aqua, International Journal of Ichthyology

A new of Dragonet (: Callionymidae) from Indonesia

Gerald R. Allen1 and Mark V. Erdmann2

1) Department of Aquatic Zoology, Western Australian Museum, Locked Bag 49, Welshpool DC, Perth, Western Australia 6986 2) Conservation International Indonesia Marine Program, Jl. Dr. Muwardi No. 17, Renon, Denpasar 80235 Indonesia

Received: 21 June 2011 – Accepted: 21 July 2011

Abstract Papouasie occidentale, Indonésie. L’espèce à également été Synchiropus tudorjonesi is described on the basis of 4 speci- signalée à Bali, Indonésie, à partir de photographies sous- mens, 21.1-35.5 mm SL, collected at Cenderawasih Bay, marines. Elle semble la plus proche de S. morrisoni, qui West Papua, in Indonesia. The species has also been occupe de grands espaces dans le Pacifique ouest. Les deux recorded from Bali, Indonesia, from underwater pho- espèces ont des distributions qui se chevauchent en tographs. It appears to be most closely related to S. mor- Indonésie, mais sont séparées écologiquement dans la risoni, which ranges widely in the western Pacific. The two mesure où S. tudorjonesi occupe des eaux plus profondes species have overlapping distributions in Indonesia, but are (50-70 m) que S. morrisoni qui évolue moins bas (12-33 m ecologically separated with S. tudorjonesi occurring in deeper environ). Les deux espèces ont des données méristiques et water (50-70 m) compared to the shallower depth range morphométriques similaires. Néanmoins, le mâle adulte (about 12-33 m) of S. morrisoni. Both species exhibit simi- de S. morrisoni a une première dorsale nettement plus lar meristic and morphometric features. However, the adult grande qui peut atteindre deux fois la hauteur de la sec- male of S. morrisoni has a much taller first dorsal fin, which onde dorsale (ou jusqu’à 2,5 en LS) alors que S. tudorjonesi may reach twice the height of the second dorsal fin (or to 2.5 a la nageoire bien plus courte (4,2 en LS). Il y a également in SL) compared to the much lower fin (4.2 in SL) of S. des différences notables de couleur, particulièrement eu tudorjonesi. There are also significant colour differences, par- égard à la première dorsale du mâle. ticularly with regards to the male’s first dorsal fin. Sommario Zusammenfassung Synchiropus tudorjonesi è descritto sulla base di 4 esem- Synchiropus tudorjonesi wird auf der Grundlage von vier plari di 21.1-35.5 mm SL, raccolti a Cenderawasih Bay, Exemplaren mit 21,1-35,5 mm SL beschrieben, die in der Papua Occidentale, Indonesia. La presenza della specie è Cenderawasih-Bucht, Westpapua, Indonesien gefangen stata segnalata anche a Bali, Indonesia, come documentato worden waren. Nachweise dieser Art durch Unterwasserfo- da fotografie subacquee. Appare molto vicina a S. morri - tografien gibt es auch von Bali, Indonesien. Am nächsten soni, diffusa ampiamente nel Pacifico occidentale. Le due verwandt ist offenbar die Art S. morissoni, die im west- specie hanno distribuzione simpatrica in Indonesia, ma lichen Pazifik weite Verbreitung gefunden hat. Die beiden sono ecologicamente separate, poiché S. tudorjonesi vive in Arten überschneiden sich zwar in der Verbreitung in acque più profonde (50-70 m) rispetto a quelle occupate Indonesien, sind aber ökologisch getrennt. S. tudorjonesi da S. morrisoni (circa 12-33 m). Entrambe le specie mo - lebt in tieferem Wasser (50-70 m), S. morrisoni im strano caratteristiche morfometriche e biometriche simili. flacheren (12-33 m). Die meristischen und morphome- Tuttavia, il maschio adulto di S. morrisoni ha una prima trischen Merkmale sind bei beiden Arten ähnlich. Doch pinna dorsale molto più elevata, che può raggiungere besitzt das Männchen von S. morrisoni eine deutlich altezze anche due volte superiori di quelle della seconda größere erste Rückenflosse, sie kann doppelt so hoch sein dorsale (oppure fino a 2.5 in SL), rispetto a S. tudorjonesi wie die zweite (bis 2,5 nach SL); bei S. tudorjonesi hinge- che possiede una pinna molto meno elevata (4.2 in SL). gen ist die erste Rückenflosse vergleichsweise niedrig (4,2 Inoltre, ci sono significative differenze di colorazione, ri- nach SL). Hinzu kommen deutliche Farbunterschiede, vor guardante in modo particolarmente la prima pinna dorsale allem bei der ersten Rückenflosse der Männchen. del maschio.

