Enneapterygius niue, a new species of triplefin from Niue and Samoa, southwestern Pacific Ocean (Teleostei: Tripterygiidae)

A new species of triplefin, Enneapterygius niue, is described on the basis of three specimens from Niue and Samoa. The new species is a medium-sized species of barred Enneapterygius, characterized by 13–15 spines in the second dorsal fin, 18–20 anal-fin soft rays, 14–19 + 16–20 lateral-line scales, 33–36 total lateral scale rows, eye diameter 94–128, preorbital 50–75, body depth 176–206, preanal fin length 483–538 (last four measures in thousandths of SL), sides of body with a pattern of two short and five complete bars, pectoral-fin base with a vertical dark bar, preorbital with an oblique dark band, dorsal fins pale except for a dusky base, anal fin dark grey in male and with four oblique brown bands in female, pelvic fins white, and caudal fin pale. The new species is compared with similar species. A revised key to the species of Enneapterygius in the Indo-Australian Archipelago and the western Pacific is presented

A new species of Parapercis (Teleostei: Pinguipedidae) from the Solomon Islands.

A new species of pinguipedid fish, Parapercis binotata, is described from the Solomon Islands on the basis of six adult specimens, 46.5–56.5.5 mm SL. The new taxon belongs to the Parapercis cylindrica complex, which contains five other western Pacific Ocean species: P. australis, P. cylindrica, P. haackei, P. lineopunctata, and P. snyderi. It is most similar to P. lineopunctata from the East Indian Archipelago, but adult males are clearly distinguished by the presence of two short black bands, one on the cheek and another on the lower pectoral fin. Although lacking these markings, females differ from those of P. lineopunctata by the presence of a curved black band below the eye. The only known habitat of the new species consists of a nearly enclosed lagoon in 4-8 m depth. Analyses of the mtDNA “barcode” marker COI sequences for the P. cylindrica species complex show exceptionally deep divergences between most species, about 15–20% divergence between all but one pair of species, with P. binotata 14.52% different from its nearest relative, P. lineopunctata

Description of five new species of marine gobies (Teleostei: Gobiidae) of the genus Grallenia from the tropical western Pacific Ocean.

Five new species belonging to the gobiid fish genus Grallenia of the tropical western Pacific Ocean are described from sand-bottom habitats. G. compta n. sp. (11 specimens, 14.9–17.3 mm SL) from Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea and G. rubrilineata n. sp. (81 specimens, 8.8–15.8 mm SL) from Luzon, Philippines share a suite of features that comprises an absence of cephalic sensory-canal pores, a rectangular first dorsal fin without a filamentous extension of the first spine, and the anterior and posterior scales separated by a scaleless gap, with 15–22 longitudinal scales in the posterior series. The two species differ from each other in dorsal- and anal fin-ray counts (8–9 for G. compta n. sp. vs. 9–11, usually 10, for G. rubrilineata n. sp.), scalation patterns, and coloration. A third new species, Grallenia dimorpha n. sp. (34 specimens, 9.8–16.7 mm SL) from Papua New Guinea is similar, except it has a continuous series of longitudinal scales without a gap, and females possess a triangular first dorsal fin featuring a filamentous extension of the first spine. The last two species, Grallenia lauensis n. sp. (two females, 11.1–11.4 mm SL) and G. solomonensis n. sp. (three females, 11.4–12.5 mm SL), are described from Fiji and the Solomon Islands, respectively. They exhibit similar diagnostic features including the presence of cephalic sensory-canal pores, usually 7 segmented dorsal- and anal-fin rays, and most body scales restricted to the caudal peduncle. Grallenia solomonensis n. sp. differs from G. lauensis n. sp. in having several mid-lateral scales immediately behind the pectoral-fin base (vs. none), 16 (vs. 15) pectoral-fin rays, pelvic-fin rays with 2–3 branch points (vs. a single point), and a truncate (vs. slightly emarginate) caudal fin. An additional 33 non-type specimens, 7.0–15.6 mm SL, from Australia (southern Great Barrier Reef and northwestern Coral Sea) are provisionally identified as G. lauensis n. sp. However, at least some Australian specimens differ slightly in possessing branched segmented dorsal-fin rays and pelvic-fin rays with more than one branch point. Although fins are damaged in most specimens, two Australian males exhibit a long, filamentous first dorsal-fin spine

