Dottyback

Abstract: Gill (2004) recognised fifty-seven species in the Indo-Pacific genus Pseudochromis Ruppell (1835) but noted that the genus is undiagnosed cladistically and effectively serves as a catch-all for species that can’t be placed in other pseudochromine genera (sensu Gill 2013). Since publication of Gill’s revision, 13 additional species of Pseudochromis have been described, mostly based on recent collections from the highly diverse Coral Triangle area of the West Pacific (Gill & Allen 2004, 2011; Allen et al. 2008; Gill et al. 2009, 2012a,b; Gill & Williams 2011; Gill & Zajonz 2011; Allen & Erdmann 2012). We herein describe an additional new species, which is known on the basis of a single specimen from Kii Peninsula, Honshu, Japan, and from several photographs from the Kii Peninsula and Izu Islands, Japan.

Abstract: Protogyny and protandry are well known among fishes, but bidirectional sex change has been reported from only 25 species in six families; field evidence is limited to nine species in four families. The present study confirmed bidirectional sex change of the magenta dottyback Pictichromis porphyrea in the field, the first field evidence for this phenomenon in the family Pseudochromidae. Field experiments were conducted on the patch reefs of Sesoko Island, Okinawa. The sex ratio was female-biased, and males were significantly larger than females. These features are common to protogynous species with a polygynous mating system, although mating behavior was not observed. When members of the opposite sex were removed from a certain area, nearly half of the tagged fish moved to different sites. Among the fish that moved from the original site, four females changed to male, and two males changed to female. Gamete release was confirmed both before and after the sex change. The sex-changed males were larger than their neighbors, whereas the sex-changed females were smaller than their neighbors, suggesting that the sex change was socially controlled in both directions.

Abstract: Species of pseudoplesiopine and pseudochromine fishes from the Socotra Archipelago are reported based mainly on collections made in 1999 and 2000. Two species of the pseudoplesiopine genus Chlidichthys Smith are recorded: C. bibulus (Smith) and C. cacatuoides Gill and Edwards. Seven species of the pseudochromine genus Pseudochromis Rüppell are recorded: P. chrysospilus sp. nov., P. leucorhynchus Lubbock, P. linda Randall and Stanaland, P. nigrovittatus Boulenger, P. sankeyi Lubbock, P. socotraensis sp. nov. and an undetermined species (allied to P. punctatus Kotthaus). Pseudochromis chrysospilus belongs to a newly diagnosed P. caudalis-complex; it differs from other members of the complex in various meristic and coloration details. Pseudochromis socotraensis belongs to a newly diagnosed P. dutoiti-complex; it differs from other members of the complex in adult size, various meristic characters and live coloration. Based on both the collection records and additional visual records made in 1999 and 2000 the archipelagic distribution ranges of each species and the biotopes inhabited by them are described. Two additional species are tentatively reported from the Socotra Archipelago on the basis of sight records: P. dixurus Lubbock and P. omanensis Gill and Mee.

Abstract: Within the Pseudochromidae, the subfamily Pseudoplesiopinae is diagnosed by six unequivocal autapomorphies: single tubed lateral-line scale; posterior part of pelvic bone with triangular or hook-shaped lateral process; base of anterior process on pelvic bone posteriorly positioned; coracoid articulates ventrally with medial face of lateral lamina of cleithrum; basihyal bound to anterior face of basibranchial 1; and urohyal with prominent dorsally directed process. Five genera are recognised in the subfamily. Pseudoplesiops Bleeker (Nematochromis Weber is a junior synonym), with seven nominal species, is diagnosed by a single autapomorphy: medial laminae of pelvic bones expanded dorsally. Chlidichthys Smith (Wamizichthys Smith is a junior synonym), with 10 nominal species, is diagnosed by two autapomorphies: lower lip incomplete; and second infraorbital bone absent. Pectinochromis n.gen. (type species Pseudoplesiops lubbocki Edwards & Randall), with a single nominal species, is diagnosed by five autapomorphies: second dorsal-fin pterygiophore inserting between neural spine 3 and 4; second supraneural bone absent; first dorsal-fin pterygiophore expanded anteriorly; first dorsal- fin pterygiophore with lateral processes; and gill rakers relatively numerous. Amsichthys n.gen. (type species Pseudoplesiops knighti Allen), with a single nominal species, is diagnosed by a single autapomorphy: upper preopercular pore usually absent. Lubbockichthys n.gen. (type species Pseudoplesiops multisquamatus Allen), with a single nominal species, is diagnosed by four autapomorphies: scales small; scales cycloid at all stages of ontogeny; some head bones with weakly honeycombed surface; and parietal enclosing dorsal part of supratemporal laterosensory canal. A parsimony analysis of various characters of the laterosensory system, caudal skeleton, dorsal-fin osteology, and fin-ray branching supports the following relationships: ( Lubbockichthys ((Amsichthys + Pseudoplesiops) (Chlidichthys + Pectinochromis))).