Pseudogramma paucilepis, Williams, Jeffrey T. & Viviani, Jeremie, 2016

Williams, Jeffrey T. & Viviani, Jeremie, 2016, Pseudogramma polyacantha complex (Serranidae, tribe Grammistini): DNA barcoding results lead to the discovery of three cryptic species, including two new species from French Polynesia, Zootaxa 4111 (3), pp. 246-260 : 254-256

Pseudogramma paucilepis new species

Weakscaled Podge

Figure 7 , Table 1 .

Holotype: USNM 423375, 45.7 mm, female, tissue number: AUST-245 (GenBank-KU905724; genseq-1), Austral Islands, Tubuai south end, outer reef slope with dense coral, 18–22 m, rotenone, J.T. Williams, E. Delrieu-Trottin and P. Sasal, 14 April 2013.

Paratypes: USNM 422972, tissue number: AUST-499 (GenBank-KU905727; genseq-2), 42.9 mm, Austral Islands, Rimatara, outer reef slope channel to drop off with dead coral structure but little live coral, 21–29 m; USNM 422983, tissue number AUST-500 (GenBank-KU905726; genseq-2), 60.3 mm, Austral Islands, Rimatara, outer reef slope channel to drop off with dead coral structure but little live coral, 21–29 m; USNM 422917, tissue number AUST-247 (GenBank-KU905725; genseq-2), 17.5 mm, same locality as holotype; USNM 422942, tissue number AUST-497 (GenBank-KU905723; genseq-2), 24.3 mm, Austral Islands, Rimatara, outer reef slope channel to drop off with dead coral structure but little live coral, 21–29 m; USNM 400657, tissue number GAM 0 11 (GenBank-KU905722; genseq-2), 26.5 mm, Gambier Islands, Kouaku Island, small surge channel in outer reef, 15– 20 m.

Diagnosis. A species of Pseudogramma with 20 segmented dorsal-fin rays, modally 16 segmented anal-fin rays, LL relatively long 1.8–2.3 (mean= 2.0) in SL, relatively reduced scalation on interorbital, suborbital and dentary ( Fig. 2 A); HL 2.3–2.4 in SL, peduncle depth 4.2–5.0 in HL.

Description. Dorsal rays VII, 20; anal rays III, 16–17 one specimen with 17); pectoral rays 15–16 (mean=15.33); LL scales 24–38 for specimens ranging from 25 to 60 mm, count increases with increasing size, LL length 1.8–2.3 (mean= 2.0) in SL; no fully developed second LL; longitudinal scale series 52–54; gill rakers 5–6 + 11–12; vertebrae 10 + 16.

Body depth 3.2–3.7 in SL (mean=3.5); HL 2.3–2.4 (mean=2.3) in SL; snout 5.0– 5.9 in head; caudal-peduncle length 4.0– 6.7 in head; peduncle depth 4.2–5.0 in HL. Fifth or sixth dorsal spines longest, 3.6–4.4 (mean= 3.9) in head; longest dorsal soft ray 3.3–5.0 (mean=4.0) in head; posterior dorsal and anal rays nearly reaching, just reaching, or extending slightly posterior to a vertical at caudal-fin base, second anal spine 3.7–5.6 (mean= 4.6) in head; longest anal soft ray 3.5–4.6 (mean= 3.9) in head; caudal fin short and rounded, 2.3–3.2 (mean= 2.7); pectoral fins barely reaching origin or to anal spines (but not to segmented rays), 1.7–2.1 in head. Interorbital width 16.7–20.0 (mean= 17.2) in HL.

Mouth large, the maxilla extending posterior to vertical at rear edge of orbit; upper-jaw length 2.1–2.3 (mean= 2.2) in head; a band of villiform teeth in jaws; upper jaw with a small canine tooth in outer row on each side at front of jaw; villiform teeth on palatines in 3–5 rows in adults, the band distinctly longer than side of V-shaped patch of teeth on vomer.

