 42.17’E to 33º 17.25’N, 133º 41.07’E, beam trawl 189–191 m, 28 Oct. 1987. BSKU 44968 (1, 60.6 mm), Tosa Bay, Japan, 33º 17.38’N, 133º 42.58’E to 33º 16.81’N, 133º 41.53’E, beam trawl, 183–188 m, 8 Aug 1988. BSKU 44969 (1, 95.6 mm), Tosa Bay, Japan, 33º 17.38’N, 133º 42.58’E to 33º 16.81’N, 133º 41.53’E, beam trawl, 183–188 m, 8 Aug. 1988. BSKU 44971 (1, 79.6 mm), Tosa Bay, Japan, 33º 17.38’N, 133º 42.58’E to 33º 16.81’N, 133º 41.53’E, beam trawl, 183–188 m, 8 Aug. 1988. BSKU 45287 (1, 105.9 mm), Mimase fish market, Kochi city (offshore trawl in Tosa Bay), Japan, 22 Oct. 1988.

Diagnosis. A species of Parapercis with five vertical transverse bars on upper body, each extending laterally to lower two-thirds of body and a combination of the following characters: 5 dorsal-fin spines, becoming progressively longer posteriorly, with last spine entirely connected to first dorsal-fin ray by membrane; dorsal-fin soft rays usually 23; anal fin usually with 1 spine and 19 soft rays; entire body covered by ctenoid scales, except for those on chest; predorsal scales extending forward to vertical from preopercle; generally 4 pairs of canine teeth anteriorly in lower jaw; palatine with two rows of stout teeth, those on outer row larger than inner; vomer with triangular patch of stout teeth; appressed pelvic fin not reaching anus.

P. macrophthalma P. m u ro n i s P. m o k i n. sp.

Holotype Non - type Non - type Holotype

ZMB 16160 N=23 N=13 NMMB–P 0 892 SL (mm) 108.3 90.4–112.6 80.6–126.7 104.4 Morphometrics Mean (Range) SD Mean (Range) SD

Description. Morphometric and meristic data are provided in Tables 1–2. Dorsal-fin rays V, 24 (V, 22–24; usually 23); anal-fin rays I, 19 (I, 18–19; usually 19); all dorsal and anal soft rays branched, the last to base; pectoral-fin rays 20/21 (19–21; modally 20, rarely 21), branched except uppermost; pelvic-fin rays I, 5; principal caudal-fin rays 9 (upper)+ 8 (lower)=17; upper procurrent caudal-fin rays 7–8; lower procurrent caudal-fin rays 5–6 (both upper and lower procurrent caudal-fin rays unclear in holotype); lateral-line scales 53 (51–56, not including 2 or 3 smaller pored scales on base of caudal fin); scales above first lateral-line scale to origin of dorsal fin 5.5; scales above highest part of lateral line to base of dorsal fin 4.5; scales below lateral line posteroventrally to origin of anal fin about 14 (14–16); median predorsal scales 9; circumpeduncular scales 22 (22–23) (mainly 23); gill rakers 5+8 =13 (4–6 + 8–10 = 12–16), pseudobranchial filaments 15 (14–22); branchiostegal rays 6; vertebrae 10 + 22 (9–10 + 22 = 31–32).

Lateral - line scales Pectoral - fin rays

n 51 52 53 54 55 56 n 18 19 20 21 P. macrophthalma 28 2 8 10* 4 2 2 28 – 21 33* 2* P. m u ro n i s 14 1 3 2 2 6 – 13 4 15 7 –

Gill rakers

Upper limb Lower limb Total

n 4 5 6 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 P. macrophthalma 26 9 15 * 2 3* 18 5 – 1 8 * 13 3 1 – P. m u ro n i s 14 – 11 3 – 8 4 2 – – 7 4 2 1 Body depth 5.1 (4.7–6.2) times in SL, 1.5 (1.3–1.8) in HL; body nearly cylindrical anteriorly, the width 5.6 (4.5–5.8) in SL, 1.6 (1.2–1.6) in HL, strongly compressed posteriorly; head relatively globular, its length 3.4 (3.4–3.8) in SL; ventral part of head, chest and abdomen slightly convex; snout relatively short and pointed, its length 5.0 (4.0–5.4) in HL; eye relatively large, orbital diameter 2.8 (2.5–3.0) in HL; interorbital space flat, the least fleshy width 9.2 (7.7–14.4) in HL; caudal-peduncle depth 2.9 (2.6–3.5) in HL; caudal-peduncle length 3.6 (3.1–4.1) in HL.

