Redescription of the Indo-Pacific Serranid Fish Pseudanthias bimaculatus (Smith)

Abstract

Pseudanthias bimaculatus was described by Smith (1955) from four specimens taken off Mozambique. No additional specimens were collected until 1982 when seven were obtained in the Seribu Islands off Java and one off Bali in 1986. The species is redescribed, and illustrated in color. It is distinctive in coloration and in having 15 or 16 (usually 16) dorsal-fin rays, an acutely pointed anal fin with seven rays, 17-19 pectoral rays, 43-47 lateral-line scales, 37-39 gill rakers, three predorsal bones, body depth 2.5-2.9 in SL, third to tenth dorsal-fin spines subequal, moderately emarginate caudal fin, and vomerine teeth in a subtriangular patch. Females are lavender-pink, with narrow, irregular, yellow bands on the posterodorsal part of the body; the centers of the scales on the anterodorsal part of the body are yellow. Males are irregularly banded with orange-red and lavender; the caudal fin has lavender-blue corners, except for the tips which are yellow; the dorsal fin has a red spot between the fourth and sixth or seventh spines. Males have longer pelvic fins and a more prolonged third anal ray than females.