Halichoeres erdmanni, Randall & Allen, 2010

Randall, John E. & Allen, Gerald R., 2010, Two New Labrid Fishes Of The Genus Halichoeres From The East Indies, Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 58 (2), pp. 281-289 : 283-286

Halichoeres erdmanni , new species

( Figs. 4–7 ; Table 1)

Halichoeres javanicus (non Bleeker, 1857) Kuiter, 2002: 115, Figs. A, B, and D ( Singapore).

Material examined. – Holotype – NCIP 6359 , male, 68.0 mm, Indonesia, West Papua, Berau Bay, Fak Fak Peninsula, Ogar Island , east side, 2°39'S 132°30'E, 8 m, spear, M. V. Erdmann, 22 Mar.2009.

Paratypes. – BPBM 41023 , 2 : 47.4–64.1 mm, Indonesia, West Papua, West Eil Island , Ogar Island, NW side, 2°36.668'S 132°23.649'E, 8–10 m, spear, G . R. Allen , 15 Jan.2008 ; WAM P.32949.002, 3: 47.3–72.2 mm, same data as preceding ; NCIP 6360 , 58.8 mm , WAM P.33092.001, 52.2 mm, ZRC 52034, 65.5 mm, and USNM 398522 , 64.7 mm, all with same data as holotype .

Diagnosis. – Dorsal rays IX,11; anal rays III,10–12 (usually 11); pectoral rays 14 (including very small uppermost ray); lateral-line scales 27 (one of ten with 28); head naked; nape fully scaled; most scales of straight anterior part of lateral line with two diverging surface tubules ending in a pore; suborbital pores 6 or 7; gill rakers 18–20; body depth 3.2–3.45 in SL; head length 2.9–3.0 in SL; snout length 2.85–3.25 in head length; dorsal spines progressively longer, the ninth 2.7–3.3 in head length; caudal fin slightly rounded, 1.35–1.45 in head length. Colour of small adults in alcohol: dorsal half of body with alternating dusky and pale stripes following longitudinal scale rows anteriorly, the pale stripes centred along scales, changing posterior to pectoral fins to a pale spot on each scale; six groups of three to eight small dark spots (one per scale) along side of body, the first beginning above outer part of pectoral fin; nape with small dark spots; a vertically elongate dark spot posteriorly on opercular flap; a dark band on side of snout from eye to base of upper lip; triangular black spot dorsally on base of pectoral fin, continuing above fin base and enclosing a small pale spot; an irregular black spot in dorsal fin between fifth and seventh spines; fins otherwise pale except for scaled basal part of caudal fin coloured like body. Large males lose the groups of small dark brown spots on the body. Largest specimen, 72.2 mm SL.

Description. – Dorsal rays IX,11; anal rays III,10 (11, except one with 12); all dorsal and anal rays branched, the last to base; pectoral rays 14, uppermost rudimentary, second unbranched; pelvic rays I,5; principal caudal rays 14, upper and lower unbranched; upper procurrent caudal rays 6; lower procurrent caudal rays 5; lateral-line scales 27 (one with 28), plus 1 pored scale on caudal-fin base; scales above first lateral-line scale to base of second dorsal spine 3.5; scales above lateral line to base of ninth dorsal spine 2.5; scales below lateral line to base of first anal spine 8.5; circumpeduncular scales 20; gill rakers 20 (18–20); branchiostegal rays 5; vertebrae 25.

Body depth 3.25 (3.2–3.55) in SL; body moderately compressed, width 1.95 (1.95–2.25) in body depth; head length 3.0 (2.9–3.0) in SL; snout length 3.0 (2.85–3.25) in head length; orbit diameter 4.6 (3.8–4.85) in head length; interorbital space convex, the least width 5.3 (4.85–5.4) in head length; caudal-peduncle depth 2.1 (2.05–2.3) in head length; caudal-peduncle length 3.2 (3.1–3.4) in head length.

Mouth terminal, a little oblique, upper-jaw length 3.3 (3.2–3.65) in head length; 10 strong, close-set, conical teeth in outer row on side of upper jaw, and 11 in lower jaw, progressively longer and more jutting anteriorly, the anterior three slightly recurved; anteriormost tooth in jaws a canine about three-fourths pupil diameter in length; lower pair of canines fitting inside upper pair when mouth closed; a canine posteriorly on upper jaw, its length about half pupil diameter; inner row of small nodular teeth in both jaws. Tip of tongue narrowly rounded, reaching only corner of jaws. Lips large, fleshy, and deeply furrowed medially; median dorsal length of upper lip equal to pupil diameter; curving labial flap on side of lower jaw about half pupil diameter at its greatest depth. Gill rakers short, the longest about one-third length of longest filaments on first gill arch.

Anterior nostril a very small tubule, a little above level of middle of eye, about two-thirds pupil diameter anterior to edge of orbit; posterior nostril a short oblique slit, one-half pupil diameter dorsoposterior to anterior nostril. Suborbital pores 7 (6 or 7); pores of preopercular-mandibular series 14.