Eviota algida, a new dwarfgoby species from the upwelling waters off Nusa Penida, Indonesia (Teleostei: Gobiidae)

A new species of dwarfgoby, Eviota algida, with a complete cephalic sensory-canal pore pattern (pattern I), a dorsal/anal-fin formula usually 8/8, pectoral-fin rays branched, 5th pelvic-fin ray absent, anterior dorsal-fin spines filamentous in males, a subcutaneous dark spot at center of caudal peduncle over preural centrum, male urogenital papilla black, and a red eye with gold specks, is described from a deep, cold-water upwelling area off Nusa Penida Island, Bali, Indonesi

Chrysiptera uswanasi, a new microendemic species of damselfish (Teleostei: Pomacentridae) from West Papua Province, Indonesia.

Chrysiptera uswanasi, n. sp., the seventh member of the Chrysiptera oxycephala species complex of Pomacentridae, is described on the basis of 10 specimens, 24.7–45.3 mm SL, collected at the Fakfak Peninsula of New Guinea (West Papua Province, Indonesia). The new taxon is a microendemic species, found only in a small area around the Fakfak Peninsula. It differs from other members of the group, C. burtjonesi (Solomon Islands), C. ellenae (Raja Ampat Islands, West Papua Province in Indonesia), C. maurineae (Cenderawasih Bay, West Papua Province), C. oxycephala (central Indonesia, Philippines, and Palau), C. papuensis (NE Papua New Guinea, and C. sinclairi (Bismarck Archipelago and islands off NE Papua New Guinea), on the basis of its distinctive color pattern and a 9.3% divergence in the sequence of the mitochondrial control region from its closest relative (C. oxycephala). Adults are mainly greenish yellow grading to pearly gray ventrally with numerous small blue or greenish spots on the head, body, and basal portion of the dorsal, anal, and caudal fins, and juveniles have a distinctive bright blue snout and forehead. The adult differs from the adults of most of the other members of the group in lacking bright yellow on the ventral body, including the pelvic and anal fins. The two other species in the complex that are also lacking bright yellow ventral bodies and fins are C. ellenae, which differs in being overall more green and having an all blue juvenile stage, and C. sinclairi, which is mostly dark blue, both as adults and juveniles

Descriptions of four new species of damselfishes (Pomacentridae) in the Pomacentrus philippinus complex from the tropical western Pacific Ocean.

Four new species of Pomacentrus, allied to P. philippinus, are described from the western Pacific Ocean. Pomacentrus albiaxillaris, n. sp. is described on the basis of 81 specimens, 14.5–70.0 mm SL, from the Palau Archipelago in Micronesia. It was formerly considered to be a Palauan population of P. emarginatus Cuvier, a species of uncertain status from Waigeo in West Papua. However, the two species differ in appearance and morphology and the new species from Palau has never been observed at Waigeo and surrounding areas despite extensive surveys by the authors. Pomacentrus albiaxillaris differs from other members of the philippinus complex in possessing a white pectoral-fin axil; a small dark spot that is restricted to the uppermost portion of the pectoral-fin base (instead of a large black marking that covers the entire fin base); a whitish caudal fin; and a bright blue dorsal scleral surface of the eye. Pomacentrus flavoaxillaris, n sp. is described on the basis of 28 specimens, 49.5–72.9 mm SL, from Micronesian locations east of Palau, including Ulithi Atoll, Chuuk, Pohnpei, and Kosrae. Additional photographic and literature records include Ngulu Atoll, Yap, and the Mortlock Islands. It is similar to P. albiaxillaris n. sp. in having a white caudal fin and blue dorsal scleral surface of the eye, but differs in having a yellow inner pectoral-fin axil, a large black spot covering the entire pectoral-fin base, white zones at the bases of the posteriormost dorsal- and anal-fin rays, and a whitish caudal peduncle. Pomacentrus magniseptus, n. sp. is described from 24 specimens, 34.6–75.6 mm SL, collected at the Great Barrier Reef of Australia. It differs from other members of the philippinus complex by its unique color pattern, consisting of horizontal rows of pale spots on the side of the body and entirely blackish median fins. It also differs from most relatives in always lacking scales on the preorbital and most of the suborbital. Pomacentrus nigriradiatus, n. sp. is described on the basis of 48 specimens, 28.8–86.9 mm SL, from Samoa, Rotuma, Wallis Island, Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia, and Vanuatu. Diagnostic features include highly contrasting dark fin rays on the posterior portions of the dorsal, anal, and caudal fins, as well as the lack of a contrasting marking on the inner pectoral-fin axil. It also differs from P. albiaxillaris and P. flavoaxillaris in usually having at least a few scales on the preorbital. Genetic evidence is also provided to resolve relationships among the four new species and P. philippinus. The divergence in the mtDNA sequence of three concatenated markers between these species ranges from 5.1–7.4% (in average pairwise distances), with the closest relationship between P. flavoaxillaris and P. magniseptus. The four new species differ by an average of 12.9% in mtDNA sequence from the type population of P. philippinus in the Philippines

