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Platax 17: 103-112, 2020
doi: 10.29926/platax.202012_17.0007

First record of the Blackfringe bigeye Pristigenys refulgens(Perciformes: Priacanthidae) from Taiwan
Chi-Ngai Tang1,2* and Chia-Ho Chan2
1Department of Aquaculture, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, Taiwan
2National Museum of Marine Biology & Aquarium, Checheng, Taiwan*Corresponding author email: victorcntang@gmail.com

Abstract
The distribution of the priacanthid, Pristigenys refulgens was confirmed in Taiwan
on the basis on three specimens collected in local markets. P. refulgens was distinguishedfrom congeners by the black edges presented on the soft portions of the dorsal, anal, andcaudal fins. It also possessed X, 11 and III, 10 dorsal and anal-fin elements, respectively.
Keywords: Bigeye, Biodiversity, Ichthyology, Priacanthidae, Taiwan

Introduction
Thebigeye

portions of the dorsal and anal fins).
Pristigenys

In addition to these species, P. meyeri

Agassiz, 1835 was originally described

can also be found in the Indo-West Pacificfrom Eocene fossils from Italy. Although(Iwatsuki et al., 2012), with P. refulgens

Starnes (1988) recognized only four

havingspecies in the genus, Iwatsuki et al. (2012)(documented in both the Indian & Westernlater made a compelling argument toPacific Oceans). All three species haveseparate the widely distributed Indo-been documented (Koeda & Ho, 2019) in

Pacific

refulgens

Taiwan, though a detailed description of P.

(Valenciennes, 1862) from Pristigenys

refulgens was previously lacking; we

niphonia (Cuvier, 1829). Although bothsought to remedy this knowledge dearth

species are similar in appearance, their

herein.

speciesgenus

Pristigenys

thewidest

distribution

meristic counts are different, and P.

Materials & materials

refulgens has a prominent black margin
along the caudal fin (as well as the softStandard length (SL) is used103

Platax 17: 103-112, 2020
doi: 10.29926/platax.202012_17.0007

Resultsthroughout. Methods for taking counts andmeasurements and terminology followed

Fernandez-Silva & Ho (2017). Features

Pristigenys refulgens (Valenciennes,1862)
黑緣大鱗大眼鯛

were measured by common or digital

Figs. 1 & 2; Tab. 1

Iwatsuki et al. (2012) and Starnes (1988),
andthecalipers.

descriptionThenewformat

specimens

follows

wereMaterial

deposited in the Pisces Collection ofexamined.

NMMB-National Marine Museum of Biology andP33529, 217.2 mm SL, purchased fromAquarium,(NMMB-P).

Keelung fish market, captured off Suao,

Comparative specimens were obtained

Eastern Taiwan, 24 Mar. 2020, coll. C.-N

from Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan

Tang. NMMB-P33642, 212.8 mm SL,

Pingtung(ASIZP).

Fig. 1. Fresh coloration of Pristigenys refulgens, NMMB-P33529, 217.2 mm SL, off Suao,Yilan, northern Taiwan.

104

Platax 17: 103-112, 2020
doi: 10.29926/platax.202012_17.0007

Fig. 2. Fresh (A) and preserved (B) condition of P. refulgens, NMMB-P34703, 196.4 mm
SL.
purchased from Fugang Fishing Port,

Port, on 15 May 2020.

Taitung, Eastern Taiwan, 26 Feb. 2020,Comparative materials. Prictigenys

coll. Y.-C. Chen. NMMB-P34703, 196.4

niphonia: ASIZP55365, 110 mm SL, Daxi,mm SL, purchased from Fugang Fishing

Yilan, Taiwan, 10 Aug. 1979.
105

Platax 17: 103-112, 2020
doi: 10.29926/platax.202012_17.0007

Tab. 1. Morphometric data of two Pristigenys species collected from Taiwan.
Standard length (SL; mm)

P. refulgens

P. niphonia

196.4–217.8 (n=3)

