A New Species of Pteropsaron (Teleostei: Trichonotidae: Hemerocoetinae) from the Western Pacific, with Notes on Related Species
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Copeia, 2007(2), pp. 364–377 A New Species of Pteropsaron (Teleostei: Trichonotidae: Hemerocoetinae) from the Western Pacific, with Notes on Related Species DAVID G. SMITH AND G. DAVID JOHNSON Pteropsaron springeri, new species, is described from 18 specimens collected from the Philippines and Indonesia. It differs from all other species of the Pteropsaron/ Osopsaron complex in that the first dorsal fin has only three spines and is displaced anteriorly to lie over the posterior end of the occiput. The proximal ends of the pterygiophores lie against the second and third neural arches, which are bent forward to form horizontal processes that accommodate the pterygiophores. Based on a synapomorphy in the suspensorium, we suggest that the relationships of Pteropsaron and related genera (subfamily Hemerocoetinae) lie with the Creediidae and Trichonotidae, and not with the Percophidae, where they have traditionally been placed. An abbreviated key is provided to the family Trichonotidae as we construe it, which contains three subfamilies: the Creediinae, Hemerocoetinae, and Trichonotinae. We tentatively recognize eight genera in the Hemerocoetinae: Hemerocoetes, and the ‘‘Pteropsaron-like’’ genera Acanthaphritis, Osopsaron, Pteropsaron, Dactylopsaron, Enigma- percis, Matsubaraea, and Squamicreedia, although the relationship of the former to the latter seven needs further investigation. The species of Osopsaron and Pteropsaron are treated briefly, and some new information is presented. We provisionally place two species in Osopsaron (O. verecundum and O. karlik) and seven species in Pteropsaron (P. evolans, P. formosensis, P. heemstrai, P. incisum, P. natalensis, P. neocaledonicus, and P. springeri). HE suborder Trachinoidei is a poorly de- shares a distinctive, specialized configuration of T fined group of perciform fishes, most of the suspensorium with members of the families which are bottom dwellers and inhabit shallow to Creediidae and Trichonotidae, wherein the moderately deep tropical waters. Nelson ectopterygoid is long and rodlike, the endopter- (2006:403) recognized 13 families, but it is ygoid (Nelson’s mesopterygoid) forms the floor unlikely that all of them together comprise of the orbit, and both are largely free from one a monophyletic group (see Mooi and Johnson, another and from other bones of the suspensor- 1997). Among the families usually placed in this ium (Nelson, 1985:fig 1, 1986:fig 1). We have suborder is the Percophidae, characterized by confirmed that this configuration also charac- a depressed head, large eyes with a narrow terizes the ‘‘Pteropsaron-like’’ hemerocoetine gen- interorbital space, spinous dorsal fin (when era (Fig. 1) and thereby constitutes a complex present) separated from soft dorsal, soft dorsal synapomorphy of the Creediidae, Trichonotidae, and anal fins long-based, pelvic fin with one and Hemerocoetinae as suggested previously by spine and five segmented rays, and a wide Johnson (1993). Accordingly, we recommend interpelvic space. Nelson (2006) recognized that these three groups be united as subfamilies three subfamilies of Percophidae: Percophinae, in the expanded family Trichonotidae. Nelson with a single genus and species, Percophis brasi- (1985, 1986, 2006) presented convincing evi- liensis; Bembropinae, with two genera, Bembrops dence for monophyly of the Creediinae (e.g., all and Chrionema, comprising 17 and six currently uniquely possess a distinctive inverted bowl- recognized species, respectively; and Hemero- shaped pelvis) and Trichonotinae (e.g., all coetinae, with 23 currently recognized species uniquely possess a single expanded, blade-like placed prior to 1996 in ten genera, Hemerocoetes supraneural that fits tightly between the dorsally and the remaining nine genera, which we herein diverging first and second neural spines), but not refer to as the ‘‘Pteropsaron-like’’ hemerocoetines: for the Hemerocoetinae. Like creediines, Hemer- Acanthaphritis, Branchiopsaron, Dactylopsaron, En- ocoetes lacks dorsal spines and pterygiophores, but igmapercis, Matsubaraea (with synonym Cirrina- all other members of that subfamily, i.e., the sus), Osopsaron, Pteropsaron, Spinapsaron, and ‘‘Pteropsaron-like’’ hemerocoetines, share a dis- Squamicreedia. We find no convincing evidence tinctive modification of the spinous dorsal fin to relate these three ‘‘subfamilies’’ and believe (see below) in which three to seven spines are that the Percophidae is a paraphyletic assem- supported by an equal number of extremely blage. As noted by Nelson (1986), Hemerocoetes reduced and abnormally crowded pterygiophores # 2007 by the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists SMITH AND JOHNSON—NEW PTEROPSARON 365 Fig. 1. Jaws and suspensorium in four species of Trichonotidae (sensu lato); (A) Hemerocoetes monopterygius, USNM 214077, 147.0 mm SL; (B) Pteropsaron springeri, USNM 368827, 28.2 mm; (C) Trichonotus setiger, USNM 265627, 85.0 mm; (D) Limnichthys sp., USNM 265325, 26.5 mm. ect— ectopterygoid; end—endopterygoid. that