aqua, International Journal of Ichthyology

Three new species of of the gobioid from the western Pacific

John E. Randall 1 and Toshiyuki Suzuki 2 Bishop Museum, 1525 Bernice St., Honolulu, HI 96817-2704, USA. E-mail: [email protected] 2) Amagasaki Senior High School, 3-38-1 Nishikoya, Amagasaki, Hyogo 661-0047, Japan

Received: 27 February 2008 – Accepted: 28 March 2008 Abstract grauen Streifens auf der Unterseite. Von beiden Arten unter - The Ptereleotris brachyptera is described as a new scheidet sich die neue durch die geringere Größe und species from eight specimens from Ngargol Island, Palau, abgerundete statt spitzer Ecken an der Schwanzflosse. and one from Majuro Atoll, Marshall Islands, from lagoons Ptereleotris crossogenion wird auf der Grundlage von einem on silty sand and rubble substrata in 20 to 38 m depth. The weiblichen Exemplar beschrieben, mit 40,7 mm SL, das über type specimens, 39.1 to 58.2 mm SL, were first believed to schlammigem Sand mit Steinschutt in 27 m Tiefe in der be subadults of P. microlepis or P. hanae until mature fish were Lagune der Provinz Madang, Papua-Neuguinea, gefunden found in the series. Ptereleotris brachyptera differs from P. wurde. Die Ähnlichkeit zu P. brachyptera ist groß, nur hat P. microlepis in having fewer dorsal and anal rays, a more slen - crossogenion einen Saum schlanker Papillen am Unterkiefer, der body, and a red instead of black bar at the pectoral-fin einen tieferen Rumpf, einen schmaleren Interorbitalraum base. It differs from P. hanae in its very low first dorsal fin and und eine andere Farbgebung. Ptereleotris kallista wird nach lacking a dark purplish gray stripe on the lower side. It dif - zwei männlichen Exemplaren mit 70 und 85 mm SL aus fers from both species in its smaller size and rounded instead dem Aquarienhandel der Philippinen beschrieben. Er ist ein of pointed corners on the caudal fin. Ptereleotris crossogenion naher Verwandter zu P. uroditaenia, unterscheidet sich aber is described from a single female specimen, 40.7 mm SL, col - durch einen breiteren Interorbitalraum, längere Rücken - lected from silty sand and rubble in 27 m depth in the lagoon stacheln und das Farbmuster, insbesondere ein fortlaufendes of Madang Province, Papua New Guinea. It is most similar schwarzes Band submarginal an der Schwanzflosse im Ver - to P. brachyptera , differing in having a fringe of slender papil - gleich zu zwei schwarzen konvergierenden Bändern bei P. lae along the lower jaw, a deeper body, narrower interorbital urodiaenia. space, and in color. Ptereleotris kallista is described from two male specimens, 70 and 85 mm SL, from the aquarium trade Résumé in the Philippines. It is a close relative of P. uroditaenia , dif - Ptereleotris brachyptera est décrit comme nouvelle espèce à fering in having a broader interorbital space, longer dorsal partir de huit spécimens de Ngargol Island, Palau, et un de spines, and in color, especially a continuous submarginal Majuro Atoll, Îles Marshall, provenant de lagons couverts de black band in the caudal fin, compared to two separate con - sable limoneux et de décritus, à une profondeur de 20 à 38 verging black bands in P. uroditaenia . m. Les spécimens types, de 39,1 à 53,2 mm de LS, ont d’abord été pris pour des subadultes de P. microlepis ou de P. Zusammenfassung hanae jusqu’à ce que des adultes aient été découverts. Die Torpedogrundel Ptereleotris brachyptera wird als neue Ptereleotris brachyptera se distingue de P. microlepis par un Art auf der Grundlage von acht Exemplaren beschrieben, die nombre moins élevé de rayons dorsaux et à l’anale, un corps von der Ngargol-Insel, Palau, stammen, sowie anhand eines plus élancé et une barre rouge au lieu de noire à la base de la weiteren Exemplares vom Majuro-Atoll, Marshall-Inseln; die pectorale. Elle se distingue de P. hanae par une première dor - Tiere lebten in Lagunen über schlammigem Sand und über sale très basse et par l’absence d’une ligne gris pourpré sur la Untergründen mit Steinschutt in 20 bis 38 m Tiefe. Die partie inférieure. Elle diffère des deux espèces par sa plus Typusexemplare von 39,1 bis 58,2 mm SL hielt man petite taille et par des lobes arrondis et non en pointe à la zunächst für subadulte Tiere von P. microlepis oder P. hanae, caudale. Ptereleotris crossogenion est décrit sur base d’un seul bis man geschlechtsreife Tiere in höherer Zahl fand. spécimen femelle, 40,7 mm de LS, collecté sur des substrats Ptereleotris brachyptera unterscheidet sich von P. microlepis de sable limoneux et de détritus, à 27 m de profondeur, dans durch eine geringere Zahl von Rücken- und Afterflossen - le lagon de la province de Madang, Papouasie – Nouvelle- strahlen, einen schlankeren Körper und einen roten statt Guinée. L’espèce se rapproche le plus de P. brachyptera , se schwarzen Streifen an der Brustflossenbasis. Von P. hanae distinguant par une rangée de fines papilles le long de la unterscheidet sich die neue Art durch die sehr niedrige erste mâchoire inférieure, un corps plus haut, un espace interor - Rückenflosse und das Fehlen des dunklen purpurgetönten bital plus étroit et par la couleur. Ptereleotris kallista est décrit