67.2–168.1 (n=5)% SLSD% SLSD

Body depth

51.4–53.5

1.1

53.1–56.7

1.6

Body width

23.2–25.1

1.1

22.2–26.7

1.8

Head length

39.6–41.0

0.8

39.2–40.0

0.3

Snout length

9.7–10.5

0.4

7.0–9.5

1.1

Horizontal bony orbit length

18.9–20.6

0.8

19.5–21.8

1.0

Bony interorbital width

7.7–9.0

0.7

9.1–9.50.2

Upper jaw length

22.5–24.0

0.8

20.8–22.8

0.8

Maxilla width

9.2–9.8

0.3

9.6–10.2

0.3

Caudal peduncle length

14.1–15.0

0.5

13.7–15.9

1.1

Caudal peduncle depth

12.3–12.9

0.3

11.9–13.4

0.6

Predorsal length

34.6–38.5

2.0

34.4–37.7

1.2

Preanal length

71.6–77.0

2.7

71.8–74.3

1.2

Prepelvic length

48.7–51.1

1.2

44.5–48.2

1.4

Dorsal fin base length

56.8–58.9

1.2

59.5–62.1

1.0

1st dorsal fin spine

7.3–8.1

0.4

8.0–12.5

1.7

2nd dorsal fin spine

12.5–15.0

1.3

14.5–18.5

1.5

3rd dorsal fin spine

20.7–20.8

0.0

23.5–28.7

2.2

Longest dorsal fin spine

25.7–27.1

0.8

26.3–29.7

1.4

Last dorsal fin spine

15.9–17.4

0.8

16.4–18.5

0.9

1st dorsal-fin soft ray

23.4–23.9

0.3

23.3–25.3

0.8

longest dorsal-fin soft ray

23.4–24.6

0.6

24.0–25.6

0.6

Anal-fin base length

24.3–27.1

1.4

26.7–29.3

1.0

1st anal-fin spine

12.7–13.4

0.4

14.0–18.5

1.6

2nd anal-fin spine

16.4–17.9

0.8

18.1–21.6

1.2

3rd anal-fin spine

17.6–18.7

0.6

19.5–21.8

0.9

1st anal-fin soft ray

22.4–25.0

1.3

25.9–28.3

0.9

Longest anal-fin soft ray

23.0–25.0

1.0

26.8–28.7

0.8

Caudal fin length

25.6–27.9

1.3

26.9–29.9

1.2

Pectoral fin length

24.5–25.8

0.7

22.7–25.6

1.2

Pelvic-fin spine

20.6–23.2

1.4

23.2–29.0

2.2

Pelvic-fin length

29.0–33.8

2.4

33.8–38.5

1.8

106

Platax 17: 103-112, 2020
doi: 10.29926/platax.202012_17.0007

ASIZP64912, 133 mm SL, Donggang,broad and flattened, its width 4.6–5.2 in

Pingtung,

2004.

HL; snout short, smaller than the eye, its

ASIZP70167, 142 mm SL, Daxi, 20 Mar.

length 3.8–4.1 in HL. Mouth large,

2005. ASIZP70444, 124 mm SL, Daxi, 1strongly oblique; maxilla broad posteriorly

Dec. 2001. ASIZP71099, 168 mm SL,and relatively exposed; posterior end ofDonggang, 26 May 2008. ASIZP74474,

maxilla below the anterior half of eye;

67 mm SL, Daxi, 5 Jan. 2000.

lower jaw upturned, strongly projecting.

Taiwan,14Aug.

Description of newly obtained

Upper jaw length 1.7–1.8 in HL. Two

specimens. Dorsal-fin elements X, 11;

nostrils close to each other, located close

anal-fin elements III, 10; pectoral-fin rays

to the eye at its center margin; anterior

18–19; pelvic-fin elements I, 5; pored

nostril small and rounded, with a posterior

lateral line scales 32–35; scale rows

fleshy rim covering the entire nostril whenbetween the origin of the dorsal fin andfully folded anteriorly; posterior nostril

lateral line 10–11; scales above the middle

large, with a transverse slit, its heightpectoral-fin with 33–40 fine spinules on

about a fourth of the eye diameter. Dentary,

the posterior margin; scale rows between

premaxilla, vomer, and palatine with small

the origin of the anal fin and lateral line

conical teeth. Outer part of premaxilla with

26–28; total gill rakers 25–26, 7–8 onenlarged conical teeth.

upper limb and 18 on lower limb;

