Hemirhamphodon phaiosoma (Bleeker, 1852)

Tan, Heok Hui & Lim, Kelvin K. P., 2013, Three New Species Of Freshwater Halfbeaks (Teleostei: Zenarchopteridae: Hemirhamphodon) From Borneo, Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 61 (2), pp. 735-747 : 744-746

NOTES ON HEMIRHAMPHODON PHAIOSOMA

Hemirhamphodon phaiosoma ( Bleeker, 1852) appears to be the least known species of the genus (pers. obs.), as very little of its biology or colouration is documented.

Bleeker (1852) described H. phaiosoma based on material from Biliton and Banka islands. The holotype from Biliton (BMNH 1866.5.2.21) is in a poor state, with broken fins and having lost its lower jaw, scales and markings ( Fig. 14 ). Hemirhamphodon phaisoma was illustrated in a colour lithograph ( Bleeker, 1866 –1872: Scombres VIII, Fig. 2 ), showing a drab coloured halfbeak. Weber & de Beaufort (1922: 140) listed the colouration of preserved material of H. phaiosoma being brownish. Thus far, no colouration of live H. phaiosoma has been depicted. In the present article, a live male specimen from Biliton Island, the type locality of this species is illustrated ( Fig. 15A ), along with another male from the Anjungan area in West Kalimantan ( Fig. 15B ). Hemirhamphodon phaiosoma is known from West Kalimantan and Central Kalimantan (Anderson & Collette, 1991). The Biliton specimen was obtained from a lowland stream with water slightly stained with tannin (H. Ishizu, pers. comm.). The Anjungan specimens were from a stream at the base of a hill surrounded by peat swamps. The stream had clear water flowing over a rocky substratum (pers. obs.). In Central Kalimantan, the first author has collected specimens from a flowing creek in a peat swamp where the water was dark from high concentration of tannins. As observed by de Beaufort (1939), this species exhibits sexual dichromatism in which the male has two or more red stripes on the body and the female with a single red stripe ( Fig. 16 ).

Colouration of H. phaiosoma in life. — Adult male from Biliton ( Fig. 15A ) – Head yellowish-brown on dorsal and lateral aspects, ventrum cream. Upper jaw yellowish-brown with corresponding portion of lower jaw also yellowishbrown; dorsal surface of exposed lower jaw pale greenishblue, middle section of dermal flange on lower jaw pale blue with iridescent blue lower margin; ventrum of lower jaw flange with distinct black margin from tip to region directly below upper jaw. Eye with upper half of iris golden. Operculum with scattering of melanophores, and with pink flush on posterior part. Body with brown dorsal stripe, dorsum and sides yellowish brown, ventrum cream; sides with two distinct reddish-brown stripes from post-opercle to caudal-fin base. Dorsal fin yellowish. Caudal fin with reddish margin. Anal, pelvic and pectoral fins hyaline.

Adult male from Anjungan ( Fig. 15B ) – Head brownish on dorsal and lateral aspects, ventrum cream. Upper jaw brownish with corresponding portion of lower jaw bluish; dorsal surface of exposed lower jaw pale yellowish-brown, middle section of dermal flange on lower jaw bright red with black upper margin and iridescent blue lower sub-margin; lower jaw flange below upper jaw bright red; ventrum of lower jaw flange with distinct black margin from tip to region directly below eye. Eye with upper half of iris blue, with red on both sides. Operculum with scattering of melanophores, and with pink flush on posterior part. Body with brown dorsal stripe, dorsum and sides bluish with pink flush, ventrum cream; sides with two distinct red stripes from post-operculum to caudal-fin base, upper stripe more distinct. Dorsal fin yellowish with red margin. Caudal and anal fin with red margins. Pelvic and pectoral fins hyaline. Colouration of H. phaiosoma in preservative. — Adult male from Biliton ( Fig. 16A ) – Head dark brown on dorsum, pale brown on sides, ventrum cream. Upper jaw dark brown with corresponding portion of lower jaw pale brown; dorsal surface of exposed lower jaw pale brown, middle section of dermal flange on lower jaw with distinct blue and red markings; ventrum of lower jaw flange with distinct black margin from tip to region directly below upper jaw. Eye with upper half of iris pale red. Operculum with scattering of melanophores, and pinkish on posterior part. Body with brown dorsal stripe, dorsum and sides pale brown, ventrum cream; sides with two distinct reddish-pink stripes from postopercle to caudal-fin base, a faint third pinkish stripe below the two stripes. Dorsal fin hyaline. Caudal, anal, pelvic and pectoral fins hyaline.

Adult female from Biliton ( Fig. 16B )– colouration as for male, but subdued. Sides of body with single distinct reddish-pink stripe. All fins hyaline.