89 aqua vol. 14 no. 2 - 14 April 2008 Three new species of dartfishes of the gobioid genus Ptereleotris from the western Pacific sur base de deux spécimens mâles, 70 at 85 mm de LS, species of Ptereleotris , recognizing 11 species. The provenant du commerce aquariophile aux Philippines. C’est following six genera were regarded synonyms of une espèce proche de P. uroditaenia, se distinguant par un Ptereleotris : Ioglossus Bean, 1882, Vireosa Jordan & espace interorbital plus large, de plus longues épines dorsales Snyder, 1901, Encaeura Jordan & Hubbs, 1925, et par la couleur, surtout par une bande noire submarginale continue dans la caudale, en comparaison avec les deux ban - Laccoeleotris Fowler, 1935, Pogonoculius Fowler, des noires convergeant séparément chez P. urotaenia. 1938, and Gracileotris Herre [sic], 1953. The species of Ptereleotris have the appropriate Sommario common name of dartfishes because of the similar - Il pesce dardo Ptereleotris brachyptera è descritto come nuo- ity of some to a dart and the rapidity with which va specie sulla base di otto esemplari pescati presso l’isola they swim to a shelter when threatened. Ngargol, Palau, e di uno presso l’atollo Majuro, Isole Mar - The first author collected eight small specimens of shall, su fondali sabbiosi e di pietrisco in lagune a profondità an unidentified species of Ptereleotris from Palau in tra i 20 e i 38 m. Gli esemplari tipo, da 39.1 a 58.2 mm SL, 1986 that were believed to be juveniles or subadults. inizialmente erano stati confusi con subadulti di P. microlepis o di P. hanae, ma la presenza di esemplari maturi nella serie In 1987 he collected a 40.7-mm immature female of ha messo in luce differenze specifiche. Ptereleotris brachyptera another species of the genus from Papua New differisce da P. microlepis per avere meno raggi dorsali e anali, Guinea that was recognized as new. Its description il corpo più affusolato e una barra rossa anziché nera alla ba- has been delayed in the vain hope of obtaining more se della pinna pettorale. Differisce da P. hanae per la prima specimens. Renewed interest in the specimens from pinna dorsale molto bassa e per l’assenza di una stria grigio- Palau and Papua New Guinea came with the dis - violacea scura sulla parte inferiore. Si discosta inoltre da en- covery of a very colorful new species of Ptereleotris trambe le specie per le ridotte dimensioni e per gli angoli ar- from Luzon, Philippines obtained by the second rotondati anziché appuntiti della pinna caudale. Ptereleotris crossogenion è descritta sulla base di un singolo esemplare author via the aquarium trade. Re-examination of femmina di 40.7 mm SL, raccolto su fondali sabbiosi e di the Palauan specimens revealed sexually mature ones pietrisco a 27 m di profondità in una laguna della provincia in the size range of 42.0 to 58.2 mm in standard di Madang, Papua Nuova Guinea. É molto simile a P. bra- length, therefore refuting the presumed juvenile or chyptera, differendone per avere un orlo di sottili papille subadult status. lungo la mandibola, il corpo più elevato, lo spazio interor - The primary purpose of the present paper is the bitale più stretto e per la colorazione. Ptereleotris kallista è de- description of three new species of Ptereleotris , one scritta sulla base di due esemplari maschi di 70 e 85 mm SL from Micronesia, one from Papua New Guinea, scoperti tra i commercianti di pesci d’acquario nelle Filip - pine. Appare strettamente imparentata a P. uroditaenia, dif - and one from the Philippines. ferendo da questa per avere uno spazio interorbitale più ampio, spine dorsali più lunghe e per la colorazione, in par - MATERIALS AND METHODS ticolare per una sola banda nera continua submarginale sulla Type specimens of the new species are variously pinna caudale, rispetto a due bande nere separate e conver - deposited in the Australian Museum, Sydney (AMS); genti di P. uroditaenia. the Natural History Museum, London (BMNH); the Bernice P. Bishop Museum, Honolulu (BPBM); INTRODUCTION the National Museum of Nature and Science, Tokyo Gill (1863) described the gobioid genus (NSMT); the Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto Ptereleotris in the family Eleotridae, selecting (ROM); and the U. S. National Museum of Natural Eleotris microlepis Bleeker, 1856 as the type species. History, Washington, D. C. (USNM). When it was realized that true gobies can have Scales of species of Ptereleotris are very small, divided pelvic fins, Miller (1973) united the mostly embedded, and often not in regular rows, so Eleotridae and with the . the scale counts are only approximate. Lengths of Hoese (1984) recognized the Microdesmidae as a specimens are given as standard length (SL), mea - family, which he divided into two subfamilies, the sured from the median anterior point of the upper Microdesminae and the Ptereleotrinae. Included in lip to the base of the caudal fin (posterior end of the the latter subfamily with Ptereleotris are the genera hypural plate); body depth is measured at both the Oxymetopon Bleeker, 1861, Regan, origin of pelvic fins and the origin of the anal fin, 1912, Fowler, 1938, and Ailiops Ren - and body width at the base of the pectoral fins; head nis & Hoese, 1987. Thacker (2000) elevated the length is taken from the front of the upper lip to the Ptereleotrinae to a family. posterior end of the opercular membrane, and head Randall & Hoese (1985) revised the Indo-Pacific width over the posterior margin of the preopercle; aqua vol. 14 no. 2 - 14 April 2008 90 John E. Randall and Toshiyuki Suzuki orbit diameter is the greatest fleshy diameter, and in Tables I-III are percentages of the standard length. interorbital width the least bony width; snout length Data in parentheses in the species descriptions refer is measured from the median anterior point of the to paratypes. upper lip to the nearest fleshy edge of the orbit; upper-jaw length from the same anterior point to the posterior end of the maxilla; caudal-peduncle Ptereleotris brachyptera n. sp. depth is the least depth, and caudal-peduncle length (Figs 1-2, Table I) the horizontal distance between verticals at the rear base of the anal fin and the caudal-fin base; lengths Holotype: BPBM 31426, male, 53.5 mm, Palau, of dorsal- and anal-fin spines and rays are measured Ngargol Island, northwest side, silty sand and coral to their extreme bases; caudal- and pectoral-fin rock and rubble, 24 m depth, quinaldine, J. E. lengths are the horizontal distance from the base of Randall, 11 July 1986. the fin to the tip of the longest ray; pelvic-fin length Paratypes: BPBM 31346, male, 42.0 mm, Palau, is measured from the base of the pelvic spine to the Ngargol Island, northeast end, silty sand and rub - tip of the longest ray. Morphometric data presented ble at base of fringing reef, 20 m depth, quinaldine,

Fig. 1. Head of 46.5-mm paratype of Ptereleotris brachyptera showing the seven cephalic sensory pores and the sensory papil - lae. Drawing by Toshiyuki Suzuki.