Résumé INTRODUCTION Synchiropus tudorjonesi est décrit sur base de 4 spécimens, Dragonets of the family Callionymidae are bot- 21,1-35,5 mm de LS, collectés à Cenderawasih Bay, tom-living frequently found on sand, mud,

9 aqua vol. 18 no. 1 - 15 January 2012 A new species of Dragonet (Synchiropus: Callionymidae) from Indonesia or dead coral rubble. They usually rest on their Papua Province, Indonesia, 70 m, clove oil and outstretched pelvic fins and move about the reef in hand net, M. Erdmann, 20 September 2010. slow, short bursts. Males are generally more colour- Paratypes: MZB 20020, female, 21.2 mm SL, col- ful than females and use their ornate first dorsal fin lected with holotype; WAM P.33357-001, female, to signal their spawning intentions to nearby 24.4 mm SL, same collection data as holotype females. In some species the first dorsal is exceed- except 13 September 2010; WAM P.33368-002, ingly tall and sail-like and is fully erected during female, 25.2 mm SL, collected with holotype. courtship displays. More than 125 species are Diagnosis: A species of the subgenus Synchiropus known from the Indo-Pacific region. However, there (see Fricke 1981) with the following combination is disagreement concerning the generic classification of features: dorsal rays VIII + 8; anal rays 6-7 (usu- of dragonets with some researchers following the ally 7); all dorsal rays branched; anal rays scheme of Nakabo (1982) in which 19 genera are unbranched (except last branched at base); preop- recognized, while others subscribe to the classifica- ercular spine with very small main tip and 1-3 tion of Fricke (1983), who recognized only nine recurved spinules along dorsal margin; colour in genera, placing the majority of species in Callion- life mainly bright red with black pectoral fin base, myus Linnaeus, 1758 and Synchiropus Gill, 1859. diffuse blackish zone on ventral half of side punc- The present paper describes a new species that we tuated by variable-sized white spots; male with first became aware of from photographs taken at moderately elevated spinous dorsal fin with four Bali, Indonesia, labelled as Synchiropus cf. mor- black oblique bands, alternating with narrower risoni, which appeared in Kuiter & Tonozuka bands of yellow and blue; female with shorter, (2001). Four specimens were eventually collected mainly black spinous dorsal fin. in September 2010 by the second author during Description: Dorsal rays VIII + 8, all soft rays deep (60-70 m) scuba dives at Cenderawasih Bay, unbranched; anal rays 7 (one paratype with 6), West Papua Province, Indonesia. The specimens unbranched except last ray branched at base; pec- include both sexes and clearly belong to a new toral rays 21; pelvic rays I,5; branched caudal rays taxon, closely related to S. morrisoni Schultz, 1960. 7 (one paratype with 6); principal caudal rays 9 (one paratype with 8); upper and lower procurrent MATERIALS AND METHODS caudal rays 3-4. The format of the new species description and Body elongate and slightly depressed, greatest methods of counting and measuring are the same depth 4.8 (4.6-4.8) in SL, and greatest width 1.0 as those utilised by Fricke (1981 and 1983). We (0.9-1.0) in greatest depth. Head slightly com- have adhered to Fricke’s generic classification pressed (male) or slightly depressed (female), rather than that of Nakabo (1982), primarily length 3.3 (2.8-3.2) in SL; snout shorter than orbit because of the former author’s in-depth treatment diameter, 