Abstract
The highly diverse goatfish genus Upeneus (Mullidae) requires enhanced attention regarding the possible occurrence of undescribed species in insufficiently explored regions. This study focuses on the South-Western Indian Ocean region (SWIO), and on the so-called japonicus-group, a taxonomic species group of Upeneus. Based on in-situ observations and collections in Sodwana Bay, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, the Floros goatfish, U. floros n. sp., is described. Detailed comparative studies of colour patterns and morphological characters of all other 13 japonicus-group species were undertaken as well as COI barcoding. The new species occurs in the coastal area between Angoche, N Mozambique and KwaZulu-Natal and partly overlaps in distribution with two similar species, U. guttatus, widely distributed in the Indo-W Pacific, and U. saiab, assumed to be endemic in a small area off Angoche. Two additional japonicus-group species occurring in the SWIO, U. seychellensis from the Seychelles Bank and U. pori from the Mediterranean Sea (as Lessepsian migrant), Northern Red Sea and Madagascar, were also compared. Because specimens as well as in-situ photographs of U. floros have been erroneously identified as either U. guttatus or U. pori during previous studies, updated taxonomic accounts and diagnoses are provided for these species taking size-related and population differences into account. For U. pori, of which a single preserved specimen from SW Madagascar was known so far, a new record from NE Madagascar is reported based on three specimens and a fresh-colour photo. Upeneus floros can be distinguished from U. guttatus and U. pori by a combination of three characters: head length, first dorsal-fin height and number of gill rakers. Upeneus guttatus can be distinguished from the other two species by disproportionally higher anterior dorsal-fin spines vs. a proportional decrease of dorsal-fin spines in height, barbels mostly yellow vs. white or creamy-white, and slightly fewer pectoral-fin rays. COI barcoding detected a clear distinction between U. guttatus and U. floros and U. pori, respectively, but no significant divergence between the two latter species. COI barcoding also failed to differentiate several other Upeneus species which are clearly distinguished morphologically. Possible interrelationships between species distribution patterns and physical oceanography are discussed. An identification key for the 22 WIO Upeneus species is provided.
Highlights
The goatfish genus Upeneus (Mullidae) is highly diverse, with 42 valid species of which 13 have been includedAccepted by B
Data focused primarily on the three target species U. floros, U. guttatus and U. pori, as well as, U. saiab and U. seychellensis, which co-occur with U. floros in the South-Western Indian Ocean region (SWIO), and the rather similar U. itoui from Japan
Upeneus floros is a relatively common species off the coast of KwaZulu-Natal, occurring over sandy bottoms at moderate depths where it has been encountered by divers and caught by bottom trawls in fishing areas
Summary
The goatfish genus Upeneus (Mullidae) is highly diverse, with 42 valid species of which 13 have been included. In recent descriptions of japonicus-group species the authors concluded that there is a high probability of more undescribed species or unrecorded species in insufficiently studied areas Exploration of these areas should continue, more specimens should be collected using various methods and from fish markets, colour of live or freshly-deceased fish should be documented, and the available museum material should be thoroughly screened (Uiblein & Lisher 2013; Uiblein & Gledhill 2015; Uiblein & White 2015; Uiblein et al 2017). In the South-Western Indian Ocean (SWIO), off continental SE Africa, Madagascar, the Mascarenes and the Seychelles, four japonicus-group species have been recorded so far, U. guttatus Day, 1868, U. pori Ben-Tuvia & Golani, 1989, U. saiab and U. seychellensis. Uiblein & Heemstra (2010) reported U. guttatus from off KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, based on a single preserved specimen. For practical use in species identification, an up-to-date identification key of all Upeneus species of the WIO is provided
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