Fig. 2. Holotype of Ptereleotris brachyptera , BPBM 31426, 53.5 mm, Ngargol Island, Palau. Photo by John E. Randall.

91 aqua vol. 14 no. 2 - 14 April 2008 Three new species of dartfishes of the gobioid genus Ptereleotris from the western Pacific

Table I. Proportional measurements of the type specimens of Ptereleotris brachyptera as percentages of the standard length.

Holotype Paratypes

BPBM AMS BPBM BMNH NSMT-P BPBM ROM USNM 31426 I.44580 31346 07.12.20.1 79375 39685 81231 392607

Standard length (mm) 53.5 39.1 42.0 43.4 46.5 47.2 54.0 58.2 Sex male female male male female female female female Body depth (origin P 2 fins) 13.2 14.4 14.1 14.1 14.2 13.4 13.5 13.3 Body depth (origin A fin) 13.5 15.0 14.5 12.7 13.0 12.7 13.4 13.6 Body width 9.8 10.5 9.6 9.7 10.3 9.0 9.2 8.8 Head length 22.5 23.3 23.9 23.0 22.3 22.7 21.7 22.3 Head width 9.9 9.6 10.5 9.9 10.3 10.5 10.1 9.9 Snout length 5.7 5.5 5.6 5.9 5.7 5.4 5.6 5.3 Orbit diameter 6.6 7.5 7.0 6.9 6.7 6.6 6.4 6.5 Interorbital width 4.2 4.3 4.8 4.6 4.3 4.2 4.0 3.8 Upper-jaw length 7.9 8.2 8.7 8.3 8.4 8.3 7.8 8.0 Caudal-peduncle depth 9.3 10.0 9.6 9.3 9.6 9.0 9.2 9.2 Caudal-peduncle length 9.3 8.8 9.3 8.6 9.1 8.9 9.2 8.9 Predorsal length 25.4 27.7 26.9 25.6 27.2 26.5 26.3 26.4 Preanal length 52.3 54.2 55.0 52.1 53.8 51.4 54.5 54.9 Prepelvic length 20.8 22.7 22.8 20.7 22.1 21.9 22.3 20.9 First dorsal spine 5.3 5.1 5.0 5.1 4.5 5.7 4.2 4.8 Longest dorsal spine 10.9 8.8 9.4 8.6 10.5 10.9 10.3 10.3 Longest dorsal ray 14.4 11.8 11.9 12.7 15.2 14.8 14.6 15.3 Base of dorsal fins 62.4 61.3 62.5 62.3 63.4 64.3 62.5 64.2 Anal spine 6.7 7.1 6.8 6.6 6.5 6.9 6.8 6.3 Longest anal ray 13.8 11.7 11.7 14.2 14.4 14.7 14.0 15.1 Base of anal fin 35.6 35.8 35.2 36.5 35.9 36.4 35.7 35.8 Caudal-fin length 22.3 21.5 22.5 23.4 23.2 23.3 22.6 22.0 Pectoral-fin length 14.2 14.8 14.2 14.9 14.2 14.5 13.5 13.2 Pelvic-spine length 11.4 10.4 11.9 11.8 11.2 10.8 10.4 10.5 Pelvic-fin length 21.5 19.2 19.3 20.8 19.1 19.3 19.0 18.3

