Parupeneus chrysonemus (Jordan & Evermann, 1903)

Uiblein, Franz, 2021, Taxonomic review of the “ posteli-species group ” of goatfishes (genus Parupeneus, Mullidae), with description of a new species from the northern Red Sea, Cybium 45 (1), pp. 63-77 : 65-67

Parupeneus chrysonemus (Jordan & Evermann, 1903)

Yellow-threaded Goatfish

( Figs 1 , 2A, B ; Tabs I , II)

Material examined

Paratypes (n = 5). – Central Pacific , Hawaiian Islands : BPBM 1703, 219 mm SL, Oahu , Honolulu; CAS 58518, 156 mm SL, Hilo, 19°46’N, 155°05’W; CAS 58520, 167 mm SL, same locality ; SU 7476 , 2 , 95-96 mm SL, same locality .

Non-types (n = 4). – Central Pacific , Hawaiian Islands: MNHN A-3490, 1 (of 2), 166 mm SL; MNHN 1975-1064 , 3 , 67-114 mm SL, Oahu, N of Haleiwa, 21°46’N, 158°07’W .

Diagnosis

Morphological characters

Pectoral fins 16 (rarely 15); lateral-line scales 27; gill rakers 6-8 + 25-28 = 32-35; measurements in % SL, large-sized fish: body depth at first dorsal-fin origin 27-31; body depth at anus 22-25; caudal-peduncle depth 9.3-10; maximum head depth 24-29; head depth through eye 22-26; interorbital length 6.8-10; head length 35-37; snout length 17-19; postorbital length 10-12; orbit length 7.2-7.8; upper jaw length 14-16; barbel length 27-33; caudal-peduncle length 21-22; caudal-fin length 28-32; anal-fin height 15-18; pelvic-fin length 27-30; pectoral-fin length 25-27; height of second dorsal-fin spine 18-21; height of third dorsal-fin spine 22-23; height of second dorsal-fin ray 14-15 and height of ninth dorsal-fin ray 10-13; small-sized fish: body depth at first dorsal-fin origin 26-30; body depth at anus 21-24; caudal-peduncle depth 9.3-10; maximum head depth 23-26; head depth through eye 18-22; interorbital length 7.8-8.4; head length 32-35; snout length 15-16; postorbital length 11-12; orbit length 8.0-9.9; upper jaw length 13-14; barbel length 26-29; caudal-peduncle length 23; caudal-fin length 29-33; height of second anal-fin ray 16-17; pelvic-fin length 28-30; pectoral-fin length 25-27; height of second dorsal-fin spine 19-21; height of third dorsal-fin spine 21-23; height of second dorsal-fin ray 15-17 and height of ninth dorsal-fin ray 10-11; posterior maxilla margin dorsally extended in small as well as in large fish.

Colour

Live fish encountered in situ (see Plate XF in Randall, 2004) with white head and body with a red or brown band dorsally and a mid-lateral body stripe of same colour; the dorsal band extends from front of snout along dorsal margin and base of dorsal fins to dorsal caudal-fin base, some scales within band with a dark-brown spot; the lateral stripe extends from front of snout through eye and broadening as it follows lateral line, interrupted below rear base of second dorsal fin, then ending in a broad patch on caudal peduncle, partly fused with the dorsal band; a small dark-red or dark-brown oblique bar of less than pupil width, crossing the mid-lateral stripe in line with posterior margin of preopercle; scales on body often with red or dark-red margins, sometimes forming a row of dark-red spots along dorsal body margin from below first dorsal fin to behind second dorsal fin; pupil black, iris red; barbels varying from bright red to gold or yellow or mixed red and yellow; dorsal and pelvic fins mostly red, pectoral and anal fins transparent reddish, and caudal fin reddish at base forming a vertical red bar covering three scales; fish collected in deeper water or shortly after death ( Fig. 2A, B ) almost entirely red, apart from barbels which similarly vary in colour as observed in situ; uniformly pale brown when preserved.

Distribution and size

Hawaiian Islands and Johnston Island; 20-183 m depth; attains 20 cm SL.

Remarks

This species shows considerable allometry in body shape with smaller-sized fish differing from larger-sized conspecifics in shallower and shorter head with shorter snout, jaws and barbels, larger eyes and longer caudal peduncle ( Fig. 1 ; Tabs I , II).

Figures

Figure 1. – Relationships among eight morphometric characters including SL and total number of gill rakers in the five posteli-group species and three populations of Parupeneus posteli.

Figure 2. – A: Parupeneus chrysonemus BPBM 34775, 129 mm SL, Midway Atoll, Hawaiian Islands (J.E. Randall); B: P. chrysonemus BPBM 39141, 140 mm SL, Oahu, Hawaiian Islands (J.E. Randall); C: P. louise, large-sized fish (SL unknown), Rurutu, Austral Islands, French Polynesia (A. Stein); D: P. moffiti, HT, 230 mm SL, Guam, Mariana Islands (R.F. Myers). Scale bars = 20 mm.