comprise only proximal–middle radials, the MATERIALS AND METHODS distal radials being absent; as a consequence, the spines also appear crowded and, like the pter- All lengths are standard lengths unless other- ygiophores, never extend over more than two wise stated. Head length is measured from the tip interneural spaces. Because Hemerocoetes lacks of the snout to the posterior end of the opercle. dorsal spines, its traditional placement within Eye diameter is measured horizontally. Institu- Nelson’s Hemerocoetinae remains unsupported, tional abbreviations follow Leviton et al. (1985) although we have no doubt that it belongs within except that RUSI is now SAIAB. The abbreviation the Trichonotidae based on the shared suspen- HLIP refers to the Honolulu laboratory of the sorial configuration. It shares the absence of National Marine Fisheries Service. dorsal spines with the Creediinae, but we have no other evidence to support a close relationship between those two and await more detailed Pteropsaron springeri, new species osteological investigation of trichonotids and Figures 1B, 2–5 their putative relatives to elucidate this question. The new species described in this paper clearly Holotype.—USNM 367912, male, 27.5 mm, Pacif- belongs in the ‘‘Pteropsaron-like’’ hemerocoetines, ic, Philippines, Negros Is. E of Bais, 9u369580N, but generic assignment within that group is 123u109050E, 0–120 feet (0–56 m), 17 June 1978, problematic in the absence of a comprehensive V. G. Springer. phylogenetic analysis of the component species. The new species most closely resembles species Paratypes.—AMS I.21918–036, female, 26.5, Phi- currently placed in Pteropsaron and Osopsaron, but lippines, Caban Is., 13u359N, 120u509E, 1980, D. differs in some respects from all of them, primarily Hoese; BPBM 34996, 2 females, 16.0–23.5, in the extreme anterior placement of the spinous Indonesia, Flores, Off Maumere, Basir Sari Islet dorsal fin. Based on characters discussed below, and reef (sand spit, sloping sand, and rubble at we place it in Pteropsaron and provide comparative base of drop-off, 155 feet (73 m), 4 Nov. 1991, B. information on the other nominal species in the C. Russell, J. E. Randall, and R. M. Pyle; USNM group. We include a key to the genera or generic 288848, male, 25.7, Philippines, Negros Is., groups of the Trichonotidae and to the species of mouth of Bais Bay, bottom at base of near Osopsaron and Pteropsaron. vertical drop-off, 9u379N, 123u109E, 30–35 m, 17 366 COPEIA, 2007, NO. 2 Fig. 2. Pteropsaron springeri. (A) Holotype, USNM 367912, male, 27.5 mm SL; (B) same, dorsal view of head and snout; (C) paratype, AMS I21918, female, 26.5 mm SL. May 1987, R. Winterbottom and G. D. Johnson; USNM 288849, male, 29.1, Philippines, Bais Bay, 9u379N, 123u109E, 24–37 m, 15 May 1987, R. Winterbottom, G. D. Johnson et al.; USNM 288850, 8 females, 2 males, Philippines, Visayas, Negros Oriental, Cebu Strait, north side of North Bais Bay near main channel, 18–35 m, 19 May 1987, R. Winterbottom, G. D. Johnson, et al.; USNM 368827, male (cleared and stained), same data as USNM 288850; WAM P29714-003, male, 24.5, Indonesia, Flores, Selar Pangabatang, 8u309S, 122u309E, 5–20 m, R. Kuiter. Diagnosis.—Pteropsaron springeri differs from all other species in the Pteropsaron/Osopsaron com- plex in having only three dorsal spines, which are displaced anteriorly to lie over the posterior end of the skull, and the associated modification of the anteriormost three pterygiophores and neu- ral spines. It is further distinguished by number of fin spines/rays and vertebrae (Table 1). Description.—Morphometric characters (figures in parentheses represent holotype): preanal 2.1–2.8 (2.5), snout to first dorsal 3.1–5.0 (4.8), snout to second dorsal 1.6–2.4 (2.1), head 3.0– 4.2 (3.8), depth of head 6.3–7.4 (7.4), depth at caudal peduncle 14.3–20.4 (16.2), longest dorsal Fig. 3. Head pores in Pteropsaron springeri, spine 3.4–7.6 for females, 0.8–1.4 (0.9) for males, holotype. an—anterior nostril; pn—posterior nos- pectoral fin 4.3–6.0 (5.5), pelvic fin 1.5–3.2 (2.5), tril. Scale bar 5 1 mm. all in SL; snout 3.6–5.2 (16.1), eye 3.3–4.7 (3.3) SMITH AND JOHNSON—NEW PTEROPSARON 367 in head. Meristic characters: dorsal-fin rays III, 20–23 (III, 21); anal-fin rays 24–25 (25); pectoral- fin rays 17; lateral-line scales 36–37 , scale rows between dorsal and anal fins 8; vertebrae 35–36. To 30 mm SL. Body elongate, deepest near branchial region, tapering toward tail; anus anterior to midlength. Trunk and tail entirely covered by large, cycloid scales; lateral-line scales posterior to tip of pectoral fin with single notch in posterior margin; three enlarged scales covering base of caudal fin, middle scale largest of the three and largest scale on body, posterior end pointed and somewhat asymmetrical, point being above me- dial axis of scale. Two dorsal fins, well separated. First dorsal fin with three spines, greatly elongate in males (Fig. 2A), first spine extending to or beyond end of caudal fin when depressed; second spine about 2/3 length of first spine, third spine somewhat less than half the length of second spine, fin without pigment; dorsal spines Fig.