J. E. Randall, 4 July 1986; AMS I.44580-001, rounded to slightly emarginate with rounded female, 39.1 mm; BMNH 2007.12.20.1, male, lobes, 4.3-4.65 in SL; pelvic fins 4.45-4.65 in SL; 43.4 mm; BPBM 40878, male, 42.9 mm; NSMT- color in alcohol pale tan, with a dusky zone P 79375, female, 46.5 mm; ROM 81231, female, between upper lip and orbit; color when fresh pale 54.0 mm; USNM 392607, female, 58.2 mm, all lavender-gray dorsally, becoming white on with same data as holotype; BPBM 39685, female, abdomen and cheek, with two broad bluish gray 47.2 mm, Marshall Islands, Majuro Atoll, Uliga stripes, a dorsal one posterior to middle of first Islet, lagoon side, 7°6’27.4”N 171°22’7”E, silty dorsal fin, and a ventral one above anal fin, sepa - sand near patch reef, 38 m depth, rotenone, J. E. rated by a narrow zone of pale lavender-gray; Randall, S. Yoshii, Y. Yoshitsugu, and W. August, median fins pale lavender-blue basally, translucent 12 January 2005. distally; pelvic fins mainly pale blue; pectoral fins Diagnosis: Dorsal rays VI + I,23–25; anal rays translucent, with a narrow red bar at base. I,22–24; pectoral rays 22 or 23; scales cycloid, Description: Dorsal rays VI + I,24 (I,23-25); anal nonimbricate, in 135-139 oblique rows in longitu - rays I,22 (I,22-24); dorsal and anal rays branched dinal series on body; gill rakers 6-7 + 18-19; body distally, except the last, branched to base; pectoral depth 6.95-7.6 in SL; head length 4.2-4.6 in SL; rays 22 (22 or 23), the upper two and lower two chin with a low median fleshy ridge, narrowing to unbranched; pelvic rays I,4; branched caudal rays a thin convoluted ridge; first dorsal fin very low, 13, only these reaching posterior margin of fin; the spines strongly curved posteriorly, only the last upper and lower segmented unbranched caudal with a short free tip; fifth dorsal spine longest, rays 2; upper procurrent caudal rays 10 (10 or 11); 2.05-2.7 in head length; caudal fin slightly lower procurrent caudal rays 11 (10 or 11); scales aqua vol. 14 no. 2 - 14 April 2008 92 John E. Randall and Toshiyuki Suzuki in longitudinal series 135 (two paratypes counted, Scales cycloid, very small, partially to fully 137 and 139); gill rakers 6 + 19 (6-7 + 18-19); embedded, and nonimbricate; no scales on head, pseudobranchial filaments 8; vertebrae 26. and none on nape except a few isolated scales above Body elongate, the depth at origin of pelvic fins and slightly anterior to dorsal end of gill opening; 7.6 (6.95-7.55) in SL, and compressed, the width a vertical series of seven rows of small isolated scales 1.35 (1.35-1.5) in body depth; head length 4.45 in prepectoral area; about nine irregular transverse (4.2-4.6) in SL; snout length 4.3 (3.9-4.25) in rows of small isolated scales in prepelvic area; no head length; eye large, the orbit diameter 3.4 (3.1- scales on fins except about basal third of caudal fin. 3.45) in head length; bony interorbital width 5.35 Origin of first dorsal fin an orbit diameter poste - (5.4-5.85) in head length; caudal-peduncle depth rior to dorsal end of gill opening, the predorsal 2.4 (2.3-2.5) in head length; caudal-peduncle length 3.95 (3.6-3.9) in SL; first dorsal fin about length 2.4 (2.35-2.65) in head length. one-half height of second dorsal fin, the spines Mouth oblique, forming an angle of about 60° to slender, flexible, and strongly curved posteriorly, horizontal axis of body, the lower jaw strongly pro - only last spine with a short free tip that just reaches jecting; maxilla reaching a vertical at anterior edge of origin of second dorsal fin; fifth dorsal spine pupil, the upper-jaw length 2.85 (2.65-2.85) in head longest, 2.05 (2.1-2.7) in head length; longest dor - length; upper jaw on each side with an outer row of sal soft ray 1.55 (1.45-2.0) in head length; origin of 10 recurved teeth, the second to fourth as canines anal fin below base of third dorsal soft ray, the pre - twice as large as remaining teeth; first pair of teeth anal length 1.9 (1.8-1.95) in SL; anal spine slender, curving medially as well as posteriorly, their tips its attenuate tip merging with membrane as it nears nearly touching; remaining teeth in outer row pro - first ray, 3.35 (3.2-3.55) in head length; longest gressively smaller posteriorly; front of upper jaw with anal soft ray 1.65 (1.5-2.05) in head length; caudal an inner band of two to three irregular rows of very fin slightly rounded to slightly emarginate with small incurved teeth; front of lower jaw with four rounded lobes, the fifth branched ray longest, 4.5 pairs of canine teeth in two rows separated by 2-3 (4.3-4.65) in SL; pectoral fins short and rounded, irregular rows of very small teeth; outer row of canine the middle rays longest, 1.6 (1.55-1.7) in head teeth only slightly recurved, the inner row strongly length; origin of pelvic fins in vertical alignment recurved; second and third pairs of canines on each with posterior end of opercular membrane and side of inner row as large as largest upper teeth; side ventral base of pectoral fins, the prepelvic length of lower jaw with a close-set row of 16 small conical 4.8 (4.4-4.8) in SL; third pelvic soft ray longest, teeth; no teeth on vomer or palatines; tongue narrow reaching nearly half distance from distal end of and pointed; gill rakers long, the longest at angle pectoral fin to anus, 4.65 (4.8-5.45) in SL. equal to length of longest gill filaments. Color of holotype in alcohol uniform No free posterior margin to preopercle; gill open - pale tan; no dark markings except a dusky band ing extending forward to a vertical at dorsoposte - from above posterior half of upper lip to orbit, the rior edge of preopercle; no barbel on chin, instead pigment continuing darker into adjacent iris and a broad median fleshy ridge that narrows to a thin correspondingly large in dorsoposterior part of iris; ridge posteriorly, forming two sinusoidal curves, lower jaw and ventral edge of median fleshy ridge and ending progressively shorter at ventroanterior on chin faintly dusky; fins translucent yellowish end of gill opening. with pale yellow rays. Color of holotype when fresh Anterior nostril a short tubule of equal height at shown in Fig. 2. level of upper edge of pupil, a nostril diameter Etymology: This species is named Ptereleotris behind upper lip; posterior nostril dorsoposterior to brachyptera from the Greek brachys for short, and anterior nostril, slightly posterior to a vertical at pteron for fin, in reference to the very low first dor - anterior edge of orbit, with only a slight rim; sal fin. internarial distance equal to two posterior narial Remarks: Ptereleotris brachyptera is presently openings; cephalic sensory pores consisting of five known only from Ngargol Island, Palau and pores of anterior oculoscapular canal, the first above Majuro Atoll in the southern Marshall Islands. internarial space, and the second median in interor - Specimens were collected in protected waters from bital space over center of eye; preopercular canal silty sand and rubble substrata at depths of 20-38 m . with two pores (pores and cephalic sensory papillae Like other dartfishes, P. brachyptera quickly takes illustrated in Fig. 1). refuge in a burrow with the approach of a diver.

