The following four pomacentrid fishes are described, all endemic to the Marquesas Islands: Chromis abrupta, distinct in having XII,11–13 dorsal rays; II,11–12 anal rays; two spiniform procurrent caudal rays; 16–18 pectoral rays; 16–18 tubed lateral line scales; and dark brown color with an abruptly white caudal fin. Chromis fatuhivae, with XII,12–13 dorsal rays; II,12–13 anal rays; two spiniform procurrent caudal rays; 17 pectoral rays; 15 tubed lateral line scales; and dark brown color to a vertical below sixth dorsal soft ray, then white. Chromis flavapicis, with XIII,12–13 dorsal rays; II,11 anal rays; three spiniform procurrent caudal rays; 18–20 pectoral rays; 16–18 tubed lateral line scales; and dark gray-brown color with yellow-tipped dorsal spines, the young entirely yellow. Stegastes robertsoni, with XII,15 dorsal rays; II,12–14 anal rays; 19–20 (usually 20) pectoral rays; 19–20 (usually 20) tubed lateral line scales and dark gray-brown color, the axil and upper base of pectoral fins with a black spot. Chromis abrupta seems closest to the wide-ranging Indo-Pacific C. margaritifer. No similar species was noted for C. fatuhivae, known only from the island of Fatu Hiva. Chromis flavapicis is most similar to C. analis that ranges from the western Pacific east to Samoa and C. pembae from the western Indian Ocean and Red Sea. Stegastes robertsoni was formerly misidentified as S. nigricans.
How to translate text using browser tools
1 February 2001
Four New Damselfishes (Perciformes: Pomacentridae) from the Marquesas Islands
John E. Randall
ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE