A new Taiwanese and northernmost record of Cephalopholis cyanostigma (Actinopterygii: Perciformes: Serranidae)

Abstract

Until recently, eleven species of the genus Cephalopholis (Serranidae) have been recorded from Taiwanese waters. Although Cephalopholis cyanostigma (Valenciennes, 1828) was previously known from the western Pacific Ocean north to Philippines, no records have been reported from Taiwan. The main objective of this study was to document the presence of C. cyanostigma in waters of Taiwan. Three specimens (169.9–189.7 mm standard length) of C. cyanostigma were collected from southern Taiwan in 2017. The morphology and fresh coloration of the collected specimens are herein described. The majority of morphological characters are consistent with those representing previous descriptions of Cephalopholis cyanostigma: dorsal-fin soft rays 16; anal-fin soft rays 8; longitudinal scale series 93; caudal fin rounded; body colour reddish brown with small dark-edged pale blue spots on head and body; body with pale spots larger than pupil form irregular bars; pectoral fin nearly all orange with dark-edged pale blue spots. The grouper specimens from southern Taiwan are identified as Cephalopholis cyanostigma. The presently reported specimens represent the first record for Taiwan, and their finding constitutes the northernmost record of this species.