93 aqua vol. 14 no. 2 - 14 April 2008 Three new species of dartfishes of the gobioid genus Ptereleotris from the western Pacific

The 42-mm paratype from Palau was observed to and lacks the chin barbel when young. Ptereleotris use the burrow of the goby Valenciennea randalli hanae differs in having the first dorsal fin higher Hoese & Larson, 1994. than the second (the second spine filamentous), As mentioned, the specimens of this species were the corners of the caudal fin pointed (filamentous first believed to be juveniles or subadults of a in adults), and in having a prominent dark pur - known species, because all are less than 59 mm SL plish stripe on the lower side in life (illustrated by (some species of Ptereleotris can exceed 100 mm Randall, 2005: 566, middle figure). Ptereleotris SL; one Bishop Museum specimen of P. hanae brachyptera is also similar to the species described measures 130 mm SL). However, a 42-mm below (see Remarks for that species). paratype is a mature male, and a 46.5-mm paratype is a mature female. This species would key to P. microlepis (Bleeker, Ptereleotris crossogenion n. sp. 1856) in Randall & Hoese (1985), but with the (Fig. 3, Table II) correction of an error in the first character of 8b in the key. It should read: First dorsal fin about equal Holotype: BPBM 32556, female, 40.7 mm, Papua to or lower in height than second. Ptereleotris New Guinea, Madang Province, patch reef in microlepis shares the following characters with P. lagoon east of Nagada Harbor, 5°9’44”S brachyptera: a fleshy median ridge on the chin 145°49’8”E, sloping silty sand and rubble bottom, instead of a barbel, the same size of the gill open - 27 m depth, rotenone, J. E. Randall, 9 November ing, a low first dorsal fin, no predorsal scales, the 1987. same or overlapping meristsic data, and similarity Diagnosis: Dorsal rays VI + I,24; anal rays I,23; in color, principally in lacking any prominent dark pectoral rays 22; scales cycloid, nonimbricate stripes or spots, having a dusky zone between the except posteriorly, in about 152 oblique rows in eye and the upper lip and a narrow bar at the pec - longitudinal series; no median predorsal scales; gill toral-fin base (black in P. microlepis, red in P. rakers 6 + 17; body depth 5.95 in SL; no barbel on brachyptera ). Ptereleotris brachyptera differs in hav - chin, only a low median fleshy ridge; a fringe of ing 23-25 dorsal rays and 22–24 anal rays (25-27 slender elongate papillae along side of lower jaw; dorsal rays and 24-27 anal rays in P. microlepis), a first dorsal fin low, the spines curved, only the last more slender body (depth 6.95-7.6 in SL, com - with free tip; fifth dorsal spine longest, 1.85 in pared to 5.5-7.0 for P. microlepis), the corners of head length; caudal fin slightly emarginate with the caudal fin rounded (pointed in P. microlepis), rounded lobes, shorter than head, 4.9 in SL; pelvic and probable smaller size (P. microlepis to at least fins short, 6.2 in SL; color in alcohol pale tan with 99 mm SL). no dark markings except a faint dusky zone below Ptereleotris brachyptera might be confused with nostrils between upper jaw and orbit; body when the juvenile of P. hanae (Jordan & Snyder, 1901), fresh with two broad dusky stripes separated by a which has the same meristic data, a slender body, narrow pale midlateral stripe; lower dusky stripe

Fig. 3. Holotype of Ptereleotris crossogenion , BPBM 32556, 40.7 mm, Madang Province, Papua New Guinea. Drawing by Elaine Heemstra. aqua vol. 14 no. 2 - 14 April 2008 94 John E. Randall and Toshiyuki Suzuki

Table II. Proportional measurements of the holotype of third, sixth, and seventh progressively larger, the Ptereleotris crossogenion as percentages of the standard seventh also strongly recurved; an inner row of length. smaller, more strongly recurved teeth that become Standard length (mm) 40.7 the single row of five teeth posteriorly on jaw; front Sex female of lower jaw with an outer row of four small Body depth (origin P 2 fins) 16.8 incurved canines on each side, with an inner row of Body depth (origin A fin) 14.3 smaller, more strongly incurved teeth that become Body width 9.8 the outer row along side of jaw; a large strongly Head length 22.7 recurved canine medially about one-third back in Head width 10.0 Snout length 5.3 jaw, larger than largest upper tooth; no teeth on Orbit diameter 6.9 vomer or palatines; tongue narrow and pointed; Interorbital width 3.6 gill rakers long, the longest at angle equal to length Upper-jaw length 8.0 of longest gill filaments. Caudal-peduncle depth 9.9 No barbel on chin, instead a low median fleshy Caudal-peduncle length 9.8 ridge that deepens and narrows posteriorly, ending Predorsal length 25.2 Preanal length 53.8 in a right angle in line with a vertical at anterior Prepelvic length 22.6 edge of orbit; greatest depth of ridge about equal to First dorsal spine 7.3 median width of lower lip; no free posterior mar - Longest dorsal spine 12.2 gin to preopercle; gill opening extending forward Longest dorsal ray 11.9 nearly to a vertical at posterior edge of preopercle. Anal spine 7.4 Anterior nostril a short tubule of equal height at Longest anal ray 12.1 Caudal-fin length 20.5 level of upper edge of pupil a nostril diameter Pectoral-fin length 14.2 behind upper lip; posterior nostril dorsoposterior Pelvic-spine length 11.2 to anterior nostril nearly to a vertical at anterior Pelvic-fin length 16.1 edge of orbit, with only a slight rim; cephalic sen - sory pores consisting of five pores of anterior ocu - expanding into a broad band in caudal fin, with a loscapular canal, the second median in interorbital blackish spot at base; distal part of caudal fin yel - space, and two pores of preopercular canal; low. cephalic sensory papillae as illustrated, the most Description: Dorsal rays VI + I,24; anal rays I,23; conspicuous being a row of unusually elongate dorsal and anal rays branched only distally, except papillae along lower jaw just below lower lip and the last, branched to base; pectoral rays 22, the continuing onto ventral edge of operculum (those upper two and lower three unbranched; pelvic rays anteriorly were about three times their width I,4; branched caudal rays 13, only these reaching before the specimen was allowed to dry too much posterior margin of fin; upper and lower seg - when examining dentition); papillae anteriorly on mented unbranched caudal rays 2; upper and lower chin in two irregular rows; also prominent are an procurrent caudal rays about 13; near-vertical scale irregular row of papillae above upper lip and five rows about 152; gill rakers 6 + 17; pseudobranchial short rows that extend ventrally from eye. filaments 9; vertebrae 26. Scales cycloid, very small, embedded, and nonim - Body moderately elongate, the depth at origin of bricate except on about posterior half of body; no pelvic fins 5.95 in SL, and compressed, the width scales on head and none on nape except scattered 1.7 in body depth; head length 4.4 in SL; snout isolated scales extending forward just above pec - length 4.3 in head length; eye large, the orbit toral-fin base to upper end of gill opening; a verti - diameter 3.3 in head length; bony interorbital cal series of two to four rows of small isolated scales width 6.3 in head length; caudal-peduncle depth anteriorly on prepectoral area; a transverse patch of equal to its length, 2.3 in head length. small scales in about six rows on prepelvic area; no Mouth oblique, forming an angle of about 60° to scales on fins except about basal one-fourth of cau - horizontal axis of body, the lower jaw strongly pro - dal fin. jecting; maxilla nearly reaching a vertical at ante - Origin of first dorsal fin slightly posterior to mid - rior edge of pupil, the upper-jaw length 2.8 in head base of pectoral fins, the predorsal length 4.0 in SL; length; front half of upper jaw on each side with an first dorsal fin about half height of second dorsal outer row of seven small incurved canine teeth, the fin, the spines slender, strongly curved posteriorly,

