The Gulf Surgeon, Acanthurus randalli, a Junior Synonym of the Ocean Surgeon, Acanthurus bahianus (Teleostei: Acanthuridae)

We compared 62 specimens, 48-126.5 mm standard length, of Acanthurus bahianus from the northeastern Gulf of Mexico with 95 specimens from other localities to determine if the distinguishing characters in the original description of the Gulf of Mexico endemic surgeonfish Acanthurus randalli were valid. No color pattern or meristic differences were found, and the only measurement that allowed distinction (91% percent concordance) was the shallower caudal concavity of northeastern Gulf of Mexico specimens. Acanthurus chirurgus from the northeastern Gulf of Mexico also have shallower caudal concavities (93.7% percent concordance) than do conspecifics from other areas, suggesting that this trend may be correlated with some unknown environmental influence. Considering the extended planktonic larval dispersal capabilities of Atlantic surgeonfishes, and that the single divergent morphological character state is also exhibited in a sympatric northeastern Gulf of Mexico population of A. chirurgus, recognition of A. randalli is untenable, and the name is considered a junior synonym of A. bahianus. An identification key to western Atlantic species of Acanthurus that incorporates the results of this study is given

The Gulf Surgeon, Acanthurus randalli, a Junior Synonym of the Ocean Surgeon, Acanthurus bahianus (Teleostei: Acanthuridae)

We compared 62 specimens, 48-126.5 mm standard length, of Acanthurus bahianus from the northeastern Gulf of Mexico with 95 specimens from other localities to determine if the distinguishing characters in the original description of the Gulf of Mexico endemic surgeonfish Acanthurus randalli were valid. No color pattern or meristic differences were found, and the only measurement that allowed distinction (91% percent concordance) was the shallower caudal concavity of northeastern Gulf of Mexico specimens. Acanthurus chirurgus from the northeastern Gulf of Mexico also have shallower caudal concavities (93.7% percent concordance) than do conspecifics from other areas, suggesting that this trend may be correlated with some unknown environmental influence. Considering the extended planktonic larval dispersal capabilities of Atlantic surgeonfishes, and that the single divergent morphological character state is also exhibited in a sympatric northeastern Gulf of Mexico population of A. chirurgus, recognition of A. randalli is untenable, and the name is considered a junior synonym of A. bahianus. An identification key to western Atlantic species of Acanthurus that incorporates the results of this study is given

Review of the crevalle jacks, Caranx hippos complex (Teleostei: Carangidae), with a description of a new species from West Africa

The Caranx hippos species complex comprises three extant species: crevalle jack (Caranx hippos) (Linnaeus, 1766) from both the western and eastern Atlantic oceans; Pacific crevalle jack (Caranx caninus) Günther, 1868 from the eastern Pacific Ocean; and longfin crevalle jack (Caranx fischeri) new species, from the eastern Atlantic, including the Mediterranean Sea and Ascension Island. Adults of all three species are superficially similar with a black blotch on the lower half of the pectoral fin, a black spot on the upper margin of opercle, one or two pairs of enlarged symphyseal canines on the lower jaw, and a similar pattern of breast squamation. Each species has a different pattern of hyperostotic bone development and anal-fin color. The two sympatric eastern Atlantic species also differ from each other in number of dorsal-and anal-fin rays, and in large adults of C. fischeri the lobes of these fins are longer and the body is deeper. Caranx hippos from opposite sides of the Atlantic are virtually indistinguishable externally but differ consistently in the expression of hyperostosis of the first dorsalfin pterygiophore. The fossil species Caranx carangopsis Steindachner 1859 appears to have been based on composite material of Trachurus sp. and a fourth species of the Caranx hippos complex. Patterns of hyperostotic bone development are compared in the nine (of 15 total) species of Caranx sensu stricto that exhibit hyperostosis