Scales cycloid; lateral line continuous, deflected downward below last two dorsal soft rays to straight peduncular part; scales of straight portion of lateral line mostly with two surface tubules that diverge to a V-shape (the angle progressively less posteriorly), each ending in a pore; down-curved and peduncular part of lateral line with a single straight tubule ending in a pore; nape fully scaled, the scales progressively smaller and more embedded anteriorly, in about nine oblique rows, nearly reaching a vertical at posterior edge of orbit; scales of prepelvic area progressively smaller anteriorly, nearly reaching gill opening, about 10 in midventral series; no scales on base of dorsal, anal, and paired fins, except for a scaly process of a terminal tapering scale and two small basal scales at midbase of pelvic fins; basal third of caudal fin with four vertical rows of scales, progressively smaller posteriorly.

Origin of dorsal fin above first lateral-line scale, predorsal length 3.2 (2.95–3.2) in SL; dorsal spines progressively longer, the first 5.4 (5.4–5.75) in head length, and ninth 2.8 (2.7–3.3) in head length; first to third dorsal soft rays longest, 2.3 (2.25–2.6) in head length; origin of anal fin below base of ninth dorsal spine, preanal length 1.85 (1.8–1.85) in SL; first anal spine very slender and short, 8.4 (6.75–10.0) in head length; third anal spine 3.95 (3.7–4.1) in head length; first to fifth anal soft rays longest, 2.6 (2.4–2.75) in head length; caudal fin slightly rounded, 1.4 (1.35–1.45) in head length; third pectoral ray longest,1.6 (1.5–1.65) in head length; origin of pelvic fins below upper edge of pectoral-fin base, prepelvic length 2.95 (2.9–3.1) in SL; pelvic fins short, not reaching anus, 1.85 (1.65–1.95) in head length (longest in largest male).

Colour of holotype in alcohol: dorsal half of body with alternating dusky and pale stripes following scale rows, the pale stripes centred along scales, changing posterior to pectoral fins to a pale spot on each scale; six groups of three to eight small dark spots (one per scale) along side of body, the first above outer part of pectoral fin; nape with small dark spots; a vertically elongate dark spot posteriorly on opercular flap; dark band on side of snout from eye to base of upper lip; triangular black spot dorsally on base of pectoral fin, continuing above fin base and enclosing a small pale spot; irregular black spot in dorsal fin between fifth and seventh spines of male specimens; fins otherwise pale except for scaled basal part of caudal fin coloured like body; peritoneum white.

The life colour of the holotype was not recorded, but Figs. 5–7 provide the colour of individuals estimated to be about 50, 65, and 70 mm SL.

Etymology. – This species is named in honour of our esteemed colleague Mark V. Erdmann, who collected the holotype and three of the paratypes.

Remarks. – The localities for this species include the northern Gulf of Thailand, Singapore, and Berau Bay, West Papua, Indonesia, all areas of protected seas. The sea was murky where underwater photographs were taken in Singapore and the Gulf of Thailand. Ogar Island, the type locality, is one of the Sariga Islands, which lie 3–8 km off the dense mangrove shore of Berau Bay, West Papua. The coast of the islands is a combination of mangrove, rocky shore, and an occasional sand beach. The inshore habitat of the islands consists of low-diversity, fringing coral reef exposed to turbidity and siltation. The underwater visibility was often less than 3 m, and the tidal current can be very strong. The species was observed at depths of 8– 25 m.

Halichoeres erdmanni is distinguished from H. nigrescens by having one fewer dorsal and anal soft rays (11 for H. erdmanni and 12 for H. nigrescens ) and in the number of suborbital sensory pores. Our ten specimens of H. erdmanni have 6 or 7 pores, compared to 11 to 13 for 20 specimens of H. nigrescens from the Philippines, Singapore, Java, and Queensland. Also, most of the anterior scales of the straight portion of the lateral line of H. erdmanni have two surface tubules that diverge to a V-shape, ending in a pore, whereas most of the anterior scales of H. nigrescens have three long surface tubules that diverge from a common base. In addition, there are obvious differences in colouration. H. nigrescens lacks the groups of small dark spots along the body as seen in the female of H. erdmanni , and H. erdmanni lacks the row of four or five white spots along the midside of the body that may be seen on adults of H. nigrescens .

Halichoeres erdmanni appears to be most closely related to the Indo-Malayan H. binotopsis (Bleeker) , sharing the same meristic data and similarity in colour pattern, such as the series of small dark spots on the body of juveniles and females. The dark spots in H. binotopsis are evenly spaced to form continuous broad bars that extend nearly across the body. The spots in H. erdmanni form clumps instead of continuous bars. The males of H. binotopsis differ mainly in having six narrow green bars on the upper half of the body.

Material of Halichoeres nigrescens examined. – Philippines: Mindanao , BPBM 20688 , 2 : 65–78 mm . Singapore: BPBM 22058 , 12 : 46–107 mm . Indonesia: Java, BPBM 29301 , 65 mm . Australia: Queensland, Cooktown , BPBM 31726 , 5 : 33–82 mm .

Material of Halichoeres binotopsis examined. – Philippines: Cebu, Mactan Island, BPBM 22086, 6: 47–65 mm. Singapore: BPBM 22039, 84 mm. Indonesia: Flores, BPBM 36692, 2: 84–86 mm.

Figures

Fig. 4. Holotype of Halichoeres erdmanni, male, NCIP 6359, 68 mm, West Papua, Indonesia (H. A. Randall).