95 aqua vol. 14 no. 2 - 14 April 2008 Three new species of dartfishes of the gobioid genus Ptereleotris from the western Pacific only the short tip of last spine free, just reaching ori - Table III. Proportional measurements of the type speci - gin of second dorsal fin; fifth dorsal spine longest, mens of Ptereleotris kallista as percentages of the standard 1.85 in head length; longest dorsal soft ray 1.9 in length. head length; origin of anal fin below base of third Holotype Paratype dorsal soft ray, the preanal length 1.85 in SL; longest BPBM NSMT-P anal soft ray 1.9 in head length; caudal fin slightly 40881 79557 emarginate with rounded lobes, the fin length 4.9 in Standard length (mm) 69.5 84.0 SL; pectoral fins short and rounded, the middle rays Sex male female longest, 1.6 in head length; origin of pelvic fins Body depth (origin P 2 fins) 15.0 15.2 below ventral base of pectoral fins, the prepelvic Body depth (origin A fin) 12.9 13.9 length 4.45 in SL; second pelvic soft ray longest, Body width 9.8 10.3 reaching slightly posterior to pectoral fins, 6.2 in SL. Head length 21.5 21.3 Color in alcohol pale yellowish with no Head width 11.0 10.4 Snout length 5.7 5.3 dark markings. The following color note was taken Orbit diameter 7.1 6.7 shortly after specimen collected: two faint dusky Interorbital width 4.7 4.8 stripes on body separated by a narrow pale midlat - Upper-jaw length 8.8 8.5 eral stripe; lower dark striping expands into a broad Caudal-peduncle depth 9.5 9.3 dusky band in caudal fin containing a blackish spot Caudal-peduncle length 7.1 7.0 basally; some yellow in outer part of caudal fin. Predorsal length 24.4 24.2 Preanal length 54.2 54.1 Etymology: Named Ptereleotris crossogenion from Prepelvic length 23.3 23.1 the Greek krossos for fringe and genion for chin, in First dorsal spine 21.0 20.8 reference to the slender papillae that form a fringe Longest dorsal spine 48.8 51.6 on the chin. Longest dorsal ray 12.8 13.1 Remarks: This dartfish is described from a single Base of dorsal fins 69.2 69.1 specimen collected in 27 m depth in the lagoon of Anal spine 7.0 6.7 Longest anal ray 10.8 9.4 the Madang Province of Papua New Guinea just east Base of anal fin 40.9 41.2 of Nagada Harbor. It is one of a complex with P. Caudal-fin length 19.8 19.6 microlepis and P. brachyptera that share the characters Pectoral-fin length 14.3 13.6 of a low first dorsal fin with strongly recurved spines, Pelvic-spine length 11.1 10.9 only a slender median fold on the chin instead of a Pelvic-fin length 24.3 25.2 barbel, and low dorsal- and anal-ray counts. It dif - fers from P. microlepis in having one fewer dorsal and Paratype: NSMT-P 79557, male, 84 mm, same anal rays, the caudal-fin lobes rounded instead of source as holotype, December 2007. pointed, the longest dorsal spine 1.85 in the head Diagnosis: Dorsal rays VI + I,27; anal rays I,25; length, compared to 1.1-1.4 for P. microlepis , and in pectoral rays 23 or 24; scales cycloid and extremely color. Also, it lacks the narrow pale-edged dark bar small, about 190 near-vertical rows in longitudinal at the base of the pectoral fins. It differs from P. series; gill rakers 7-8 + 16-17; body depth 6.6-6.65 brachyptera in its deeper body (5.95 in SL compared in SL; head length 4.65-4.7 in SL; chin with a low to 6.95-7.6 for P. brachyptera), narrower interorbital median fleshy ridge, narrowing posteriorly to a width (6.3 in head length compared to 5.0-5.85), thin convoluted ridge; first dorsal fin about twice shorter caudal fin (4.9 in SL, compared to 4.3- height of second dorsal, the second to sixth spines 4.65), and shorter pelvic fins (6.2 in SL, compared filamentous, doubling height of fin; fourth spine to 4.65-5.45). It is distinct from all of these species longest, 1.95-2.05 in SL; caudal fin asymmetrically in having a fringe of slender papillae on the chin. rounded, the dorsal half more posterior, 5.05-5.1 in SL; pelvic fins 3.95-4.1 in SL; color in alcohol pale gray, with dusky bands on head and a small Ptereleotris kallista n. sp. square blackish spot dorsoposteriorly on opercle; (Figs 4-5, Table III) dorsal and anal fins faintly striped, the first dorsal only basally, the anal with a submarginal blackish Holotype: BPBM 40881, male, 69.5 mm, Philip - band; caudal fin with a broad submarginal black pines, Luzon, from aquarium fish supplier in arc over middle three-fourths of fin; body in life Manila, November 2007. mainly white; side of head with blue and yellow aqua vol. 14 no. 2 - 14 April 2008 96 John E. Randall and Toshiyuki Suzuki

Fig. 4. Head of Ptereleotris kallista showing the numerous small sensory papillae. Drawing by Toshiyuki Suzuki.