Opistognathus ensiferus Smith-Vaniz, 2016, new species

<i>Opistognathus ensiferus</i> new species <p>(Figures 1‒2 A; Tables 1‒4)</p> <p> <b>Holotype.</b> (only known specimen) FMNH 71365, 61.5 mm SL, male, India, Gulf of Mannar, Manauli Reef, Musal Tivu Island (Hare Island), 9°12'N, 79°55'E, ca. 1.0 m, living and dead coral, sand and rubble, Loren P. Woods, 22 February 1964.</p> <p> <b>Diagnosis.</b> A species of <i>Opistognathus</i> with an elongate supramaxilla and maxilla with flexible lamina posteriorly, widest before end and sword-shaped in adult males,; inner lining of upper jaw and adjacent membranes with a single black stripe and no dark oral pigmentation; dorsal and anal fins XI,14 and III,14, respectively; lateralline terminus ends below dorsal-fin segmented rays 6 or 7.</p> <p> <b>Description.</b> Dorsal-fin rays XI,14. Anal-fin rays III,14. Pectoral-fin rays 20. Caudal fin: procurrent rays 5+4, segmented rays 8+8, middle 14 branched, total elements 25; hypural 5 present. Vertebrae: 10+18; last rib on vertebra 10; epineurals 13. Supraneural bones 1. Gill rakers (right/left) 9/10+18/19 = 27/29.</p> <p>Scales absent on head, nape, area above lateral line, pectoral-fin base and breast; belly completely scaly. Body with about 48–52 oblique longitudinal scale rows. Lateral line ends below verticals from 6th (left) or 7th (right) segmented dorsal-fin rays. Lateral line pores numerous, arranged in multiple series above and below embedded lateral-line tubes. Cephalic sensory pores numerous, completely covering most of head, including all of predorsal area except a small area immediately adjacent to dorsal-fin origin (Fig. 2 A); mandibular pore positions 1–2 occupied by relatively large, single pores, 3rd position with 5 or 6 pores, 4th with 8 pores, and 5th position with at least 15 pores.</p> <p>Anterior nostril slightly closer to posterior nostril than to dorsal margin of upper lip, and with a simple, flattened tentacle on posterior rim that when depressed reaches margin of posterior nostril; height of tentacle about 1.5 times maximum of diameter of posterior nostril. Dorsal fin moderately low anteriorly, gradually increasing in height posteriorly; profile relatively uniform with only a slight change in fin height at junction of spinous and segmented rays. Dorsal-fin spines relatively slender and curved distally with flexible tips; all segmented dorsal- and anal-fin rays branched distally. Outermost segmented pelvic-fin ray not tightly bound to adjacent ray, interradial membrane incised distally. Posterior margin of preopercle indistinct without a free margin. No papillae on inner surface of lips. Fifth cranial nerve passes under A1β branch of adductor mandibulae.</p> <p>Upper jaw extends 2.2 eye diameters behind posterior margin of orbit; maxilla with flexible lamina posteriorly, widest before end and sword-shaped in adult males; supramaxilla moderately large, elongate and subterminally positioned. Premaxilla with an outer row of stout conical teeth that become progressively smaller posteriorly, an inner row of smaller conical teeth anteriorly that are canted backwards, except 2 teeth on each side of premaxillary symphysis, which are as large or larger than adjacent outer teeth. Dentary with an outer row of moderate teeth, largest mid-laterally, and 1 or 2 irregular inner rows of smaller conical teeth anteriorly that are slightly canted backwards. Vomerine teeth absent.</p> <p>Measurements of the 61.5 mm SL male holotype, as percent of SL: predorsal length 31.5; preanal length 58.4; dorsal-fin base 64.6; anal-fin base 35.9; pelvic-fin length 16.7; caudal-fin length 24.2; depth at anal-fin origin 18.1; caudal-peduncle depth 11.2; head length 35.3; postorbital-head length 24.0; upper-jaw length 27.8; postorbital-jaw length 18.7; orbit diameter 8.6. As percent of head length: postorbital-head length 68.0; upper-jaw length 78.8; postorbital-jaw length 53.0; orbit diameter 24.2.