Mouth large, maxilla nearly reaching a vertical through anterior half of eye, upper-jaw length 2.4 (2.2–2.9) in HL; mouth oblique, forming an angle of about 20° to horizontal axis of body, both jaw equally terminate; upper jaw with outer row of 22/24 (19-28) conical teeth that curve medially and posteriorly, anterior 8 (6–8) 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 6 rows at front of upper jaw, gradually narrowing posteriorly to a narrow band in about 2–3 irregular rows; front of lower jaw with 3 (4; rarely 3) pairs of recurved canine teeth, all about equal in size (some specimens including holotype may have lost canine teeth and failed to regrow them, but no vacant tooth sockets were observed in these specimens); band of about 8 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 8 (7–8) increasingly larger and more strongly recurved teeth (last 3-4 of these distinctly enlarged), followed by a single row of small teeth to end of jaw; vomer with stout conical teeth forming a triangular patch of about 3 rows, those in anterior row of 7 (7-8) teeth largest; palatine teeth usually in 2 distinct rows, outer row with 6/7 (6–8) teeth and the inner row with 4/5 (4–5) slightly smaller 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 pointed posterior flap that reaches posterior nostril when laid back; posterior nostril dorsoposterior to anterior nostril, ovate with slight rim.

Pores of cephalic sensory system with row of 3 large pores above maxilla; 1 pore between both nostrils and 1 below anterior nostril; 4 pores on either side of space between posterior nostril to anterior interorbital space; numerous pores connected by canals under the skin on posterior interorbital space and occiput; 1 series continuing to posteroventral margin of eye along the upper margin of cheek scales, 1 series continuing to above the free margin of preopercle, and a third series continuing to anterior end of lateral line on body; 2 rows of pores along the inner margin of preopercle, outer row with 6 larger pores and inner row with 7 smaller pores, continuing to a series of 4 large pores on mandibule; a pair of large pores at front of chin (mainly based on NMMB-P 2453, 112.6 mm SL).

Opercle with single sharp spine, at about same level as ventral edge of pupil (when viewed from side); margin of subopercle smooth except for 3 (3-6) blunt, close-set serrae on a small bony prominence on upper edge; preopercle broadly rounded, its free edge smooth except for slight indentation 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 strongly ctenoid and imbricate in entire body, except for those on chest which are cycloid or weakly ctenoid; no scales on dorsal, anal, or pelvic fins; progressively smaller scales extending out on basal portion of caudal fin for at least 2/3 length of fin; 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 midlateral portion on about posterior fourth of lateral body.

Origin of dorsal fin over third to fourth lateral-line scale, predorsal length 3.1 (3.0–3.3) in SL, slightly larger than head length; 1st dorsal-fin spine relatively short, 9.5–26.7 (broken in holotype) in HL; 2nd dorsal-fin spine 7.2 (5.6–11.1) in HL; 3rd dorsal-fin spine 5.9 (4.1–7.2) in HL; 4th dorsal-fin spine longest, 5.0 (3.8–5.6) in HL; 5th dorsal-fin spine 4.7 (3.4–5.0) in HL, entirely attached to 1st soft ray by membrane; last second dorsal soft ray longest, 1.9 (1.7–2.5) in HL; origin of anal fin below base of 4th dorsal soft ray, preanal length 2.0 (2.0–2.2) in SL; anal-fin spine 7.0 (5.3–9.7) in HL; last second anal soft ray longest, 2.3 (1.9–2.6) in HL; caudal fin rounded, without prolongation on upper lobe; total fin length 4.7–5.4 in SL, 1.3–1.6 in HL (caudal fin damaged in holotype, so only data from non-types); pectoral fins broadly rounded when spread, tenth ray longest, 4.1 (4.1–4.6) in SL, 1.2 (1.1–1.4) in HL; origin of pelvic fins anterior to pectoral fin origin, below base of exposed part of opercular spine, prepelvic length 3.6 (3.5–4.1) in SL, 1.1 (1.0–1.1) in HL; pelvic fin relatively short, reaches anus to origin of anal fin, fourth pelvic-fin ray longest, 4.4 (4.3–5.1) in SL, 1.3 (1.2–1.5) in HL.