Posterior margin of the opercle withvertebrate 10 precaudal+13 caudal = 23.

two spines, the upper one blunt and theBody deep, compressed, and ovate inlower one triangular and pointed. Small

lateral profile. Body depth at the 4th dorsal-serrae on posterior and lower margins of

fin spine 1.9 in SL. When the mouth isthe preopercle. Fine serrae on the posterior

closed, the upper end of the lower jaw is atand ventral margin of the preopercle,

about the same level as the midline of theserrae at the angle of the preopercle

body. Body thick, its width 4.0–4.3 in SL.

enlarged; inner edge of preopercle with

Caudal peduncle moderate, its length andtiny serrae; suborbital bone edging withdepth

large and fine serrae. Lower sections of the2.6–2.9

and3.1–3.3

inHL

respectively.

posterior margins of the subopercle and theHead large, its length 2.4–2.5 in SL,

interopercle smooth or with very weak

dorsal profile gradually rising to the origin

serration, mostly covered by membranes.

of the dorsal fin. Head profile slightly

A deep notch on the posterior portion ofconvex. Eyes very large, eye diameter 2.0–

the2.1 in HL; interorbital space moderately

preopercular spine; a narrow gap between
107interopercle

coveredbythePlatax 17: 103-112, 2020
doi: 10.29926/platax.202012_17.0007

the subopercle and interopercle

fine spinules on the posterior margin.

Dorsal fin originating above theLateral-line scales with a simple central

upper end of the gill slit, its base 1.7–1.8

tube, with openings directed upward.

in SL; dorsal-fin spine strong; first dorsal-Coloration. Body, head, and iris

fin spine short, its length 5.0–5.4 in HL;generally reddish orange (Figs. 1 & 2A);

second dorsal-fin spine 2.7–3.2 in HL;pelvic fin crimson; dorsal, anal, and caudal

third dorsal-fin spine 1.9–2.0, fourth

fins faint reddish orange; membranes

dorsal-fin spine longest, 1.5 in HL; first

between dorsal fin spines dusky; edges of

dorsal-fin rays and second dorsal-fin ray

soft potions of dorsal, anal, and pelvic fins,approximately the same in length andand posterior edge of caudal fin, blackish;longest, 1.7 in HL. Length of pectoral fin

five complete, narrow white or pale bars

1.6 in HL, base oblique with upper endalong dorsum to the caudal peduncle

beneath the origin of the dorsal fin. Pelvic(slightlyfin long, 1.2–1.4 in HL, inserted beneathpreserved (Fig. 2B), body overall pale andor slightly anterior to the pectoral fin,white; edges of soft portion of dorsal, anal,

attached to the abdomen by a broad

pelvic, and caudal fins prominently black;membrane along and beyond the entire

melanophores on membranes between

length of the innermost ray.

dorsal-fin spines.
thobliqueanteriorly).

When

Anal fin originating beneath the 7 toDistribution. According to Iwatsuki

8 dorsal-fin spine, its base 3.7–4.1 in SL;

et al. (2012), P. refulgens occurs in South

anal-fin spines strong; first anal-fin spine

Africa, the Red Sea, Mascarene Islands,

3.0–3.1 in HL; second anal-fin spine, 2.3–and India. In the Western Pacific, it occurs

2.4 in HL; third anal-fin spine 2.1–2.3 infrom Indonesia to Wakayama Prefecture ofHL; second anal-fin ray longest, 1.6–2.7 inJapan.

HL. Soft portions of the dorsal and analspecimens were caught off the east coast,

fins broadly rounded. Caudal fin rounded,

and local fishermen mentioned that they

its length 1.5 in HL.

commonly catch this species. Koeda & HothAll

TaiwaneseP.

refulgens

Relatively large ctenoid scales on(2019) documented P. refulgens based on aalmost the entire body, including thecolor photograph of a non-preserved

maxilla, dentary and mandibular; theindividual taken in Donggang, Pingtung,lowermost four branchiostegal rays with

Southern Taiwan. At present, then, P.

scales; scales absent from all fins (exceptrefulgens has only been documented in

the base of pectoral & caudal fins). ScalesSouthern and Eastern Taiwan, though

above the middle pectoral-fin with 33–40

more intense sampling efforts must be108

Platax 17: 103-112, 2020
doi: 10.29926/platax.202012_17.0007

undertaken

to

fully

understandits

having prominent black margins on thedistribution about Taiwan.
Remarks.