</p> <p>Color pattern in alcohol (Fig. 1): head and body various shades of brown; head mostly uniformly pigmented except a few scattered dark spots, much smaller than pupil diameter; lips without bands and inside of mouth pale except inner lining of upper jaw and adjacent membranes with posterior dark stripe that is externally visible; body with irregular, mid-lateral, dark stripe that extends on to base of caudal fin, stripe bordered above and below by series of 6–8 faint pale spots that do not extend on to fin bases, upper spots smaller and more complete; dorsal fin with large ocellus centered between spines 3–6 followed by a similar sized, indistinct dark blotch extending to distal margin of fin, and soft portion of fin unmarked except for dark stripe, approximately width of pupil, centered on about basal third of fin; anal fin with narrow pale basal area, otherwise uniformly dark; caudal fin mostly pale with faint band on anterior third of fin; pelvic fin uniformly dark. Life coloration unknown.</p> <p>Dorsal-fin spines and rays Anal-fin spines and rays Caudal vertebrae</p> <p>Species X XI 14 15 III 13 14 15 17 18 19</p> <p> <i>ensiferus</i> 1 1 1 1 1</p> <p> <i>solorensis</i> 2 83 80 5 85 83 2 2 81 2</p> <p> <i>verecundus</i> 2 2 7 2 6 3 2 9 1 2 7 1 2 8 1</p> <p>Caudal-fin rays</p> <p>Procurrent rays Branched rays Total pectoral-fin rays Upper Lower Total</p> <p>Species 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 4 5 6 3 4 5 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14</p> <p> <i>ensiferus</i> 1 1 1 1 1</p> <p> <i>solorensis</i> 1 ─ 5 2 43 7 9 14 55 3 1 45 26 14 33 22 3 13 7 35</p> <p> <i>verecundus</i> 15 6 8 15 9 4 19 1 3 13 7 1 4 6 12 Total gill-rakers</p> <p> Species 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 mean <i>ensiferus</i> 1 ─ 1 2 8.0 <i>solorensis</i> 9 1 8 2 4 1 6 5 1 1 2 9.0 <i>verecundus</i> 5 1 1 7 1 2 4.2 44 46 48 50 52 54 56 58 60 62 64 66 68</p> <p> Species 45 47 49 51 53 55 57 59 61 63 65 67 69 mean SD <i>ensiferus</i> 1 ─ 1 5 0.0 2.8 <i>solorensis</i> 1 ─ ─ 3 5 1 5 1 4 5 2 6 3.0 2.8 <i>verecundus</i> 2 ─ 3 3 3 1 4 9.4 3.1 Lateral-line terminus position</p> <p> Species 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 mean <i>ensiferus</i> 1 1 6.5 <i>solorensis</i> 10 30 24 11 2.5 <i>verecundus</i> 3 1 7 7 3.1 <b>Remarks.</b> The new species is most similar to <i>Opistognathus solorensis</i> and <i>O. verecundus</i> but differs from both species in having a lateral line that ends below the 6th or 7th segmented dorsal-fin ray (vs. below the 1st to 4th ray), inner lining of upper jaw and adjacent membranes with a single dark stripe (vs. two stripes) and no dark oral pigmentation (vs. with distinct oral pigmentation, Fig. 3). <i>Opistognathus verecundus</i> further differs in lacking a black blotch or spot on the spinous dorsal fin and in having fewer total gill rakers 23–26 (vs. 27–33). <b>Distribution.</b> Known only from the type locality, Manauli Reef, Gulf of Mannar, India (Fig. 4). <b>Etymology.</b> The specific epithet, from the Latin <i>ensifer</i> (sword-bearing), is in allusion to the scimitar-shaped upper jaw.</p>Published as part of <i>Smith-Vaniz, William F., 2016, Opistognathus ensiferus, a new species of jawfish (Opistognathidae) from the Gulf of Mannar, India, with redescription of O. solorensis Bleeker, pp. 278-288 in Zootaxa 4196 (2)</i> on pages 279-282, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4196.2.6, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/167997">http://zenodo.org/record/167997</a&gt

