Pseudogramma brederi (Hildebrand in Longley & Hildebrand, 1940 )

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 : 253-254

Pseudogramma brederi (Hildebrand in Longley & Hildebrand, 1940)

Confused Podge

( Figure 6 ; Table 1 )

Rhegma brederi Hildebrand in Longley & Hildebrand, 1940:244 , Fig. 11 (Exact type locality unknown, but apparently from the Hawaiian Islands; erroneously listed as being from the Tortugas as discussed by Randall & Baldwin 1997). Pseudorhegma diagramma Schultz, 1966: 193 (type locality, Hawaii).

Pseudogramma polyacantha hawaiiensis Randall and Baldwin, 1997: 42 (Holotype: BPBM 28742; type locality: Ke’ei, Hawaii).

Diagnosis. A species of Pseudogramma with modally 21 segmented dorsal-fin rays, modally 17 segmented analfin rays, a relatively long LL (1.6–1.9, mean= 1.8) in SL, relatively well-developed scalation on the interorbital, suborbital and dentary ( Fig. 2 C); head length 2.4–2.7 in SL, peduncle depth 3.2–4.0 in HL.

Description. Dorsal rays VII, 20–21 (rarely 22); anal rays III, 16–18 (rarely 18); pectoral rays 15–17; LL scales usually 34–39 (3 specimens with 31), LL length long, 1.6–1.9 (mean=1.8) in SL; usually no fully developed second LL (some tubed scales rarely present posteriorly); longitudinal scale series 47–52; gill rakers 5–6 + 11–12; vertebrae 10 + 16.

Body depth 3.2–4.0 in SL (mean=3.57); HL 2.4–2.7 (mean=2.5) in SL; snout 5.3–6.3 in HL; caudal-peduncle length 4.0– 5.9 in head; peduncle depth 3.2–4.0 in HL. Fifth or sixth dorsal spines longest, 3.3–4.8 (mean= 4.0) in HL; longest dorsal segmented ray 3.6–4.5 (mean=4.0) in HL; posterior dorsal and anal rays nearly reaching, just reaching or extending slightly posterior to vertical at caudal-fin base, second anal spine 4.2–5.6 (mean= 4.8) in HL; longest anal soft ray 3.2–4.3 (mean= 3.8) in HL; caudal fin short and rounded 2.0–2.8 (mean= 2.4) in HL; pectoral fins barely reaching or reaching slightly posterior to anal-fin origin (but not to segmented rays), 1.5–2.0 in HL. Interorbital width 8.3–20.0 (mean= 12.5) in HL.

Mouth large, the maxilla extending posteriorly to a vertical at rear edge of orbit; maxilla 2.0–2.3 (mean= 2.1) in HL; 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 (30–60° to horizontal axis of body, mean= 50°) 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 moderately developed ( Fig. 2 C). Interorbital scalation extending anteriorly to at least anterior border of orbits (pore InO2) in smallest specimens (below 40 mm), extending onto snout in larger specimens where scales reach level of posterior nostrils and N1 pore ( Fig. 2 C). Cheek scalation extending anteriorly to infraorbital pore IO C or IO B. Dentary scales extending anteriorly at least to first dentary pore (D1), some specimens with dentary completely scaled.

Color pattern. Based on photos of freshly dead specimens from Marquesas, Mururoa and Australs ( Fig. 6 ). 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 bordered by pale ring; anterior nostril short brown tube with pale stripe laterally; branchiostegal membranes sometimes with pale reddish 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 reddish brown, caudal fin with narrow pale bar on base bordered posteriorly by half-moon shaped brown crescent. Color in alcohol essentially the same as fresh color, but without reddish tones.

Remarks. We name this the Confused Podge to reflect the confusion surrounding its type locality when the species was first described as an Atlantic species. Our analysis of mtDNA data reveal the presence of Pseudogramma brederi at the Marquesas and Austral Islands and there is a BOLD sequence from a Reunion Island specimen that clusters in the same lineage ( Fig.4 ), which is supported by our examination of preserved museum specimens of this species from the Agalega Islands and Mauritius, Western Indian Ocean. We have found additional specimens of P. brederi at Taiwan, Ogasawara Islands (based on Randall et al. 1997: plate 6B, previously identified as P. polyacantha ), Johnston Island, Hawaii, Rapa, Fiji, Tonga, Loyalty Islands and Vanuatu. Pseudogramma brederi displays an interesting distribution pattern in the Pacific Ocean that, with the exception of the Marquesas, is antitropical ( Fig. 5 ), with populations found north of 20 degrees N and south of about 19–20 degrees S latitude. Although the Marquesas are located in the tropics, Marquesan waters are influenced by upwelling that simulates a more subtropical environment. In addition, the species is currently known to have an east-west disjunct geographic distribution with a Central Pacific population from Ogasawara, Johnston, Hawaii, Marquesas, Australs, Tonga and Vanuatu and a southwestern Indian Ocean population currently known only from Agalega Islands, Mauritius and Reunion. We believe it is likely to be more widely distributed in appropriate subtropical habitats.

Material examined. TAIWAN: USNM 361831, 48.3 mm SL. HAWAII: USNM 160672, holotype of Pseudogramma diagramma , 67.5 mm SL. JOHNSTON ISLAND: USNM 140729, 18 specimens, 31.3–65.8 mm. MARQUESAS ISLANDS: USNM 409419, tissue number: MARQ-414, 53.4 mm; USNM 409417, tissue number: MARQ-417, 42.8 mm; USNM 409418, tissue number: MARQ-418, 55.0 mm; USNM 409146, tissue number: MARQ-146, 39.1 mm; USNM 409147, tissue number: MARQ-147, 54.5 mm; USNM 411305, 3 specimens, 46.6–52.0 mm; USNM 411461, 3 specimens, 33.8–45.1 mm. MURUROA, TUAMOTU ARCHIPELAGO: USNM 419833, 5 specimens, 37.6–52.0 mm. RAPA: USNM 379703, AUSTRAL ISLANDS: USNM 422967, tissue number: AUST-498, 49.3 mm. TONGA ISLANDS: USNM 334318, 51 mm; USNM 329736, 8 specimens, 34.1–52.6 mm. FIJI, southern Islands: USNM 287812, 3 specimens, 14.8–53.6 mm; USNM 258327, 3 specimens, 29.9–39.8 mm. VANUATU: USNM 356623, 47.3 mm; USNM 347531, 44.1 mm. AGALEGA ISLANDS, North Island: USNM 259061, 3: 37–44 mm. AGALEGA ISLANDS, CARGADOS CARAJOS SHOALS: USNM 259060, 2, 41.4, 53.7 mm. MAURITIUS: USNM 366584, 8 specimens, 12.9–39.9 mm.

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 4. Neighbor-Joining tree based on K 2 P model of sequence evolution (with 1,000 bootstrap replicates) for available members of the genus Pseudogramma. The scale bar at left represents a 2 % sequence divergence.

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 6. Pseudogramma brederi USNM 409417, 45 mm SL, Marquesas. Photo: J. T. Williams.