A new species of damselfish (Chrysiptera: Pomacentridae) from coral reefs of the Solomon Islands

A sixth member of the Chrysiptera oxycephala group of Pomacentridae, Chrysiptera burtjonesi, is described on the basis of 24 specimens, 20.5–48.2 mm SL, collected at the Solomon Islands in the western Pacific Ocean. It differs from other members of the group, including C. ellenae (Raja Ampat Islands, West Papua Province in Indonesia), C. maurineae (Cenderawasih Bay, West Papua Province), C. oxycephala (central Indonesia, Philippines, and Palau), C. papuensis (northeastern Papua New Guinea), and C. sinclairi (Bismarck Archipelago and islands off northeastern Papua New Guinea), on the basis of its distinctive color pattern and a 6.9% divergence in the sequence of the mitochondrial control region from its closest relative (C. maurinae). Adults are primarily grayish brown to greenish except bright yellow on the ventralmost head and body, including the adjacent pelvic and anal fins. Juveniles are mostly neon blue to dark blue with bright yellow pelvic and anal fins. In addition, it is the only species besides C. sinclairi that usually lacks embedded scales on the preorbital and suborbital bones

AQUA

Abstract A new species of heterocongrine garden eel is described from West Papua, Indonesia based on 13 specimens, 106.3-678.1 mm TL. It differs from other members of the genus by its distinct colour pattern, consisting of zebra-like black and white barring on the head grading to a complex black and white maze pattern on the body and a combination of features that include dorsal fin origin anterior to gill opening, pterygoid teeth present, body depth at gill opening 28.8-35.2 percent of head length, 62-71 (mean = 65) preanal vertebrae, 204-213 (mean =207.4) total vertebrae, and 63-69 (mean = 65.7) preanal lateral-line pores. A key is provided for the Indo-west Pacific species of Heteroconger. Zusammenfassung Résumé Une nouvelle espèce d'anguille jardinière hétérocongrine est décrite originaire de Papouasie occidentale, Indonésie, sur base de 13 spécimens, 106,3-678,1 mm de LT. Elle se distingue des autres membres du genre par son patron de coloration qui se compose de zébrures blanches et noires sur la tête passant à un patron complexe labyrinthique noir et blanc sur le corps et par une combinaison de caractéri-stiques qui comprennent une base de dorsale antérieure à l'ouïe, la présence de dents ptérygoïdes, la hauteur du corps à l'ouïe de 28,8 à 35,2 % de la longueur de la tête, de 68 à 71 (65 en moyenne) de vertèbres préanales, 204 à 213 (207,4 en moyenne) de vertèbres au total et 63 à 69 (65,7 en moyenne) de pores préanales sur la ligne latérale. Une clé est fournie pour les espèces d'Heteroconger de l'Indo-Pacifique ouest. Sommario Una nuova specie di grongo di giardino (sottofamiglia Heterocongrinae) è descritta sulla base di 13 esemplari di 106.3-678.1 mm TL raccolti nelle acque di Papua Occidentale, Indonesia. Differisce dagli altri membri del genere per la caratteristica colorazione, costituita da una zebratura bianca e nera sul capo che degrada verso un complesso labirinto di motivi neri e bianchi sul corpo, e per una combinazione di caratteristiche che comprendono l'origine della pinna dorsale anteriore all'apertura branchiale, presenza di denti pterigoidei, altezza del corpo a livello della fessura branchiale 28.8-35.2 percento della lunghezza della testa, 62-71 (valore medio = 65) vertebre preanali, 204-213 (valore medio =207.4) vertebre totali and 63-69 (valore medio = 65.7) pori preanali della linea laterale. Si fornisce una chiave dicotomica per le specie di Heteroconger dell'Indo-Pacifico occidentale. INTRODUCTION Heterocongrine garden eels are common inhabitants of sand-rubble areas, frequently in the vicinity of coral reefs. The group contains 32 species worldwide in two genera (Eschmeyer & Fricke 2009), Gorgasia Meek & Hildebrand, 1923 and Heteroconger Bleeker, 1868. The majority, with the exception of eight species from the eastern Pacific and Atlantic, are restricted to the Indo-Pacific region. They were reviewed b