A new clingfish, Tomicodon rhabdotus family Gobiesocidae, from the Lesser Antilles

Volume: 81Start Page: 473End Page: 47

Petroscirtes (Dasson) pylei Smith-Vaniz, 2005, new species

Petroscirtes (Dasson) pylei, new species Twilight Fangblenny (Figures 1-3) Holotype: BPBM 40080, male 40.9 mm SL, Fiji Islands, Viti Levu Island, Suva; outside of Suva Harbor, S end of "Fish Patch" below cave; sand and rubble slope with scattered outcroppings, below base of vertical reef drop-off; 104-110 m; rotenone and hand-nets; Richard L. Pyle, John L. Earle, and Joseph Dituri; 4 Feb 2002. Paratypes: USNM 382411, juvenile (28.8), outside of Suva Harbor "Fish Patch"; vertical reef drop-off with vertical grooves and small holes and caves; 67-75 m; rotenone; Richard L. Pyle and Joseph Dituri; 29 Jan 2002.BPBM 39846, juvenile (20.3), outside of Suva Harbor beyond "Fish Patch"; directly off bow of old shipwreck on top of reef: vertical reef drop-off with a large diagonal crack and over-hang, with some sea fans; 67- 70 m; rotenone; John L. Earle and David F. Pence; 31 Jan 2002. Diagnosis. A species of Petroscirtes, subgenus Dasson, with the following combination of characters: Head and body with two dark lateral stripes, the lower stripe broadly extending onto the anal fin; dorsal fin with basal 4/5 to 2/3 of fin very dark and superimposed by 5 or 6 approximately equally spaced pale spots, first spot conspicuous, discrete, and round, the others diffuse and partially extending onto the dorsum; dorsal fin XII, 20. Description. (Characters of the larger followed by the smaller paratype are given in parentheses if different from those of the holotype). Dorsal-fin rays XII, 20; anal-fin rays II, 20; pectoral-fin rays 14/14; caudal-fin rays: procurrent rays 3+2 (3+3, 3+3); segmented rays 6+5. Vertebrae (precaudal + caudal):12+24 (13+24, 12+24). Pleural ribs on vertebrae 3 through 12 (3-13, 3-12). Dentition: lower jaw with one pair of large posterior canines and 28 (26, 22) incisors; upper jaw without canines (except one on right side of smaller paratype) and 26 (24, 22) incisors. Symphyseal and adjacent mandibular pore positions each with minute, simple cirrus (holotype only); other cephalic pores and eye without cirri. Posterior and anterior nostrils each open at the end of a short tube with a small, tapered flap on anterior rim. Cephalic pores (Fig. 3): infraorbital 7; posttemporal (lateral temporal) 3; lateral supratemporal 1 (each side); median supratemporal 1. Lateral line of holotype (only) terminates slightly behind a vertical between dorsal-fin spines 11 and 12. First dorsal-fin spine not elongate, shorter than second and fourth spine, and without a slight fleshy flap distally. Outer lobes of caudal fin elongate in adult males. Proportional measurements (as percent SL) are given only for the male holotype because measurements of the two small juveniles would have no practical identification value. Depth at anal-fin origin 14.6; preanal length 51.8; head length 25.0; orbit diameter 7.4; first dorsal spine length 6.4; second 8.6; third 10.3; fourth 10.5; first dorsal ray length 10.6; pelvic fin length 25.0+ (ray tips broken off); longest (upper) caudal ray length 27.6; shortest middle caudal ray 18.1. Preserved color pattern (in alcohol). Holotype with two dark lateral stripes on head and body. Pale interspace between stripes approximately same depth as that of upper stripe on about anterior third of body, but becoming noticeably deeper posteriorly. Background color on sides of head and body very pale compared to dark lateral stripes, but darker above upper stripe compared to mostly white sides and belly. For most of its length, upper dark stripe slightly deeper than half eye diameter; stripe completely envelops gill opening and extends onto bases of three dorsalmost pectoral rays, gradually tapering as it nears its termination on central base of caudal fin. Stripe well developed in postorbital region, with its ventral margin slightly below middle of pupil, but is distinctly narrower and much paler on snout. Another dark stripe (scarely visible in lateral view) also present along dorsum. Its width equals that of the interorbital, where it begins, and for most of the length of spinous dorsal fin, but it narrows considerably as it continues along dorsal-fin base and onto caudal peduncle, terminating on bases of several upper caudal rays. Anteriorly, stripe is broken into several blotches; lengths of blotches determined by pale dorsal-fin spots that extend slightly onto dorsum. Lighter dark band on upper part of caudal-fin base connects dark dorsum of caudal peduncle with upper dark lateral stripe. Lower dark stripe noticeably tapered at its origin slightly below bony orbit and just behind vertical from posterior margin of pupil. It curves downward in front of pectoral-fin base (on left side it slightly brushes margin of fin; on right side it extends onto bases of lower three rays). Stripe is slightly deeper than pupil diameter for most of its length anterior to anal-fin origin, at which point it tapers noticeably as it runs along base of fin, becoming very narrow posteriorly and extending onto bases of several ventralmost caudal rays. Dorsal fin mostly dark, with distal 1/5 to 1/3 of fin pale, including dusky submarginal