Fig. 5. Holotype of Ptereleotris kallista, BPBM 40881, 69.5 mm, Luzon. Aquarium photo by Toshiyuki Suzuki.

97 aqua vol. 14 no. 2 - 14 April 2008 Three new species of dartfishes of the gobioid genus Ptereleotris from the western Pacific stripes; a narrow median dorsal blue stripe on nape anterior edge of pupil, the upper-jaw length 2.45 continuing posteriorly at base of dorsal fins; first (2.4) in head length; upper jaw on each side with dorsal fin blue with yellow stripes at base; second an outer row of ten recurved small canine teeth, the dorsal fin with blue and yellow stripes; anal fin posterior ones curving medially as well as posteri - white at base, the rest blue with a middle yellow orly, the first and last four notably smaller; front of stripe and an outer blackish-edged orange stripe; upper jaw with an inner band of two to three irreg - caudal fin mainly yellow with a broad submarginal ular rows of very small incurved teeth that narrow black band, bordered posteriorly by blue, in mid - to a single row posteriorly; front of lower jaw with dle two-thirds of fin. two rows of small curved canine teeth, the anterior Description: Dorsal rays VI + I,27; anal rays I,25; row of three teeth on each side at front of jaw, and dorsal and anal rays branched distally, the last the posterior of four widely separated teeth, two at branched to base; pectoral rays 24 (23 on one side front of jaw and two at side, separated at front of of paratype), the upper two and lower two jaw by two irregular rows of very small teeth which unbranched; pelvic rays I,4, the fourth ray continue as a single row lateral to posterior two unbranched; branched caudal rays 13, only these canines; no teeth on vomer or palatines; tongue reaching posterior margin of fin; upper and lower narrow and pointed; gill rakers long, the longest at segmented unbranched caudal rays 2; upper and angle equal to length of longest gill filaments. lower procurrent caudal rays 10; scales in longitu - No free posterior margin to preopercle; gill open - dinal series 189 (192); gill rakers 7 + 1 (8 + 16)); ing extending forward to a vertical at dorsoposte - pseudobranchial filaments 12; vertebrae 26. rior edge of preopercle; no barbel on chin, instead Body elongate, the depth at origin of pelvic fins a broad median fleshy ridge that narrows to a thin 6.6 (6.7) in SL, and compressed, the width 1.55 ridge posteriorly, forming three sinusoidal curves, (1.5) in body depth; head length 4.65 (4.7) in SL; ending progressively shorter, a little posterior to snout length 3.8 (4.0) in head length; eye large, the ventroanterior end of gill opening. orbit diameter 3.05 (3.2) in head length; bony Anterior nostril a short tubule of equal height at interorbital width 4.6 (4.45) in head length; cau - level of upper edge of pupil, a nostril diameter dal-peduncle depth 2.25 (2.3) in head length; cau - behind upper lip; posterior nostril elliptical, dorso - dal-peduncle length 3.0 (3.05) in head length. posterior to anterior nostril, directly above anterior Mouth very oblique, forming an angle of about edge of orbit, with only a slight rim; internarial dis - 70° to horizontal axis of body, the lower jaw tance equal to two posterior nostril openings; no strongly projecting; maxilla reaching a vertical at cephalic sensory pores; cephalic sensory papillae

