Pacific Science (1983), vol. 37, no. 1 © 1983 by the University of Hawaii Press. All rights reserved The Status of Torquigener hypselogeneion (Bleeker) (Tetraodontiformes: Tetraodontidae) and Some Related Species, including a New Species from Hawaii! GRAHAM S. H ARDy 2 ABSTl~ACT: Torquigener .hypselogeneion (Bleeker) and T.jiorealis (Cope) are redescnbed, and a neotype IS proposed for the former. That species differs from T. jiorealis in having smaller eye ~iameter , shorter caudal peduncle length, usuall!, lower.fin ray counts, and different color pattern. Torquigener randalli n:s~. IS descnbed .from six specimens from Oahu, Hawaii, differing from the similar T.jiorealis In shape ofdorsal and anal fins, a usually lower dorsal and anal fin ray count, and in color pattern. 1:'1 MARCH 1852 Bleeker published the descrip­ METHODS tion of a small pufferfish, which he called Measurements (taken to 2 significant Tetraodon hypselogeneion, based on speci­ figures) were by dial caliper, in a manner mens from Amboina (Ambon) (Bleeker similar to that outlined by Dekkers (1975). 1852a). In subsequent descriptions, he ex­ All measurements are from preserved speci­ tended the known distribution to cover much mens . Fin ray counts include all visible rays, ?f the D~tch Ea st Indies (Indonesia), and both branched and unbranched, and fin ray In 1865 Included examples, considered as lengths were determined from the embedded hypselogeneion, reported from the Red Sea as base. One example each of T. jiorealis and Tetrodon honckenii (not ofBloch), by Riippell T. randalli was cleared and stained and (1828). A central Pacific species, described as all others x-rayed, for examination of their ! etrodon .f!Nealis by Cope (1871), was later osteology. Included In the synonymy of Sphoeroides The following abbreviations are used: HL, hypselogenion (sic) by Fowler (1928), the head length; SL, standard length; TL, total latter name having attained something of a length; AMS, Australian Museum, Sydney; "catch-all" status owing to the very consider­ ANSP, Academy of Natural Sciences of Phi­ able overall similarity ofthe species involved. la?elphia; BMNH, British Museum (Natural Examples from the Red Sea, conspecific with HIstory), London; BPBM, Bernice P. Bishop those reported by Riippell, are currently sub­ Museum, Honolulu;NMNZ,National Museum ject to description as a new species (Hardy of New Zealand, Wellington; RMNH, Rijks­ and Randall 1983), and examinations ofother museum ~an Natuurlijke Historie, Leiden; supposed hypselogeneion specimens have dis­ USNM , United States National Museum of cl?sed t~e separate identity ofjiorealis, along Natural History, Washington, D .C. with a hitherto unnamed species from Hawaii. All of the above species conform to the ~enu s Torquigener Whitley, recently revised Torquigener hypselogeneion (Bleeker) In a study of Australian representatives by Figure I, Table I Hardy (1983). Tetraodon hypselogeneion Bleeker , 1852:24 (type locality, Amboina). 1 Manuscript accepted 22 November 1982. 2 National Museum of New Zealand Private Bag MATERIAL EXAMINED: Wellington, New Zealand . ' , Neotype: USNM 236937, 35 mm SL, 65 66 PACIFIC SCIENCE, Volume 37, January 1983 FIGURE 1. Torquigener hypselogeneion, neotype, USNM 236937, 35 mm SL. TABLE 1 FIN R AY CO UNTS DORSAL FIN RAYS ANAL FIN RAYS PEcrORAL FIN RAYS 8 9 10 11 7 8 9 13 14 15 16 17 T. flor ealis 2 10 10 3 20 6 T. hypselogeneion 8 12 13 7 2 23 15 T . randalli 1 5 5 1 11 0-10 m, Bootless Bay, ca. 5 mi E of Port DESCRIPTION: The following counts and Moresby, Papua New Guinea. proportions are based on the neotype, and, Additional: AMS I. 17784-002, 61 mm SL, in parentheses, 9 additional specimens, 35­ Solomon Islands; BMNH 1866.1.19.44, 49 mm 68 mm SL. Dorsal rays 9(8-9); anal rays SL, Zanzibar; BMNH 1867.3.9.641,63 mm SL, 7(7-8); pectoral rays 14(13-15); caudal rays Zanzibar; BMNH 1867.11.28.114,61 mm SL, 11(11); vertebrae 9 + 11(8 + 12,9 + 11). East Indian (Indonesian) Archipelago, pur­ Body elongate, rounded dorsally and flat­ chased from Bleeker; BMNH 1871.9.13.158, tened ventrally , tapering to a narrow caudal 61 mm SL, Savay; BMNH 1876.5.19.31, 42mm peduncle; head length 2.3(2.5-2.8) in SL; SL, Samoa; BMNH 1886.8.30.17, 22mm snout to anterior ofvent 1.4(1.4-1.5) in SL, to SL, Andaman Islands; BMNH 1922.5.5.21, origin ofdorsal fin 1.3(1.4) in SL, to origin of 43 mm SL, Lumbo, Mozambique; BMNH anal fin 1.3(1 .3) in SL, to origin ofpectoral fin 1938.10.18.11, 54mm SL, Mombasa, Kenya; 2.1(2.3-2.5) in SL; width at base of pectoral BPBM 27139, 68mm SL, 2m, Noumea, New fin 2.3(2.7-3.6) in SL; depth from dorsal fin Caledonia; RMNH 7332, 