3.7 (3.8-4.4) in head length; orbit diam- of Indo-Pacific species in the 1983 monograph and eter 2.5 (2.4-2.6) in head length; interorbital very subsequent publications. Counts and proportions narrow, 15.4 (18.0-22.0) in head length. Caudal appearing in parentheses apply to the paratypes if peduncle moderately long and slender, least depth different from the holotype. Proportional measure- 10.1 (10.6-11.8) in SL and length 6.7 (4.9-6.2) in ments of type specimens, expressed as percentage SL. Branchial opening sublateral in position. Pre- of the standard length, are provided in Table I. opercular spine length 3.6 (4.1-4.7) in head length; Type specimens are deposited at Museum Zoolog- preopercular spine with very small main tip and icum Bogoriense, Cibinong, Indonesia (MZB) and 1-3 recurved spinules along dorsal margin. the Western Australian Museum, Perth (WAM). Lateral line extending from preorbital region to about middle of third branched caudal fin ray (counted from dorsal margin) with short subor- Synchiropus tudorjonesi n. sp. bital and long preoperculo-mandibular branch, Red-back Dragonet two ventral branches before pectoral fin base, and Figs 1-2; Table I series of short dorsal branches along side of body; lateral lines of opposite sides of body intercon- Holotype: MZB 20019, male, 35.5 mm SL, nected by commissure across occipital region. oceanic patch reef, 02°25.830’S, 134°54.409’E, Snout to origin of first dorsal fin 2.9 (2.5-2.8), north of Tridacna Atoll, Cenderawasih Bay, West and origin of second dorsal fin 2.0 (1.8-2.0), both aqua vol. 18 no. 1 - 15 January 2012 10 Gerald R. Allen and Mark V. Erdmann in SL; first dorsal fin of male holotype moderately short, 1.3 (1.7-1.9) in head length. Caudal fin elevated, first spine 2.0, second spine 1.4, third slightly rounded, 3.1 (3.2-3.9) in SL. spine 1.3, and fourth spine 1.5, all in head length. Colour in life (Fig. 1): mainly bright mot- First dorsal fin of female paratypes lower, first spine tled red with black pectoral fin base, diffuse black- 2.2-3.7, second spine 2.1-3.1. third spine 1.9-2.5, ish zone on ventral half of side, both upper and and fourth spine 3.3-4.1, all in head length. First lower side punctuated by variable-sized white dorsal fin higher than second dorsal fin in male spots; lower side of head and breast whitish to yel- and female, first and last dorsal rays 1.7 (1.9-2.0) lowish (with small blue spots on male); first dorsal and 1.3 (2.1-2.4) respectively in head length, the fin of male with four black oblique bands, alter- last ray slightly elongated in male. Preanal length nating with narrower bands of yellow and blue; 1.7 (1.6) in SL; anal fin origin level with base of female with mainly black spinous dorsal fin; sec- third ray of second dorsal fin; length of last anal ray ond dorsal fin reddish with white and dark brown 1.3 (1.5-1.8) in head length. Prepelvic length 3.3 spots arranged in oblique bands; caudal fin with (3.0-3.3) in SL; pelvic fins relatively elongate and about 6-7 alternating brown and white to bluish extending to base of third anal ray when laid back, bars intermingled with white spots; anal fin black- 0.9 (0.9-1.0) in head length. Pectoral fins relatively ish; pelvic fins translucent with diffuse red and yel-

Fig. 1. Synchiropus tudorjonesi, underwater photograph of anesthetized freshly collected male holotype, 35.5 mm SL (upper ), and female paratype, 25.2 mm SL, Cenderawasih Bay, Indonesia. Photo by G. R. Allen.