Color when fresh ( Fig. 1B ). Body pale reddish above, grading to white ventrally, vivid white between pectoral fin and pelvic fin; snout and upper jaw bright red; five vertical transverse bars distributed evenly on lateral body, each with a solid black lower portion extending to about 2/3 of lower body, all well below the lateral line; dorsal fin yellow, its posterior portion with some alternating yellow and blue oblique stripes; anal fin yellow; pelvic fins reddish yellow with a large black patch on inner surface; caudal fin reddish yellow with some alternating yellow and blue stripes; a brownish spot usually present on upper caudal fin base, between fourth to ninth rays.

Color in alcohol ( Fig. 1C ). Uniformly brownish yellow, with five vertical transverse bars, each with pale grey upper part and solid black lower part; first bar at spinous dorsal fin, extending ventrally to above the upper pectoral fin base; the other four distributed evenly along the body from the soft dorsal fin base, each extending ventrally to a horizontal from lower 1/3 of the pectoral fin base, second bar extends about 5 horizontal scale rows below lateral line, third bar about 4 scale rows below, fourth and fifth bars about 2.5 (2–3) scale rows below. A light brown spot, smaller than iris, usually present on base of fourth to ninth rays of caudal fin. Posterior portions of dorsal fin and upper 2/3 of caudal fin with faint oblique brown bars. Inner surface of pelvic fin with a large dusky patch.

Distribution. Specimens examined were collected from Japan and Taiwan. Three specimens were collected at a depth of 183– 188 m.

Remarks. Pietschmann (1911) provided 24 dorsal-fin rays for the holotype which we can confirm is correct; however this appears atypical for the species, as the remainder of our material has 23, or rarely 22 rays. In the original description the pectoral-fin ray count is given as 21; however the holotype has 21 on the right hand side and 20 on the left hand side. We recorded only one other specimen with a count of 21 and 20, respectively, but numerous individuals where the pectoral-fin ray counts differed by one ray between one side and the other. In addition, the lateral-line scale count in the holotype was found to be 53, plus 2 small scales on caudal fin base, instead of 62 as provided in the original description. These diagnostic characters are revised accordingly.

Parapercis macrophthalma is morphologically similar to P. m u ro n i s ( Fig. 1 D), having five transverse bars on the upper body and sharing similar proportional measurements ( Table 1), meristic counts ( Table 2), squamation, and arrangement of teeth on jaws, vomer and palatines. These two species co-occur in Taiwan and Japan. Parapercis macrophthalma can be distinguished from P. muronis by having transverse bars on the body vertical (vs. oblique) and all bars extending well below the lateral line (vs. 3rd to 5th bars ending on or above the lateral line) and a slightly higher pectoral-fin ray count (19–21, modally 20 vs. 18–20, modally 19).

Examination of all known specimens identified as P. muronis in Taiwanese collections has revealed all but one were misidentifications of P. macrophthalma . Shen (1984a) identified photographs of three individuals as P. muronis (pl. 115, fig. 371-12a–c), of which two specimens (fig. 371-12a and fig. 371-12c, vouchers in NTUM, but not sighted) are identical to P. macrophthalma , and one specimen (fig. 371-12b, NTUM 5613, 1 of 4, 97.4 mm SL) is identical to P. muronis . Moreover, based on the figures and descriptions provided, Parapercis muronis of Masuda et al. (1984: pl. 260, fig. E), Parapercis sp. of Shinohara (1997: 533, fig. 7), and Parapercis sp. 2 of Shimada (2002: 1064) are here reidentified as P. macrophthalma .

Department of Fisheries Malaysia (2009) recorded P. macrophthalma from Malaysia; however, we are unable to verify the record due to the lack of any figure or voucher specimen.

Figures

FIGURE 1. A – C. Parapercis macrophthalma (Pietschmann, 1911). A. Holotype of Neopercis macrophthalma, ZMB 16160, holotype, 108.3 mm SL, Takao [Kaohsiung], Taiwan. B. NMMB-P 17746, fresh condition, 1 of 3, 120 mm SL, NE Taiwan, photo by H-C Ho. C. NMMB-P 2453, 112.6 mm SL, preserved condition. D. Parapercis muronis (Tanaka, 1918), BSKU 36380, fresh condition, 123.8 mm SL, Tosa Bay, photo by BSKU.