stripe that is slightly wider than its anal fin counterpart. Most striking feature of dorsal fin is round, brilliant white spot, slightly larger than pupil and centered on 4th spine, with its ventral margin somewhat diffuse and slightly above base of fin. Dorsal fin also has row of five pale spots that are much more diffuse and irregular; only first of these spots is completely on fin, with others at least half extending onto dorsum. Spots are approximately equally spaced and centered on dorsal-fin spines or rays as follows: 2nd spot (8th spine), 3rd spot (1st ray), 4th spot (6th ray), 5th spot (11th ray), and 6th spot (16th ray). Basal 2/3 of anal fin has broad dark stripe that is continuous with lower body stripe; remainder of fin is white except for narrow dusky submarginal stripe. Pelvic fin uniformly white; pectoral fin mostly transparent, with rays narrowly outlined with dark melanophores. Except for extensions of dark body stripes onto base of fin, caudal fin is mostly white with outer margins of elongated upper and lower rays slightly dusky. Color pattern of the paratypes generally agrees with that of the holotype except as follows. Only anterior pale spot in spinous dorsal fin apparent on smaller paratype. Dark body and fin stripes of larger paratype in the same positions as those of other two specimens, but they are much fainter and not as well defined, and there are seven rather than six pale dorsal-fin spots, all of which are faint and poorly defined. Fresh coloration (based on photographs of freshly dead specimens). Holotype and smaller paratype have lateral head and body stripes and stripe on dorsum dark brown. Broad basal stripe on dorsal and anal fins dark brown, above which both fins are white except for a narrow light orange-brown submarginal stripe. Pale spots on dorsal fin of holotype white, anterior one more solid and conspicuous. Other fins mostly white or transparent. Below upper dark stripe, pale areas of head and body are various shades of white, pale areas above stripe have rosy hue. Iris of holotype and larger paratype light pink except where upper head stripe crosses eye as faint light brown stripe. Pale areas of head and body of larger paratype range from dull white on belly to light orange above, dark stripes on body and fins light brown. Comparisons. Petroscirtes springeri Smith-Vaniz is the only other species of Petroscirtes that typically has 12 dorsal-fin spines (Yatsu et al., 1983). Unlike the new species, P. springeri has symphyseal mandibular cirri typically bifurcate or multifid (versus simple), cirri 3-6 (each side) associated with preopercular pores (vs. absent), and a single body stripe (vs. two stripes). Within the subgenus Dasson, this combination of characters is shared only with P. xestus Jordan and Seal. Only three previously described species of Petroscirtes have two or more dark stripes on the body but the color pattern of the dorsal and anal fins of Petroscirtes pylei is very different from all of them. The lowermost dark stripe does not extend onto the anal fin in the other species, nor do they have a conspicuous white spot centered on the fourth dorsal-fin spine in adults. In Petroscirtes fallax Smith-Vaniz the dorsal fin is immaculate except for a black spot, which is usually restricted to the distal margin of the interradial membranes of the first 3 or 4 spines. The dorsal fin of P. marginatus has a narrow dusky area proximally, a wider pale stripe above, and the distal half to two-thirds of the fin is very dark; in both species the ventral body stripe does not extend onto the base of the uniformly pale anal fin. In P. breviceps (Valenciennes) a dark stripe follows the dorsal contour of the body and extends well onto the base of the dorsal fin for its entire length; distally the dorsal fin is spotted or heavily reticulated and the anal fin may be spotted, reticulated or almost uniformly dark. Petroscirtes breviceps usually has a minute orbital cirrus (absent in the other doublestriped species) and only in P. marginatus and pylei is the last posttemporal pore without a cirrus. Unlike the latter two species, the lower dark body stripe typically extends well onto the base of the pectoral fin in P. fallax. Petroscirtes pylei agrees with most species of Petroscirtes in (typically) having a single median supratemporal pore, but the two available specimens of P. marginatus are exceptional in having a pair of such pores. Remarks. The 40.9 mm adult male holotype of Petroscirtes pylei qualifies as the smallest species of Petroscirtes. The second smallest species, Petroscirtes marginatus (known from on a single 49.1 mm male and the 39.2 mm female holotype) is also an inhabitant of the deep-reef twilight zone, possibly indicating that the small sizes of both species might be more than coincidental. Distribution. Known only from the Fiji Islands, but may be discovered at other localities with more deep-reef exploration. Etymology. Named in honor of Richard L. Pyle in appreciation of his pioneering efforts to shed more light on the ichthyofauna of the deep reef “Twilight Zone.”Published as part of William F. Smith-Vaniz, 2005, Petroscirtes pylei, a new saber-toothed blenny from the Fiji Islands (Teleostei: Blenniidae)., pp. 29-36 in Zootaxa 1046 on pages 31-3