Adult male from Central Kalimantan ( Fig. 16C ) – head dark brown on dorsum, brown on sides, ventrum cream. Upper jaw yellowish brown with corresponding portion of lower jaw reddish; dorsal surface of exposed lower jaw brown, middle section of dermal flange on lower jaw with distinct pale blue and red markings; ventrum of lower jaw flange with distinct black margin from tip to region directly below upper jaw. Eye with upper half of iris pale blue. Operculum with scattering of melanophores, and pinkish on posterior part. Body with brown dorsal stripe, dorsum and sides pale brown, ventrum cream; sides with two distinct reddish-pink stripes from post-opercle to caudal-fin base, faint third and fourth pinkish stripes below the two stripes. Dorsal fin yellowish. Caudal and anal fins with reddish margin. Pelvic fin yellowish. Pectoral fin hyaline.

Adult female from Central Kalimantan ( Fig. 16D ) – colouration as for male, but subdued. Sides of body with single distinct reddish-pink stripe and up to two faint pinkish stripes. All fins hyaline.

Adult male from Anjungan ( Fig. 16E ) – head dark brown on dorsum and sides, ventrum cream. Upper jaw yellowish brown with corresponding portion of lower jaw reddish; dorsal surface of exposed lower jaw brown, middle section of dermal flange on lower jaw with distinct pale blue and red markings; ventrum of lower jaw flange with distinct black margin from tip to region directly below upper jaw. Eye with upper half of iris pale blue. Operculum with scattering of melanophores, and pinkish on posterior part. Body with brown dorsal stripe, dorsum and sides pale brown, ventrum cream; sides with two distinct reddish-pink stripes from post-opercle to caudal-fin base, and a third faint pinkish stripe below the two stripes. Dorsal fin yellowish. Caudal fin yellowish. Anal, pelvic and pectoral fins hyaline.

From the afore-mentioned colour descriptions, H. phaiosoma appears to be variable in colour. Part of this can be attributed to the water conditions in the habitat. For example, in tanninstained waters, the colours on the fish are more intense than those that occur in clear or murky waters. To ascertain if the Kalimantan populations are distinct from H. phaiosoma from Biliton, it would be necessary to obtain a larger series of specimens from the type locality.

Comparative material examined. — Hemirhamphodon phaiosoma – BMNH 1866.5.2 :21, holotype, 40.9 mm SL; Biliton. – ZRC 54012, 2 ex., 49.4–57.5 mm SL; Biliton: Badau area ; H. Zhou, Feb.2012 . – ZRC 54015, 2 ex., 39.4–45.0 mm SL ; ZRC 54016, 7 ex., 29.5–46.8 mm SL; Central Kalimantan: Kudangan ; T. Idei , 2004 . – ZRC 54049, 30 ex., 9.7–54.6 mm SL; Central Kalimantan: Pankalanbun outskirts, Pasir Panjang, Sungai Pasir Panjang ; H. Tommy et al., 11 Mar.2008 . – ZRC 54048, 23 ex., 25.0– 54.8 mm SL; West Kalimantan: Anjungan, Sungai Belado, Bukit Kloncet base; H. H. Tan et al., 17 Aug.2007 . – ZRC 49983, 57 ex., 11.3–51.4 mm SL; West Kalimantan: Anjungan, Sungai Belado, Bukit Kloncet base; H. H. Tan et al., 28 Apr.1998 . Hemirhamphodon pogonognathus – BMNH 1866.5.2 :20, syntype, 50.6 mm SL; Banka. – ZRC 54011, 4 ex., 30.7–45.6 mm SL; Banka: Sungai Baturusa area , near Sempan; H. Zhou, Feb.2012 . – ZRC 30729, 7 ex., 28.5–47.7 mm SL; Sumatra: Banka, 9 km east of Muntok ; M. Kottelat et al., 4 Mar.1993 . – ZRC 31348, 12 ex., 15.2–47.7 mm SL; Sumatra: Banka, 3 km north of Payung ; M. Kottelat et al., 5 Mar.1993 . – ZRC 31185, 11 ex., 15.0– 48.8 mm SL; Sumatra: Banka, 5.5 km north of Payung ; M. Kottelat et al., 5 Mar.1993 . – ZRC 54014, 3 ex., 43.6–47.0 mm SL; Central Kalimantan: SE Muara Teweh ; T. Idei , 2004 . – ZRC 54045, 8 ex., 28.7–47.6 mm SL; West Kalimantan: Sungai Sawak, road Sintang-Pontianak near Nanga Pinoh turnoff; H. H. Tan, 15 Aug.2007 . – ZRC 54046, 3 ex., 34.1–41.4 mm SL; West Kalimantan: Anjungan, Ulu Sungai Kepayan, km 60 Pontianak on old road; H. H. Tan et al., 17 Aug.2007 .