11 aqua vol. 18 no. 1 - 15 January 2012 A new species of Dragonet (Synchiropus: Callionymidae) from Indonesia lowish bands; pectoral fins translucent with large 2005; personal observations) with records from the reddish blotches on basal half. Japan (Izu and Ryukyu Islands), Micronesia (Palau Colour in alcohol (Fig. 2): overall yellow- to Marshall Islands), Fiji, Samoa, Chesterfield ish tan with six large dark brown blotches (bifur- Islands, Great Barrier Reef, Indonesia (Bali, cate ventrally) on lower half of side; first dorsal fin Sulawesi, and West Papua), Philippines (Luzon), of male with four dark brown oblique bands, alter- and Papua New Guinea (Madang). Both species nating with narrower bands of dark brown and exhibit similar meristic and morphometric fea- white; female with mainly black spinous dorsal fin; tures. However, the adult male of S. morrisoni has soft dorsal fin whitish with 3-4 dark brown streaks a much taller first dorsal fin, which may reach on each fin membrane; caudal fin whitish with 2- twice the height of the second dorsal fin (or to 2.5 3 (only darker bars seen in life remain evident) hor- in SL) compared to the much lower fin (4.2 in SL) izontally elongate streaks on each fin membrane, of S. tudorjonesi. There is also a pronounced differ- most prominent on basal half; anal fin dark to ence in the colour pattern of the male’s first dorsal dusky brown except narrowly whitish at base; fin: that of S. morrisoni has numerous (generally pelvic and pectoral fins whitish with dark brown more than eight), mainly vertically oriented dark patch on upper half, extending dorsally on “shoul- brownish bands compared to the four black bands der” where it encircles pale spot just above fin. of S. tudorjonesi. Although the general colour pat- Remarks: The new species appears to be most tern of the body is similar for the two species, that closely related to Synchiropus morrisoni (Fig. 3), of S. morrisoni is generally more brownish than red, which ranges widely in the western Pacific (Randall and tends to be more strongly mottled. Finally

Fig. 2. Synchiropus tudorjonesi, preserved male holotype, 35.5 mm SL (upper fish), and female paratype, 25.2 mm SL, Cenderawasih Bay, Indonesia. Photo by G. R. Allen. aqua vol. 18 no. 1 - 15 January 2012 12 Gerald R. Allen and Mark V. Erdmann

Table I. Proportional measurements of type specimens of Synchiropus tudorjonesi as percentage of the standard length.

Character Holotype Paratype Paratype Paratype MZB WAM WAM WAM 20019 P.33368 P.33357 20020

Sex male female female female Standard length 35.5 25.2 24.4 21.2 Body depth 20.8 21.0 21.7 20.8 Body width 21.7 22.6 23.4 21.2 Head length 30.4 35.7 33.6 31.1 Snout length 8.2 9.5 7.8 7.1 Eye diameter 12.4 13.9 13.9 12.3 Interorbital width 2.0 2.0 1.6 1.4 Preopercular spine length 8.5 7.5 8.2 6.6 Caudal peduncle depth 9.9 8.7 9.4 8.5 Caudal peduncle length 14.9 20.2 16.4 16.0 Urogenital papilla length 0.8 0.8 0.0 0.0 Predorsal (1) length 34.6 39.7 39.8 35.4 Predorsal (2) length 51.0 55.6 53.3 50.0 Preanal length 58.0 62.3 62.7 61.3 Prepelvic length 30.7 33.3 32.0 30.7 First dorsal spine length 15.5 12.3 15.2 8.5 Second dorsal spine length 22.3 11.9 16.4 9.9 Third dorsal spine length 23.9 14.7 17.6 12.3 Fourth dorsal spine length 19.7 8.7 10.2 9.4 First dorsal ray length 17.5 18.3 17.6 15.6 Last dorsal ray length 24.2 17.9 16.0 12.7 Last anal ray length 23.4 19.8 18.4 20.3 Pectoral fin length 23.1 19.0 17.6 18.4 Pelvic fin length 33.0 35.3 36.1 34.4 Caudal fin length 32.7 31.7 29.9 25.9

Fig. 3. Synchiropus morrisoni, male, 57.0 mm SL, Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands. Photo by J. E. Randall.

