Parupeneus williamsi, a new species of goatfish (Perciformes: Mullidae) endemic to the Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia

Abstract

A new species of goatfish, Parupeneus williamsi, is described on the basis of 12 specimens (43.9–234.3 mm in standard length) collected from the Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia. The species closely resembles Parupeneus multifasciatus (Quoy and Gaimard 1825) in sharing white to yellowish barbels, its tips usually extending beyond the posterior margin of the preopercle, two or three blackish vertical bands (including indistinct bands) on the trunk, and a blackish saddle on the upper caudal peduncle. However, the new species is distinguished from P. multifasciatus by having all of the bands and saddle very indistinct, dense melanophores uniformly distributed on the anal-fin membranes (preserved specimens), upper jaw slightly slender and shorter in specimens larger than 50 mm SL, and slightly longer second anal-fin soft ray. The morphological differences between the two species are supported by a previously published molecular analysis of mitochondrial cytochrome b sequences. Although P. multifasciatus is widely distributed in the eastern Indian and Pacific oceans, P. williamsi is endemic to the Marquesas Islands.