Selected counts and measurements for holotype of <i>Liopropoma olneyi</i> sp. nov., and <i>Liopropoma aberrans</i> from Robins [8]. Measurements are in percentages of SL.

<p>*Based on Robins’ [8∶592] description of gill rakers, he did not count the rudimentary pads on the lower limb of the first arch, only those on the upper limb.</p><p>**Robins [8∶592] erroneously gave this value as 7.0. The least depth of caudal peduncle was re-measured by R. Robins (pers. comm., 2 Oct 2013) as 15.2 mm, or 14% SL.</p

<i>Liopropoma olneyi,</i> sp. nov., USNM 426805, holotype, DNA #CUR 13200, 84.3 mm SL.

<p>Photo by Ross Robertson and Carole Baldwin.</p

Average (and range) Kimura two-parameter distance summary for species of <i>Liopropoma</i> and <i>Bathyanthias</i> (and outgroups <i>Grammistes, Rypticus,</i> and <i>Scorpaena</i>) based on cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) sequences of individuals represented in the neighbor-joining tree in Figure 3.

<p>Intraspecific averages are shown in bold. “na” = not applicable (n = 1).</p

Comparison of <i>Liopropoma olneyi,</i> sp. nov., and <i>L. aberrans.</i>

<p>A, <i>L. olneyi</i>, Curacao (USNM 426808, paratype, DNA #CUR12225, 73 mm SL). B, <i>L. aberrans,</i> Cuba (illustration from original description [21: Plate 12–2], 115 mm SL). C, <i>L. aberrans,</i> Bahamas (photograph from redescription of <i>L. aberrans</i> [6: <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0097661#pone-0097661-g001" target="_blank">Fig. 1</a>], UMML 22324, 112 mm SL). D, <i>L. aberrans,</i> Curacao (USNM 426807, DNA #CUR 12226, 102 mm SL). Photos A and D by Ross Robertson and Carole Baldwin.</p

<i>Liopropoma olneyi,</i> sp. nov., VIMS 13590, paratype, 14.7 mm SL.

<p>Photo by G. David Johnson.</p

The strict consensus tree of a maximum parsimony analysis of the COI region among western Atlantic <i>Liopropoma</i> and related taxa.

<p>Numbers above branches represent bootstrap support values.</p

<i>Liopropoma olneyi,</i> sp. nov.

<p>A, in-situ photograph taken from the <i>Curasub</i> submersible at 125 m on the reef slope adjacent to the Curacao Sea Aquarium on 7 Aug 2013. Photo courtesy of Substation Curacao. B, aquarium photograph by Barry Brown.</p

Connectivity across the Caribbean Sea: DNA Barcoding and Morphology Unite an Enigmatic Fish Larva from the Florida Straits with a New Species of Sea Bass from Deep Reefs off Curaçao

<div><p>Integrative taxonomy, in which multiple disciplines are combined to address questions related to biological species diversity, is a valuable tool for identifying pelagic marine fish larvae and recognizing the existence of new fish species. Here we combine data from DNA barcoding, comparative morphology, and analysis of color patterns to identify an unusual fish larva from the Florida Straits and demonstrate that it is the pelagic larval phase of a previously undescribed species of <i>Liopropoma</i> sea bass from deep reefs off Curaçao, southern Caribbean. The larva is unique among larvae of the teleost family Serranidae, Tribe Liopropomini, in having seven elongate dorsal-fin spines. Adults of the new species are similar to the golden bass, <i>Liopropoma aberrans,</i> with which they have been confused, but they are distinct genetically and morphologically. The new species differs from all other western Atlantic liopropomins in having IX, 11 dorsal-fin rays and in having a unique color pattern–most notably the predominance of yellow pigment on the dorsal portion of the trunk, a pale to white body ventrally, and yellow spots scattered across both the dorsal and ventral portions of the trunk. Exploration of deep reefs to 300 m using a manned submersible off Curaçao is resulting in the discovery of numerous new fish species, improving our genetic databases, and greatly enhancing our understanding of deep-reef fish diversity in the southern Caribbean. <i>Oh the mother and child reunion is only a moment away</i>. <b>Paul Simon</b>.</p></div

Close-up images of swellings and pigmentation on elongate dorsal-fin spines in cleared larval <i>Liopropoma olneyi,</i> sp. nov., USNM 426868, paratype, 14.0 mm SL.

<p>A, portions of several of the third through eighth dorsal-fin spines. B, distal end of second dorsal-fin spine. Photos by G. David Johnson.</p

Larvae of western Atlantic Liopropomini.

<p>A, <i>Liopropoma olneyi</i> sp. nov, USNM 426868, paratype, DNA #FLST 5001, 14.0 mm SL, Florida Straits, photo by Cedric Guigand. B, <i>L. rubre,</i> reared aquarium larva, photo by Christopher Paparo. C, <i>L. carmabi,</i> reared aquarium larva, photo by Christopher Paparo; D. <i>Bathyanthias</i> sp., Florida Straits, photo by Cedric Guigand.</p