13 aqua vol. 18 no. 1 - 15 January 2012 A new species of Dragonet (Synchiropus: Callionymidae) from Indonesia there is also a difference in habitat with S. mor- vey, which was completed under Teluk Cen- risoni usually occurring at depths between about drawasih National Park license No. SI.1029/IV- 12-33 m (Randall 2005; personal observations) 14/TEK/2010. We sincerely thank the Siebel Fam- compared to 50-70 m for the new species. ily Charitable Foundation, Rodney and Nancy Habitat and distribution: The new species was Chiamulon, and Dan Cohen for their generous collected from 70 m depth on reefs of Cender- financial support of this survey, and also the awasih Bay that are situated well offshore in clear Indonesian Institute of Sciences (specifically Dr. water, oceanic conditions. The type specimens Suharsono and Ibu Rianta Afriadi) for loaning the were each collected in a similar microhabitat that specimens for study. Finally, we thank the captain consisted of scattered coral and sponge outcrops and crew of the MV TemuKira for their tireless with interspersed rubble substrate; when startled, efforts in supporting an exhaustive dive schedule. the would invariably seek shelter under the nearest outcrop. Individuals from Tulamben, Bali, Indonesia were also reported (as Synchiropus cf. REFERENCES morrisoni) by Kuiter and Tonozuka (2001) from a FRICKE, R. 1981. Revision of the Synchiropus depth of 50 m. (Teleostei: Callionymidae). Theses Zoologicae 1: 1-194. Etymology: The new species is named tudorjonesi FRICKE, R. 1983. Revision of the Indo-Pacific genera and species of the dragonet family Callionymidae (Teleostei). after Paul Tudor Jones, in honour of his dedication Theses Zoologicae 3: 1-774. and selfless service to the United States National GILL, T. N. 1859. On the genus of authors. Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF). Under his Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadel- strong leadership as chairman from 2006 to 2009, phia 11: 128-130. the NFWF has grown into a highly respected con- KUITER, R. H. & TONOZUKA, T. 2001. Indonesian Reef servation institution and expanded its programs Fishes. Zoonetics, Seaford, Victoria, Australia, 893 pp. from a national focus to a global one, including pro- LINNAEUS, C. 1758. Systema Naturae, Ed. X. (Systema nat- tection of the Bird’s Head Seascape reefs which, this urae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, syn- beautiful dragonet species calls home. Through onymis, locis. Tomus I. Editio decima, reformata.) these efforts, Mr. Tudor Jones has forever left his Holmiae, 824 pp. mark on the noble pursuit of nature preservation. NAKABO, T. 1982. Revision of genera of the dragonets (Pisces: Callionymidae). Publications of the Seto Marine ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Biological Laboratory 27 (1/3): 77-131. We thank the Balai Besar Taman Nasional Teluk RANDALL, J. E. 2005. Reef and Shore Fishes of the South Cenderawasih (particularly Christina Matakupan Pacific. University of Hawai’i Press, Honolulu, 707 pp. SCHULTZ, L. P. 1960. Family Callionymidae. In: Fishes of and Titus Wemiyaupea) for their support and par- the Marshall and Marianas islands. Volume 2. Families ticipation in the field survey that uncovered this from Mullidae through Stromateidae. (Eds. L. P. Schultz, species. We also thank Hamid Toha and the State W. M. Chapman, E. A. Lachner & L. P. Woods). Bulletin University of Papua for their assistance in the sur- of the United States National Museum 202: 1-438.

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