35-59 mm SL, (9 origin to anal fin origin 5.0(5.1 -6.1) in SL; specimens), ex Bleeker Collection. depth at posterior of dorsal fin 5.9(6.8-7.6) in SL; caudal peduncle length 4.4(4.4-4.7) in DIAGNOSIS: Caudal peduncle very short, SL; least depth ofcaudal peduncle 12.5(11.9­ ~ 4.4 x in SL; eye horizontal diameter ~ 4.3 13.6) in SL. x in SL; anterior margin of gill opening Mouth small, terminal , width 3.8(3.8-4.0) smooth but for 1-2 papilla-enveloped spines in HL; lips thin, covered with numerous short at base; solid yellowish to brown lateral band papillae; chin prominent; nasal organ a short from above pectoral fin base to caudal fin erect papilla, set in a low depression well base; cheek with 4 broad, vertical , brownish forward of eye, with 2 moderately separated bands, 2nd band directly beneath eye. openings, inner surface with about 4 well- Statusof Torquigener hypselogeneion-HARDY 67 developed flaps on lower half of circumfer­ trally from behind chin to anterior of vent; ence; snout to anterior edge of nasal organ ventral spines moderately dense. 4.3(3.8-4.8) in HL; posterior edge of nasal Color of neotype in alcohol (Figure 1): organ to anterior edge of eye 5.0(4.8-5.6) in dor sum dark brown with small, scattered, HL. pale spots; a solid, slightly darker lateral band Eye small, elongate, and dorsally adnate, from above pectoral fin base to base ofcaudal upper border interrupts dorsal profile, lower fin; sides below lateral band, and belly, color­ border well above level of mouth corner, less; cheek with 4 broad, vertical, evenly horizontal diameter 5.0(4.3-5.8) in HL ; least spaced, faint brown bands, the 1st barely dis­ fleshy interorbital distance 7.1(5.9-7.5) in HL tinguishable, the 2nd directly below eye; fins and 16.7(14.8-21.3) in SL; anterior margin of colorless. gill opening smooth except for 1 or 2 well­ Color of species in life (BPBM 27139, from developed spines, contained in fleshy papillae J. E. Randall field notes): a dark brown re­ at its base; posterior ofeye to dorsal corner of ticulum on back , the spots pale greenish; belly gill opening 2.3(2.0-2.4) in HL. white, a zone oflight yellow separating it from Pectoral fins rounded, Ist ray very short; darker dorsal coloration. maximum length of pectoral fin from base DISTRIBUTIO N: Examples of T. hypselogene­ 5.0(5.1 -6.1) in SL; top of base well below ion examined here indicate a distribution lower margin of eye; dorsal fin elongate and range in tropical waters from the east coast of pointed, anterior end of base just posterior to Africa to the central Pacific Ocean (Samoa). vertical line through vent, 1st ray 17.5(10.8­ Many literature records must be considered 34.0) in SL, longest ray 5.6(5.4-6.9) in SL, suspect owing to confusion in identification of base 17.5(15.0-21.5) in SL and 3.1(2.5-4.0) specimens. in longest ray; anal fin elongate and bluntly pointed, based under posterior of dorsal fin PROPOSAL OF A NEOTYP E FOR Torquig ener base, 1st ray 19.4(13.0-27.2) in SL, longest hypselogeneion (BL EEKER): Bleeker's original ray 6.0(7.5-8.1) in SL, base 25.0(18.0-27.7) in description of Tetraodon hypselogeneion was SL and 4.1(2.2-3.7) in longest ray; caudal fin based on three specimens, whose total length truncate, maximum length 3.9(3.8-4.5) in SL. fell within the range 44-63 mm (Bleeker Ventrolateral skinfold extends from behind 1852a). A second description of the species, chin to caudal peduncle , except directly published only one month later (Bleeker beneath pectoral fin; lateral line distinct, with 1852b), referred to 12 specimens, and ex­ a few small, associated papillae, encircles eye tended the species' known distribution and with an anterodorsal branch almost meeting maximum recorded total length to 71 mm. By in midline anterior to nasal organ and a preo­ the time of publication of his Atlas Ichthy­ percular branch dropping to lateral limit of ologique (Bleeker 1865) a total of 25 speci­ belly, extends along body to caudal fin, barely mens, of total length range 44-88 mm, had rising over pectoral fin and gently dropping been acquired. Clearly, however, the three under dorsal fin; mid-dorsal branch of lateral specimens first referred to are the syntypes for line above pectoral fin base may meet in mid­ Tetraodon hypselogeneion. line; second lateral line drops from behind Although many plectognath type speci­ mouth corner, extending along lateral region mens were purchased by the British Museum of belly except for a break ventral to pectoral from Bleeker (reported in the preface and fin, closely associated with ventrolateral skin­ subsequent pages of Gunther 1870), those fold from anal fin base.