No dermal flap or small tentacle dorsally on eye. Cephalic sensory pores as shown in Fig. 1 , supraorbital and some infraorbital pores variably present on head and may be absent or covered by scales when present. Tubular anterior nostril near edge of snout at base of upper lip, the tube not long, reaching one-third the distance to and almost to posterior nostril when depressed onto snout. A sharp spine projecting downward (45–60° to horizontal axis of body, mean= 56°) on posterior edge of preopercle at level of upper base of pectoral fin; upper surface of preopercular spine V-shaped with a central furrow. Three flat spines on opercle nearly in vertical alignment, middle spine closer to lower than upper spine (preopercular and opercular spines usually covered with scales).

Scalation on the head poorly developed ( Fig. 2 A). Interorbital scalation not extending anteriorly beyond middle of eye, with smallest specimens (below 40mm) having scales reaching only supraorbital and first interorbital pores (SO and InO1), longest specimens with scales reaching second interorbital pores (InO2). Cheek scalation not extending anteriorly beyond mid-orbit with smallest specimens having scalation reaching only IO F infraorbital pore, with largest specimens having scalation reaching IO E infraorbital pore. Dentary naked in small specimens, large specimens with scales reaching posterior edge of premaxilla.

Color pattern. Based on photos of freshly dead specimens from Gambier and the Australs ( Fig. 7 ). Head brown, with pale streak extending ventroposteriorly from ventral border of orbit, across preopercle toward upper end of pectoral-fin base; large black spot on opercle sometimes bordered by pale ring; anterior nostril short brown tube with pale stripe laterally; cheek and branchiostegal membranes sometimes with faint pinkish cast; iris of eye brown with narrow irregular ring of yellow or orange bordering pupil; ventral border of orbit black. Body with mottled checkerboard pattern of alternating dark brown and tan spots. Fins dusky brown or yellowish brown, caudal fin with narrow pale bar on base bordered posteriorly by half-moon shaped yellowish brown crescent. Color in alcohol essentially the same as fresh color, but without yellowish tones.

Etymology. The species epithet is a combination of the Latin paucus, meaning few, and the feminine Greek noun lepis, meaning scale. The name paucilepis is treated as a noun in apposition. We name this the Weakscaled Podge in reference to its weakly scaled snout and suborbital.

Remarks. We have examined specimens and obtained genetic sequences of Pseudogramma paucilepis n. sp. from the Gambier Archipelago and Austral Islands. Our genetic analysis places P. paucilepis n. sp. closest to P. polyacantha (about 8.8% divergence). It has only been found on outer reef slopes between depths of 15– 29 m. Specimens of P. paucilepis n. sp. have been found to occur sympatrically with P. brederi at the Austral Islands and with P. gal zini n. sp. at Gambier and the Austral Islands. As is typical of specimens of the genus Pseudogramma , specimens have not been observed alive and have only been collected using the ichthyocide rotenone, which is the only effective collecting method for this species and other species with cryptic habits. It is currently known only from the subtropical Pacific south of 20 degrees S latitude ( Fig. 5 ), but it is likely that it will be found to be more broadly distributed geographically, at least within the subtropical South Pacific Ocean.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Cephalic sensory pores of Pseudogramma. Pore symbols: nasal pores (N); interorbital pores (InO), supraorbital pores (SO); infraorbital pores (IO); and dentary pores (D).

FIGURE 2. Scalation patterns on the head of members of the Pseudogramma polyacantha complex showing changes with increasing specimen length. A) Reduced scalation— P. paucilepis n. sp. B) Scalation extending slightly farther anteriorly— P. galzini n. sp. C) Moderately developed scalation— P. brederi. D) Well-developed scalation— P. polyacantha. Colors represent the following: purple: variable scale development at all sizes; grey: specimens shorter than 40 mm SL; blue: specimens longer than 40 mm SL; green: specimens longer than 45 mm SL; orange: specimens longer than 50 mm SL; red: specimens longer than 55 mm SL.

FIGURE 5. Geographical distribution of the members of the Pseudogramma polyacantha species complex. Pseudogramma polyacantha — lavender shading, blue stars; P. brederi — green shading, green stars; P. galzini n. sp. — orange shading orange stars; P. paucilepis n. sp. — pink shading Purple stars. Black dots represent locations of specimens examined; stars indicate specimens with COI sequence available on BOLD.

FIGURE 7. Pseudogramma paucilepis new species, holotype, USNM 423375, 45.7 mm SL, female, Austral Islands. Photo: J. T. Williams.