Scolopsislacrima, a new species of monocle bream (Teleostei, Perciformes, Nemipteridae) from New Caledonia.

Jumpei Nakamura,Philippe Béarez,Hiroyuki Motomura

doi:10.3897/zookeys.861.35052

Abstract

The new monocle bream Scolopsislacrimasp. nov. is described from a single specimen (213.6 mm standard length) collected from Grande-Terre Island, New Caledonia. The new species closely resembles S.meridiana, both species having the upper part of the pectoral-fin base with reddish blotch when fresh, two bands across the top of the snout, a dorsal scaled area on the head reaching anteriorly to between the anterior margin of the eye and anterior nostril, a similar number of lateral-line scales, and absence of a small antrorse spine below the eye. However, S.lacrimasp. nov. is distinguished from S.meridiana by having diagonal lines on the body absent (vs. 18–20 diagonal lines in the latter), a dark longitudinal band below the lateral line (vs. longitudinal lines absent), the caudal fin central area not patterned (vs. with several dark horizontal lines), a narrower body and shallower caudal peduncle.

Highlights

The monocle bream genus Scolopsis Cuvier, 1814 is widespread throughout shallow Indo-West Pacific tropical and subtropical waters, some species being marketed in Southeast Asia (Russell 1990, 2001)
A new species of monocle bream from New Caledonia longer than 2nd anal-fin spine; narrow body, its depth at dorsal, pelvic, and anal fin origins 29.2, 29.5 and 26.6% of SL, respectively; caudal-peduncle depth 10.4% of SL; head length 29.9% of SL; upper part of pectoral-fin base with reddish blotch when fresh; two dark bands across dorsum of snout; body below lateral line with a dark longitudinal band, without diagonal lines; no blotches or lines on central area of caudal fin
The new species is assignable to the genus Scolopsis, defined by Russell (1990, 2001), due to its distinct posteriorly-directed suborbital spine, the suborbital area without scales, the posterior margin of the preopercle coarsely denticulate or serrate, and jaws without canine teeth

Summary

Introduction

The monocle bream genus Scolopsis Cuvier, 1814 is widespread throughout shallow Indo-West Pacific tropical and subtropical waters, some species being marketed in Southeast Asia (Russell 1990, 2001). A new species of monocle bream from New Caledonia longer than 2nd anal-fin spine; narrow body, its depth at dorsal, pelvic, and anal fin origins 29.2, 29.5 and 26.6% of SL, respectively; caudal-peduncle depth 10.4% of SL; head length 29.9% of SL; upper part of pectoral-fin base with reddish blotch when fresh; two dark bands across dorsum of snout; body below lateral line with a dark longitudinal band, without diagonal lines; no blotches or lines on central area of caudal fin.

Results

Conclusion