Fig. 6. Holotype of Ptereleotris uroditaenia , AMS I.18728-001, 69 mm (after Randall and Hoese, 1985). Drawing by Nancy R. Halliday. aqua vol. 14 no. 2 - 14 April 2008 98 John E. Randall and Toshiyuki Suzuki illustrated in Fig. 4 (the head slightly rotated ven - about middle two-thirds of fin; paired fins pale. trally to show the dorsal papillae better). Color of holotype in life shown in Fig. 5. Scales cycloid, extremely small, partially to fully Etymology: The species name kallista for this embedded, and mostly nonimbricate; deeply lovely dartfish is from the Greek meaning most embedded small scales posteriorly on nape, the beautiful. scale pattern continuing to interorbital space, but Remarks: The closest relative to Ptereleotris scales not detected; prepectoral and prepelvic areas kallista is P. uroditaenia Randall & Hoese (1985: with very small deeply embedded scales; no scales 29, fig. 9), described from a single female speci - on fins except for very small embedded scales on men, 69 mm SL, collected from 18 m depth in the about basal half of caudal fin. Solomon Islands, and deposited in the Australian Origin of first dorsal fin above inner base of pec - Museum (AMS I.18728-001). We reproduce here toral fin, the predorsal length 4.1 (4.15) in SL; first the drawing of the holotype of this species as Fig. dorsal fin about twice height of second dorsal fin, 6. No color photograph was taken, but a live color the second to sixth spines filamentous (at least in note was given as follows: “pale bluish with 2 males), doubling height of fin; first dorsal spine oblique black bands in caudal fin which converge strongly curved, 4.75 (4.8) in SL; third dorsal posteriorly, the centroanterior part of fin yellow.” spine longest, 2,05 (1.95) SL; second dorsal fin Randall et al. (1990: 418) published an underwa - nearly uniform in height, the penultimate ray ter color photo of the species taken by Roger C. slightly longest, 1.7 (1.65) in HL; origin of anal fin Steene in the Great Barrier Reef; they extended the below base of fourth dorsal soft ray, the preanal range to Indonesia. Steene (pers. comm.) has also length 1.85 in SL; anal spine slender, 3.05 (3.2) in observed the species at Milne Bay, Papua New head length; fourth anal soft ray longest, 2.0 (2.25) Guinea. A book on Indonesian fishes by Kuiter in head length; caudal fin asymmetrically rounded, (1992: 216) included two small underwater pho - the dorsal half a little more posterior, the fifth and tographs of P. uroditaenia , one from Lizard Island, sixth branched rays longest, 5.05 (5.1) in SL; pec - Great Barrier Reef, and one from Flores, Indonesia. toral fins short and rounded, the middle rays The pattern of the bands on the head of the three longest, 1.5 (1.55) in head length; origin of pelvic live photographs of P. uroditaenia is essentially the fins below inner base of pectoral fins, the prepelvic same as in P. kallista, but the color of the body is length 4.3 (4.35) in SL; third pelvic soft ray light blue dorsally, grading to bluish violet ven - longest, reaching to two-thirds orbit diameter from trally, except for bluish white on the abdomen, in anus, 4.1 (3.95) in SL. contrast to the near-white body of P. kallista . The Color of holotype in alcohol pale gray, color of dorsal and anal fins cannot be seen well in with three slightly oblique, dusky stripes on side of the photographs, but the bright yellow of the cen - head, the uppermost ending in a small square black - tral part of the caudal fin, bordered above and ish spot dorsoposte riorly on opercle; posterior edges below by a black band, is clearly evident. of preopercle and opercle dusky; three median We obtained two male specimens of P. uroditaenia dusky stripes from origin of dorsal fin to interor - from Luzon from the Osaka Museum of Natural bital space, where convergent, the middle stripe History: OMNH P21354, 78 mm SL, and darkest, the lateral stripe on each side continuing OMNH P32475, 60 mm SL, that had been iden - faintly below base of dorsal fins; dorsal part of tified as Ptereleotris sp. snout, including median part of lips dusky, to mid- The only meristic difference we noted was the interorbital space where separated by a curved pale second dorsal-ray count of 25 (along with 26 for band from converged anterior ends of median dor - the holotype of P. uroditaenia), compared to 27 for sal stripes on nape; a dusky band from chin across the two type specimens of P. kallista . However, this lips to iris below pupil; dorsal fins translucent gray, will probably be only a modal difference when the first dorsal with a narrow pale stripe at base, the more specimens are counted. Most proportional second dorsal with a submarginal pale stripe and a measurements are within the expected range of double pale basal stripe; anal fin translucent gray variation for P. uroditaenia , but four measurements with a submarginal blackish band with pale center; are significantly different. The bony interorbital rest of fin with three faint narrow pale stripes; cau - width is greater in P. kallista, 4.7-4.8% SL, vs. 2.6- dal fin colored like body basally, progressively paler 2.8% for the three specimens of P. uroditaenia . The distally, with a broad submarginal black arc on base of the dorsal fins is greater (as might be

99 aqua vol. 14 no. 2 - 14 April 2008 Three new species of dartfishes of the gobioid genus Ptereleotris from the western Pacific expected from the higher ray count), 69.1-69.2% REFERENCES SL compared to 67.1-67.7% SL. The dorsal spines GILL , T. N. 1863. On the gobioids of the eastern coast of are longer, the first spine 20.8-21.0% SL vs. 11.9- the United States. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural 13.5% SL, and the third spine 48.8-51.6% SL for Science of Philadelphia 15 : 267-271. HOESE , D. F. 1984. Gobioidei: relationships. Pp. 588-591 P. kallista vs. 31.6-37.6% for P. uroditaenia . in Ontogeny and Systematics of Fishes . Special Publication As noted by Randall & Hoese (1985), P. uroditae - 1, American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetolo - nia is closely allied to P. grammica Randall & Lub - gists. bock, 1982, which was described as two sub - KUITER , R. H. 1992 . Tropical Reef-fishes of the Western species, P. grammica grammica from the western Pacific Indonesia and Adjacent Waters. PT Gramedia Pus - Pacific and P. grammica melanota from Mauritius . taka Utama, Jakarta. xiii + 313 pp. Ptereleotris kallista shares the same salient charac - MILLER , P. J. 1973. The osteology and adaptive features of ters: no cephalic sensory pores, very small cephalic Rhyacichthys aspro (Teleostei: Gobioidei) and the classifi - cation of the gobioid fishes. Journal of Zoology (London), sensory papillae, and a large first dorsal fin with fil - 171 : 397-434. amentous middle spines. RANDALL , J. E. 2005. Reef and Shore Fishes of the South Pacific . University of Hawai‘i Press, Honolulu. ix + 707 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS pp. We thank Elaine Heemstra for the drawing of the RANDALL , J. E., A LLEN , G. R. & S TEENE , R . C. 1990 . holotype of Ptereleotris crossogenion, the Africa Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. University Osaka Pet Shop in Japan for providing the type of Hawaii Press, Honolulu. xx + 508 pp. specimens of P. kallista, Kiyotaka Hatooka of the RANDALL , J. E. & H OESE , D. F. 1985. Revision of the Indo-Pacific dartfishes, genus Ptereleotri s (Perciformes: Osaka Museum of Natural History for the loan of Gobioidei). Indo-Pacific Fishes 7: 1-36. Philippine specimens of P. uroditaenia, Loreen R. RANDALL , J. E. & L UBBOCK , R. L 1982. A new Indo- O’Hara of the Bishop Museum for x-rays, and Pacific dartfish of the genus Ptereleotris (Perciformes: Gerald R. Allen, Hiromitzu Endo, and Roger C. Gobiidae). Revue française d’Aquariologie 9 (10): 41-46. Steene for pertinent information. THACKER , C. 2000. Phylogeny of the (Teleostei: Gobioidei: Microdesmidae). Copeia 2000 (4): 940-957.

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