A new species of Meiacanthus (Pisces: Blenniidae: Nemophidinae) from the Red Sea, with a review of the Indian Ocean species

Volume: 82Start Page: 349End Page: 35

Opistognathus solorensis Bleeker

<i>Opistognathus solorensis</i> Bleeker <p>(Figures 2 A, 3A, 5–10; Tables 1‒4)</p> <p> <i>Opistognathus solorensis</i> Bleeker, 1853:81 (original description, Lawajong, [= Solor Island, Indonesia]; Bleeker, 1874:471, pl.9, fig. 3 (description; Solor, Amboina, Goram); Bleeker, 1983, pl. 421, color fig. 1; Allen and Adrim, 2003:34 (listed); Allen et al., 2003:298 unnumbered color photograph (Solor jawfish, brief description, habitat, distribution); Allen, 2009:62, unnumbered color photograph (same as preceding); Allen and Erdmann, 2012:355, unnumbered color photo (brief description, habitat, distribution).</p> <p> <b>Diagnosis.</b> A species of <i>Opistognathus</i> with an elongate supramaxilla and maxilla with flexible lamina posteriorly, widest before end and sword-shaped in adult males; inner lining of upper jaw and adjacent membranes with two black stripes and area above and below esophageal opening darkly pigmented (Fig. 3 A); spinous dorsal fin with 1 or 2 black spots or blotches anteriorly; dorsal fin XI, 13–15 (typically 14); anal fin III, 14; lateral-line terminus ends below dorsal-fin segmented rays 1–4.</p> <p> <b>Description.</b> Dorsal fin XI (rarely X),13‒15 (typically 14). Anal fin III,14. Total pectoral-fin rays 37–40 (except 34 in single Taiwanese specimen). Caudal fin: procurrent rays 4–6+4‒5, segmented rays 8+8, middle 12– 14 (typically 14) branched, total elements 24–27; hypural 5 absent. Vertebrae: 10+18 (rarely 10+19); last rib on vertebra 10; epineurals 11–13. Supraneural bones 1. Gill rakers 9–13+17–20 = 27–33.</p> <p>Scales absent on head, nape, area above lateral line, pectoral-fin base and breast; belly squamation varying from completely scaly or anterior 1/4 naked. Body oblique scale rows about 58–69 (except 53 in single specimen from Guimaras Island, Philippines). Lateral line ends below verticals between 1st to 4th segmented dorsal-fin rays. Lateral line pores numerous, arranged in multiple series above and below embedded lateral-line tubes. Cephalic sensory pores numerous (Fig. 2 B), completely covering most of head, including all of predorsal area except a small area immediately adjacent to dorsal-fin origin; mandibular pore positions 1–2 with relatively large, single pores, 3rd position with 1 or 2 pores, 4th with 2–4 pores, and 5th with 2–12 pores. Pores more numerous in larger specimens.</p> <p>Anterior nostril about mid-way between posterior nostril and dorsal margin of upper lip, consisting of a short tube with posterior rim longer that when depressed does not reach or just reaches margin of posterior nostril; height of tube shorter than to about equal maximum of diameter of posterior nostril. Dorsal fin moderately low anteriorly, with profile relatively uniform without any change in fin height at junction of spinous and segmented rays. Dorsalfin spines relatively slender and slightly curved distally, with flexible tips; all segmented dorsal- and anal-fin rays branched distally. Outermost segmented pelvic-fin ray not tightly bound to adjacent ray, interradial membrane incised distally. Posterior margin of preopercle indistinct without a free margin. No papillae on inner surface of lips. Fifth cranial nerve passes under A1β branch of adductor mandibulae.