Prictigenys

dorsal, anal and caudal fins. The widths ofrefulgens

the white vertical bars are narrower in P.

differs from P. niphonia (Figs. 3A, B) in

refulgens, though vary with body size

Fig. 3. Pristigenys niphonia. A. uncatagued specimen, 88.9 mm SL, Daxi, Yilan,Taiwan; B. A captive (live) individual in Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, Japan.
109

Platax 17: 103-112, 2020
doi: 10.29926/platax.202012_17.0007

Fig. 4. Pristigenys meyeri, NMMB-P34711, 170.5 mm SL, off northern eastern Taiwan.
(Iwatsuki et al., 2012; our observation).

more dorsal-fin and anal-fin soft rays

Furthermore, Iwatsuki et al. (2012) found(generally X, 12 and III, 11, respectively),that P. niphonia has more spinules on thewhereas both P. refulgens & P. niphonia

posterior margin of the body scales (22–37,have X, 11 and III, 10, respectively.

vs. 33–40 in P. refulgens). However, ourPrictigenys meyeri has many narrow, red

specimens of P. refulgens are much larger

bars on the body, with numerous red spots

than these of P. niphonia examined by

between bars; whereas P. refulgens and P.

Iwatsuki et al. (2012; 67.2–168.1 mm SL),

niphonia are generally reddish orange andand it is likely that larger individuals willpossess five vertical white or pinkish bars.

have more spinules on the body scales.

Acknowledgements

The third species found in Taiwanesewaters, P. meyeri (Fig. 4) can be readily
distinguished from the former two by its

This

study

wassupportedby

NMMBA and Taiwan’s National Museum

meristic counts and coloration. There are110

Platax 17: 103-112, 2020
doi: 10.29926/platax.202012_17.0007

Tab. 2. Meristic counts of two Pristigenys species collected from Taiwan.
P. refulgens (n=3)
P. niphonia (n=6)
Dorsal-fin elements
Anal-fin elements
Pectoral-fin rays
Pelvic-fin elements
Scales above lateral line
Scales below lateral line
Pored lateral line scale
Gill rakers on upper limb
Gill rakers on lower limb
Total gill rakers
Number of spinules on scales

X, 11III, 10
18–19
I, 5
10–11
26–28
32–35
7–8
18
25–26
33–40

X, 11III, 10
18–19
I, 5
11–12
27–30
34–37
7–9
18–20
26–29
22–37

Iwatsuki, Y., T. Matsuda, W.C. Starnes, T.
Nakabo & T. Yoshino. 2012. A valid
priacanthidspecies,
Pristigenys
refulgens (Valenciennes 1862), and aredescription of P. niphonia (Cuvier in
Cuvier & Valenciennes 1829) in the
Indo-West
Pacific(Perciformes:Priacanthidae). Zootaxa, 3206:41-57.
Koeda, K. & H.C. Ho. 2019. Fishes ofSouthern Taiwan. National Museum ofMarine Biology & Aquarium, Checheng,Taiwan.
Starnes, W.C. 1988. Revision, phylogeny andbiogeographic comments on thecircumtropical marine percoid fish
family Priacanthidae. Bulletin of Marine
Science, 43:117-203.

of Marine Science and Technology,Keelung. The authors are grateful to H.-C.
Ho (NMMBA) and S.-P. Huang (ASIZP)
for providing access to the specimens. Weexpress our sincere thanks to Jhuo and Y.C. Chen and Y.-J. Chang (NMMBA) forcollecting and purchasing the specimens.

References
Agassiz, L. 1835. Revue critique des poissons
fossiles figures dans l"lttiolitologia
Veronese. Neues Jahrbuch Mineral,1835:
290-316.
Fernandez-Silva, I. & H.C. Ho. 2017. Revisionof the circumtropical glasseye fish
Heteropriacanthus
cruentatus(Perciformes:Priacanthidae), withresurrection of two new species. Zootaxa,
4273(3):341-361.

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