The genus Paracheilinus Fourmanoir, previously known from a
single specimen collected in the Red Sea, is reviewed and a new species is described
from New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. Paracheilinus, which was not adequately
defined when introduced by Fourmanoir, is a member of the labrid subfamily
Cheilininae, which also includes Cheilinus, Cirrhilabrus, Pseudocheilinops, and
Pseudocheilinus. It appears to be closely allied to Cirrhilabrus. The two genera are
similar in body shape, dentition, and behavior. Paracheilinus filamentosus n.sp. differs
from P. octotaenia Fourmanoir primarily on the basis of color pattern and shape
of the head, dorsal fin, and caudal fin