</p> <p>Upper jaw sexually dimorphic (longer in adult males) and extending 1.1 to 2.4 eye diameters behind posterior margin of orbit; maxilla widest before end and scimitar-shaped, with flexible lamina posteriorly; supramaxilla moderately large, elongate and subterminally positioned. Jaws subequal, lower slightly included. Premaxilla with an outer row of moderately large, sharply pointed, conical teeth, those near posterior end of jaw noticeably smaller and more closely spaced; 2 or 3 irregular inner rows of much smaller conical teeth anteriorly, several slightly enlarged adjacent to premaxillary symphysis. Dentary with an outer row of conical teeth, those on posterior half of dentary largest and slightly hooked inward; anterior teeth blunter and with 2 or 3 inner rows of slightly smaller, conical teeth, those on innermost row canted backwards. Vomerine teeth absent. Infraorbital bones tubular with wide openings for sensory canals, 3rd infraorbital relatively robust with moderate suborbital shelf.</p> <p>The following measurements are based on 15 males, 34.3–74.5 mm SL, and 15 females (in parentheses), 36.2– 61.2 SL, as percent of SL: predorsal length 27.8–32.0 (28.5–34.2); preanal length 49.8–55.2 (52.3–62.7); dorsal-fin base 66.2–72.5 (66.0–77.4); anal-fin base 37.1–41.0 (33.8–40.3); pelvic fin length 20.0–25.2 (18.8–26.7); caudal fin length 19.2–22.4 (19.0–24.8); depth at anal-fin origin 15.0–18.5 (15.2–19.2); head length 29.4–34.5 (31.2– 38.7); postorbital-head length 19.9–23.8 (19.7–27.0); upper jaw length 21.1–29.4 (20.9–25.5); postorbital-jaw length 11.2–19.1 (9.4–15.2); orbit diameter 7.4–10.2 (8.2–9.8). As percent of head length: postorbital-head length 60.7–79.0 (60.9–69.9); upper jaw length 67.3–90.5 (64.1–70.3); postorbital-jaw length 36.7–60.0 (28.7–40.6); orbit diameter 23.1–30.9 (23.3–30.0).</p> <p>Color pattern in alcohol (Figs. 5‒7): Complex pattern of brown stripes and bands, and white spots or blotches; dorsal fin with series brown and white spots arranged in rows, and with one or two pale edged black spots anteriorly, the first between spines 1–4 or 2–5; dorsal and anal fins with series of small brown and white spots; dorsal fin usually with a series of 6–8 dark basal blotches and anal fin with a submarginal narrow dark stripe. Inner lining of upper jaw and adjacent membranes with two black stripes; area above and below esophageal opening darkly pigmented and continuous between innermost pair of upper pharyngeal tooth plates.</p> <p> In life, color pattern as in preserved specimens, except pale inner areas of maxilla yellow. Occasional specimens almost entirely yellow (Figs. 8‒9); <i>Opistognathus variabilis</i> is the only other species that is known to rarely have a yellow morph. Bleeker's original color drawing of <i>Opistognathus solorensis</i> (Fig. 10) agrees reasonably well with the above description of typical specimens. Bleeker reported the number of blackish blotches in the spinous dorsal fin as 1–3. None of the specimens listed below have more than two blotches in the spinous dorsal fin, suggesting that Bleeker's count of three was erroneous. There is usually only a single blotch in the spinous dorsal fin but specimens from the Molucca Islands and Great Tobea Island, Sulawesi, have two dark blotches, the first between spines 2–4 or 2–5 and another slightly smaller blotch centered on the next posterior spine.</p> <p> <b>Distribution.</b> Indo-West Pacific. Known from Taiwan, Brunei, Philippines, Indonesia, Timor Leste, Paupa New Guinea and Palau (Fig. 4), in 0.5– 30 m.</p> <p> <b>Etymology.</b> Named for the type locality, Solor, a small island off the southeast end of Flores Island (8°45'S, 123°30'E), Indonesia.</p> <p> <b>Type material.