Hemirhamphodon chrysopunctatus – ZRC 54017, 2 ex., 50.2–53.0 mm SL; Central Kalimantan: Kasongan ; T. Idei, 2004 . – ZRC 54018, 1 ex., 36.4 mm SL; Central Kalimantan: Sampit, Plantalang Hulu ; T. Idei, 2004 .

Hemirhamphodon tengah – ZRC 54019, 1 ex., 28.2 mm SL; Central Kalimantan: Sampit, Plantalang Hulu ; T. Idei, 2004 . – ZRC 54020, 10 ex., 27.4–33.6 mm SL; Central Kalimantan: Sampit, Kuala Kuayan ; T. Idei, 2004 .

Hemirhaphodon kuekenthali – ZRC 42719, 4 ex., 44.0– 63.8 mm SL; Brunei Darussalam: Belait District, Sungai Pelok, flowing into Sungei Ingei ; H. H. Tan et al., 11 May 1996 . – ZRC 42693, 3 ex., 34.3–54.0 mm SL; Brunei Darussalam: Tutong District, Sungai Meluncur east of Tasik Merimbun ; H. H. Tan et al., 15 May 1996 . – ZRC 37991, 13 ex., 23.5–61.5 mm SL; Sarawak: Marudi airport, Lubok Nibong road; M. Kottelat & T. Tan , 19 Jun.1994 . – ZRC 54050, 10 ex., 21.4–45.2 mm SL; Sarawak: Bintulu, Ulu Kakus, Tatau River basin: Batu Rusa , swampforest at Bukit Sarang; H. H. Tan et al., 18 Aug.2005 . – ZRC 54052, 8 ex., 30.5–46.1 mm SL; Sarawak: Bintulu, Ulu Kakus, Tatau River basin: Bukit Sarang Field Station , unnamed feeder stream to Sungai Sarang; H. H. Tan et al., 17 Aug.2005 . – ZRC 54053, 4 ex., 26.9–40.4 mm SL; Sarawak: Bintulu, Ulu Kakus, Tatau River basin: brown water feeder stream flowing into Sungai Sarang; H. H. Tan et al., 19 Aug.2005 . – ZRC 54054, 25 ex., 23.8–46.3 mm SL; Sarawak: Bintulu, Tatau River basin: Sungai Rengah , tributary of Binyo; I. Wong, 26 Sep.2005 . – ZRC 54055, 8 ex., 36.0– 52.4 mm SL; Sarawak: Bintulu, Tatau River basin: Sungai Pinyilan; I. Wong, 15 Aug.2005 . – ZRC 37843, 6 ex., 25.1–61.4 mm SL; Sarawak: outskirts of Sibu , north of airport runway end on Jalan Teku; M. Kottelat et al., 15 May 1994 . Hemirhaphodon kapuasensis – ZRC 38461, 48.5 mm SL, male holotype; West Kalimantan: Insiluk, 16 km WNW from Sanggau on road to Pontianak ; M. Kottelat et al., 23 Apr.1990 . – ZRC 54047, 2 ex., 45.0– 49.5 mm SL; West Kalimantan: Anjungan, Ulu Sungai Kepayan , km 60 Pontianak on old road; H. H. Tan et al., 17 Aug.2007 . – ZRC 50089, 20 ex., 11.9–48.4 mm SL; West Kalimantan: Sintang area, stream at km 442 Pontianak on Sintang-Putussibau road; H. H. Tan et al., 21 Apr.1998 . – ZRC 49922, 70 ex., 13.4–46.5 mm SL; West Kalimantan: Sanggau area, stream at km 249 Pontianak on Sosok-Sanggau road; H. H. Tan et al., 26 Apr.1998 . – ZRC 50044, 50 ex., 11.1–47.0 mm SL; West Kalimantan: Sintang area, stream bear Nanga Sayan along Nanga Pinoh-Nanga Sayan road; H. H. Tan et al., 24 Apr.1998 .

Figures

Fig. 14. Holotype of H. phaiosoma – BMNH 1866.5.2:21, 40.9 mm SL, Biliton.

Fig. 2. Dorsal fin and anal fin colouration of male H. sesamum: A, live holotype, MZB 17209, 36.7 mm SL; B, ZRC 54009, 47.0 mm SL (white background); C, ZRC 54009, 47.0 mm SL (black background).

Fig. 15. Live material of H. phaiosoma: A, live male from Biliton, not preserved (photograph by H. Ishizu); B, ZRC 54048, live male from Anjungan, Kalimantan Barat.

Fig. 16. Freshly preserved material of H. phaiosoma: A, ZRC 54012, 57.5 mm SL male, Biliton; B, ZRC 54012, 48.0 mm SL female, Biliton; C, ZRC 54049, 54.6 mm SL male, Kalimantan Tengah, Kotawaringin; D, ZRC 54049, 49.7 mm SL female, Kalimantan Tengah, Kotawaringin; E, ZRC 54048, 54.8 mm SL male, Kalimantan Barat, Anjungan.