Tosanoidesannepatrice, a new basslet from deep coral reefs in Micronesia (Perciformes, Percoidei, Serranidae).

Richard L Pyle,John E Randall,Joshua M Copus,Brian D Greene

doi:10.3897/zookeys.786.28421

Abstract

The new species Tosanoidesannepatricesp. n. is described from four specimens collected at depths of 115–148 m near Palau and Pohnpei in Micronesia. It differs from the other three species of this genus in life color and in certain morphological characters, such as body depth, snout length, anterior three dorsal-fin spine lengths, caudal-fin length, and other characters. There are also genetic differences from the other four species of Tosanoides (d ≈ 0.04–0.12 in mtDNA cytochrome oxidase I). This species is presently known only from Palau and Pohnpei within Micronesia, but it likely occurs elsewhere throughout the tropical western Pacific.

Highlights

The authors have explored mesophotic coral ecosystems (MCEs; coral-reef habitat at depths of 30–150 m; referred to as the “coral-reef twilight zone”) throughout Micronesia for decades, and have utilized advanced mixed-gas closed-circuit rebreather diving operations since 1997, which has led to the discovery of dozens of new species of fishes (Pyle 1996a, 1996b, 2000, Pyle and Copus in press)
Specimens were collected with hand nets during deep dives using mixed-gas, closedcircuit rebreathers, and brought to the surface alive with the aid of a hypodermic needle to vent gas from the swim bladders
The holotype has been deposited at the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum fish collection, Honolulu (BPBM), and paratypes have been deposited at the U.S National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C. (USNM) and California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco (CAS)

Summary

Introduction

The authors have explored mesophotic coral ecosystems (MCEs; coral-reef habitat at depths of 30–150 m; referred to as the “coral-reef twilight zone”) throughout Micronesia for decades, and have utilized advanced mixed-gas closed-circuit rebreather diving operations since 1997, which has led to the discovery of dozens of new species of fishes (Pyle 1996a, 1996b, 2000, Pyle and Copus in press) One such new species was first discovered in 2007 during an expedition to Micronesia to film the BBC documentary Expedition Pacific Abyss (British Broadcasting Corporation 2007), when the Copyright Richard L. Allen pers. comm.) and one from Rapa Nui (Easter Island) (Easton et al 2017)

Materials and methods

Discussion