Anthias xanthomaculatus

Gill, Anthony C. & Russell, Barry C., 2019, Redescription of Anthias xanthomaculatus Fourmanoir and Rivaton, and its reassignment in the genus Odontanthias Bleeker (Teleostei: Serranidae: Anthiadinae), Zootaxa 4568 (1), pp. 177-184 : 178-180

Redescription of Anthias xanthomaculatus holotype

Figures 1 & 2 , Table 1

Morphometric and meristic data are summarised in Table 1. Dorsal rays X,14, all segmented rays branched, the last to base; anal rays III,7, all segmented rays branched, the last to base; pectoral rays 16/16, uppermost and lowermost rays unbranched; pelvic rays I, 5, all segmented rays branched; principal caudal rays 9 + 8; branched caudal-fin rays 7 + 6; upper procurrent caudal rays 4; lower procurrent caudal rays 4; lateral-line scales 33 + /37 (left side damaged); scales above lateral line to middle dorsal spines 3/3; scales below lateral line to origin of anal fin origin 16/16; circumpeduncular scales 24; gill rakers 13+28.

Vertebrae 10 + 16; supraneurals 2, closely spaced ( Figure 2 ).

Body moderately deep, depth 2.7 in SL; body compressed, width 2.3 in body depth; HL 2.5 in SL; eye large, bony orbit diameter 2.5 in HL; snout moderate, 4.8 in HL; interorbital width 4.7 in HL; caudal-peduncle depth 2.9 in HL; caudal-peduncle length 4.0 in HL.

Mouth moderately large, maxilla extending posteriorly to vertical through posterior part of pupil, upper-jaw length 2.3 in HL; no supramaxilla; premaxilla with about seven rows of small incurved and recurved teeth anteriorly forming tooth patch at front of upper jaw, narrowing to about two rows posteriorly, outer teeth longer than inner; front of upper jaw with two enlarged recurved canines, one external and one internal, about twice as long as other teeth; dentary with about four rows of small incurved and recurved teeth anteriorly forming tooth patch, narrowing to about two rows posteriorly; a pair of larger and stouter recurved canines projecting outwards at front of lower jaw, and enlarged pair of larger, stouter recurved canines somewhat separated from each other, about one third of distance from symphysis along side of jaw on each side; vomer with a chevron-shaped patch of small recurved teeth (similar to jaw teeth); palatines with two rows of small recurved teeth, in narrow band, about same size as those of vomer; no teeth on tongue or mesopterygoids.

Origin of dorsal fin just anterior to vertical through lateral-line origin, predorsal length 2.7 in SL; first dorsalfin spine 1.9 in second spine; fourth spine longer than third spine, 2.3 in HL; tips of first 12 segmented dorsal rays filamentous, the third ray longest, 0.9 in HL, its tip united by membrane with tip of fourth ray; anal-fin origin beneath vertical through base of second segmented dorsal-fin ray; first anal spine a little more than half length of second spine; third anal spine longest, 2.0 in HL; second segmented anal ray longest, 1.3 in HL; caudal fin deeply emarginate, fin length 2.3 in SL, caudal concavity 2.1 in HL; pectoral fins pointed, reaching to vertical through first segmented anal ray, longest ray 1.2 in HL; pelvic fins reach beyond anal-fin origin, fin length 1.1 in HL.

Scales ctenoid with peripheral cteni ( Roberts 1993), those on top of head smaller and reaching forward to just in front of nostrils; no accessory scales on head or body; first infraorbital naked; maxilla scaly; small scales basally on segmented ray bases of dorsal and anal fins; small scales basally extending about three fourths of distance to margin of caudal fin; pelvic fins without axillary scales, but with patch of variable-sized scales between bases of fins; lateral line continuous, arched over pectoral fin, forming angle as it joins straight peduncular portion.

Opercle with four or five flat spines, the uppermost weakly developed and well separated from the largest spine (second from uppermost); subopercle with three or four flat spines, interopercle with an enlarged serration, mirroring the angle serration on preopercle and reaching slightly behind opercular membrane; preopercle with 14 serrations on posterior margin, two serrations on ventral margin (neither of which is antrorse), and an enlarged serration at angle, which extends beyond posterior margin of subopercle; a single serration each on exposed portion of supracleithrum and posttemporal.

Live coloration. A large yellow spot extends between the eighth dorsal-fin spine and the fifth dorsal-fin ray, ranging from the dorsal profile to the middle of the body. On the dorsal fin, the coloration spreads, becoming greenish yellow. The anterior spines are also greenish yellow except the base which is pink, the end of the membrane to incised portion is pink-cream for all spines. Segmented rays of the dorsal not covered by the yellow spot are red. The caudal fin is bright pink lilac, the external rays and the base are white. The anal is greenish yellow with a little pink along the distal part of the upper and lower rays. The ventrals are white on the outside, straw yellow with a little pale pink inside. The pectorals are colourless. The body is pink with yellow above and behind the eyes. The head is pink with a yellow area in front of the eyes, which also covers the upper part of the lip. A slightly sloping yellow band crosses the preopercle. The eye is pink-lilac. [translation of description in Fourmanoir & Rivaton 1979]

Preserved coloration. Head and body generally brown, paler on snout, nape and jaws; most body scales with darker brown spot at base; fins generally tan to yellowish hyaline.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Holotype of Anthias xanthomaculatus, MNHN IC-1978-0477, 42.0 mm SL, Passes de Bulari, New Caledonia. Photo by B.C. Russell.

FIGURE 2. X-radiograph of holotype of Anthias xanthomaculatus, MNHN IC-1978-0477, 42.0 mm SL. White arrows indicate supraneural bones. Radiograph by J. Pfliger, MNHN.