Phylogeography of the crown-of-thorns starfish in the Indian Ocean

Background: Understanding the limits and population dynamics of closely related sibling species in the marine realm is particularly relevant in organisms that require management. The crown-of-thorns starfish Acanthaster planci, recently shown to be a species complex of at least four closely related species, is a coral predator infamous for its outbreaks that have devastated reefs throughout much of its Indo-Pacific distribution. Methodology/Principal Findings: In this first Indian Ocean-wide genetic study of a marine organism we investigated the genetic structure and inferred the paleohistory of the two Indian Ocean sister-species of Acanthaster planci using mitochondrial DNA sequence analyses. We suggest that the first of two main diversification events led to the formation of a Southern and Northern Indian Ocean sister-species in the late Pliocene-early Pleistocene. The second led to the formation of two internal clades within each species around the onset of the last interglacial. The subsequent demographic history of the two lineages strongly differed, the Southern Indian Ocean sister-species showing a signature of recent population expansion and hardly any regional structure, whereas the Northern Indian Ocean sister-species apparently maintained a constant size with highly differentiated regional groupings that were asymmetrically connected by gene flow. Conclusions/Significance: Past and present surface circulation patterns in conjunction with ocean primary productivity were identified as the processes most likely to have shaped the genetic structure between and within the two Indian Ocean lineages. This knowledge will help to understand the biological or ecological differences of the two sibling species and therefore aid in developing strategies to manage population outbreaks of this coral predator in the Indian Ocean

Concordant Phylogenetic Patterns Inferred from Mitochondrial and Microsatellite DNA in the Giant Clam Tridacna Crocea

The boring giant clam, Tridacna crocea Lamarck, 1819, is a CITES-listed bivalve that is declining due to overharvest and environmental degradation. Previous molecular studies in the Coral Triangle using mitochondrial DNA indicated the presence of deep phylogenetic divergence and strong phylogeographic structure across this region, suggesting the possibility of multiple cryptic species. In the present study, we compare data from non-recombining mitochondrial (mtDNA; cytochrome oxidase subunit 1, COI) and eight microsatellite loci to better understand patterns of genetic structure and species boundaries in T. crocea populations across Indonesia and the Philippines. Microsatellite loci and mtDNA data from 618 individuals representing 27 populations revealed highly concordant phylogeographic patterns and identified three genetically distinct regions: (1) Western Indonesia, (2) Philippines and Central Indonesia, and (3) Eastern Indonesia. Both marker types also showed evidence of isolation by distance. These results build on previous studies and confirm the presence of only three genetic partitions and the genetic isolation of Western Indonesia and Eastern Indonesia. However, individual admixture analyses based on microsatellite data show that the mtDNA clade that defines a phylogeographic province spanning the Philippines and Central Indonesia is a mixture of unique genetic clusters from the Philippines/Central Indonesia and Eastern Indonesia. The admixture of nuclear loci from individuals with regionally distinct mtDNA genomes suggests that despite deep genetic divisions, the three mitochondrial lineages are likely not distinct species and that some populations in Central Indonesia may be a sink for genetic diversity accumulated from populations to the north and east. While microsatellite data refined our understanding of the biology and evolutionary history of T. crocea, the broad concordance between these markers highlights the continued utility of mtDNA, particularly in developing biodiversity-rich countries where resources to support biodiversity science are limited