</b> No specimens are available from the Lawajong (= Solor) type locality, and the eight specimens subsequently cited by Bleeker (1874:472), including the holotype, are not extant. In the 1879 auction catalogue of Bleeker's collections (see Hubrecht, 1973:16), <i>O. solorensis</i> (Groupe III, no. 129) is marked with an asterisk indicating that these specimens were then in a bad state of preservation. According to M.J.P. van Oijen (in litt., 10 Jan. 1991), current curator of fishes at the RMNH in Leiden, neither he or former curator M. Boeseman were able to locate any Bleeker specimens of <i>O. solorensis</i>. A copy of the catalogue of Dr. C.M.L. Popta (curator from 1898– 1928) includes a notation that the specimens were lost. In order to stabilize the nomenclatural application of the name <i>Opistognathus solorensis</i> Bleeker, I herein designate as the neotype RMNH 31660 (formerly USNM 210929), 62.3 mm SL, male, Indonesia, Banda Sea, Saparua, tidepool at Kulur (Kolor), V.G. Springer, 20 January 1973.</p> <p> <b>Other material examined.</b> 102 specimens, 14–74.5 mm SL. <b>Taiwan</b>: SAIAB 27653 (1, 64), W. coast of Kenting National Park, off Wanlitong, 10– 12 m. <b>Brunei</b>: WAM P.33117–001 (4, 24–48), Brunei Patches, 5°0.69'N, 114°42.147'E, 12 m; WAM P.33035–002 (4, 31–47), Abana Rock, 5°06'N, 115°04'E, 12– 14 m. <b>Philippines</b>: BPBM 26559 (1, 47), Luzon, Batanagas, Caban Island, 13°40'45"N, 120°50'30"E 30 m; USNM 339205 (1, 43), Luzon, Pangasinan Prov., off Bolinao, Balingasay Reef, 16°20'N, 119°52'E, 12–33.5 m; USNM 339208 (2, 42–47), same locality as preceding, 21–24m; FMNH 118282 (1, 33), Palawan Prov., Tara Island, off NE coast of Busuanga, 12°18.90'N, 120°20.92'E, 22–25 m; USNM 396244 (16, 14–45), Palawan Prov., NW coast of Busuanga, near Illultuk Bay, off W side Elet Island, 12°15.16'N, 119°51.01'E; USNM 339206, (1, 45), Panay, Iloilo Prov., Sicogon Is., 11°25'20"N, 123°14'45"E, 12–14.5 m; FMNH 118285 (11, 24–41), Palawan Prov., off western Busuanga, West Nalaut Islnad, 12°2.7'N, 119°47.58'E, 10–15 m; FMNH 118284 (4, 27–41), Palawan Prov., SW of Saddle Rock off SW Culion Island, 11°45.95'N, 119°53.22'E, 15–35 m; FMNH 118283 (1, 36), Palawan Prov., Culion Island, 11°40.55'N, 119°58.48'E, 24–26 m; USNM 396238 (2, 36–45), Palawan Prov., SE tip of Galoc Island, 11°56.33'N, 119°49.78'E, 10–20 m; WAM P. 32884–005 (1, 36), Palawan Prov., Bacuit Bay, Pangulasian Island, 11°7.036'N, 119°19.86'E, 18 m; USNM 339207 (1, 39), Guimaras Island, 10°28'25"N, 122°28'E, 14–20 m; ANSP 142960 (20, 25–51.5), Palawan Prov., Bararin Isand (Cuyo Is.), 10°52'42"N, 120°56'44"E, 0– 17 m. <b>Indonesia</b>: WAM P.31558– 0 0 4 (1, 65), Raja Ampat Is., Kri Island, 0°33'S, 130°41'E, 0.5 m; USNM 122419 (1, 43), Sulawesi, Great Tobea Is., 4°33'S, 122°42'E, tide pool; AMS I.18469–086 (1, 68), Banda Sea, Ceram, Marsegoe Bay; USNM 210929 (8, 35– 74.5), Saparua Island, Kulur; USNM 216404 (1, 60), Great Banda Island; USNM 210949, (1, 73), Nusa Laut Island, 3°40'S, 128°47'E; USNM 220948 (2, 57–61), presumably Banda Sea (several specimens of blenniids from this lot are referable to W. H. Longley notes made on Banda specimens); WAM P.33896–001 (1, 20), Komodo Is., Rinca I., 8°37.693'S, 119°42.499'E, 14– 15 m. <b>Timor Leste</b>: WAM P.33753–001 (10, 40.9–67.6), Timor Leste, Manatuto, 8°30.826'S, 126°4.157'E, 0.3–1.0 m. <b>Papua new Guinea</b>: WAM P.30623–006 (1, 53.5), Madang, 5°9'S, 145°50'E. <b>Palau</b>: ROM 77505 (5, 32–49), Ngeruketabel Island, 7°15'52"N, 134°28'17.3"E, 24–26.5 m.</p>Published as part of <i>Smith-Vaniz, William F., 2016, Opistognathus ensiferus, a new species of jawfish (Opistognathidae) from the Gulf of Mannar, India, with redescription of O. solorensis Bleeker, pp. 278-288 in Zootaxa 4196 (2)</i> on pages 283-287, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4196.2.6, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/167997">http://zenodo.org/record/167997</a&gt