Malacoctenus zaluari Carvalho-Filho, Gasparini & Sazima 2020, sp. n.
Creators: name: Carvalho-Filho, Alfredo
name: Sazima, Ivan
name: Lima, Sergio Maia Queiroz
name: Almeida, Daniel
name: Mendes, Liana
name: Dias, Ricardo Marques
name: Britto, Marcelo R.
name: Gasparini, João Luiz
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2020
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Chordata
Actinopterygii
Perciformes
Labrisomidae
Malacoctenus
Malacoctenus zaluari

description: Malacoctenus zaluari Carvalho-Filho, Gasparini & Sazima sp. n.
Proposed English Name: Rusty Scaly Blenny
Proposed Portuguese (Brazilian) Name: Macaquinho ferrugem
(Figures 3-4, Table 2)
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 3A09F3D3-2F1B-4B35-B72C-4429EF44E67F
Synonymy (in part):
Malacoctenus triangulatus: Springer, 1959a: 477; Springer & Gomon, 1975; Feitoza et al., 2005; Rocha & Rosa, 2001; Guimarães et al., 2010; Nunan, 1992; Dantas et al., 2014; Garcia Jr. et al., 2015; Dias et al., 2019.
Malacoctenus aff. triangulatus: Pinheiro et al., 2015; Simon et al., 2015; Pinheiro et al., 2013; Rocha et al., 1998; Ferreira and Cava 2001; Monteiro-Neto et al., 2013; Anderson et al., 2015;
Malacoctenus sp.: Carvalho-Filho, 1999; Pinheiro et al 2018; Francini-Filho and Moura, 2008; Moura and Francini-Filho, 2006; Coni et al., 2012; Ferreira et al 2015; Chaves et al., 2010; Bauer et al., 2017; Freitas and Lotufo, 2015; Rocha, 2002; Souza et al., 2007; Honório et al., 2010; Dantas et al., 2014; Ferreira et al., 2001; Ferreira et al., 2007; Sampaio and Nottingham, 2008.
Malacoctenus sp. 1: Floeter et al., 2003; Chaves et al., 2013;
Malacoctenus sp. 3: Moura, 2003;
Malacoctenus sp. nov.: Gasparini, 2017.
Holotype. ZUEC 1920, 33.2 mm SL, Ilha Gaeta de Dentro, Ilha do Boi, APA Baía das Tartarugas, Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil, (lat: -3.843 long: -32.426), col. J.L. Gasparini, 1995.
Paratypes. (13 specimens). MZUSP 66502 (1, 41.0 mm SL), Ilha da Âncora, Búzios, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, (lat: -22.766 long: -41.783), 6 m depth, col. R. L. Moura et al., 18 March, 2000; MZUSP 53118 (1, 35.2 mm SL), Parcel Manoel Luís, Maranhão, Brazil, (lat: -0.887 long: -44.264), 15 m depth, col. R. L. Moura et al., 29 June, 1998; MZUSP 60571 (2, 35.1–39.4 mm SL), Arquipélago dos Abrolhos, Ilha de Santa Bárbara, Bahia, Brazil, (lat: -17.963 long: -38.700), 1 m depth, col. R. L. Moura et al., 22 March, 1999; MZUSP 65119 (1, 29.1 mm SL), Recifes João da Cunha, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, (lat: -4.747 long: -36.964), 7 m depth, col. R. L. Moura et al., 01 April, 2000; MZUSP 52615 (1, 28.2 mm SL), Recife Pirambú, Tamandaré, Pernambuco, Brazil, (lat: -8.759 long: -35.104), 3 m depth, col. R. L. Moura and M.C.M. Rodrigues, 22 March, 1997; MZUSP 53203 (1, 31.6 mm SL) Parcel Manoel Luís, Maranhão, Brazil, (lat: -0.887 long: -44.264), 5 m depth, col. R. L. Moura et al., 30 June, 1998; MZUSP 65547 (1, 26.5 mm SL), Barra de Tamandaré, Tamandaré, Pernambuco, Brazil (lat: -8.766 long: -35.099), 5 m depth, col. R.L. Moura et al., 25 January 1999; ZUEC 4642 (2, 40.5–42.5 mm SL), Arquipélago das Três Ilhas, Guarapari, Espírito Santo, Brazil, lat: -20.658 long: -40.51, col. J.L. Gasparini, 24 February, 2000; ZUEC 4243 (2, 29.8–34.4 mm SL), Ilha Escalvada, Guarapari, Espírito Santo, Brazil, (lat: -20.7 long: -40.4), col. I. Sazima et al., 26 January, 1997; CIUFES 1646 (1, 35.1 mm SL), Parcel Manoel Luís, Maranhão, Brazil, (lat: -0.887 long: -44.264), 15 m depth, col. R. L. Moura et al., 11 June, 1998.
Non-type specimens. (67 specimens). DBUFC 0003 (1, 27.7 mm SL) Avião, Parque Estadual da Pedra da Risca do Meio, Ceará, Brazil, (lat: 3 o 33.858´S long: 38 o 22.454´W), 30 m depth, col. J.E.P. Freitas, 10 July, 2003; MZUSP 52616 (2, 37.6–40.1 mm SL), Arquipélago das Três Ilhas, Guarapari, Espírito Santo, Brazil (lat: -20.616 long: -40.366) col. I.Sazima et al., 24 January, 1997; MZUSP 52812 (2, 46.0– 46.9 mm SL) rocky coast between Azeda and Azedinha Beaches, Búzios, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (lat: -22.75 long: -41.849), 3 m depth, col. J.L. Gasparini, 31 January 1997 (labeled as Malacoctenus delalandii); ZUEC 3062 (5, 23.4–34.9 mm SL), Morro da Antena, Meaípe, Guarapari, Espírito Santo, Brazil (lat: -20.666 long: -40.497), col. C. Sazima et al., 01 August, 1996 (labeled as Malacoctenus delalandii); MZUSP 121724 (9, 35.2–30.3), Praia do Forte, Mata de São João, Bahia. Brazil, col. A. Carvalho-Filho, 08 August 2009; MZUSP 52286 (21, 27.8–44.9 mm SL), Arquipélago dos Abrolhos, Ilha Siriba cave, Bahia, Brazil (17 o 58’ S, 38 o 42’ W), col. I. Sazima et al., 11 January, 1997; MZUSP 100428 (1, 23.1 mm SL), Praia da Baleia, São Sebastião, São Paulo, Brazil, col. A. Carvalho-Filho, 02 February 1997; MZUSP 66857 (11, 22.1–34.9 mm SL), Praia de Arembepe, Arembepe, Bahia, Brazil, col. N.A. Menezes and C.E. Dawson, 26 August, 1972; MZUSP 66858 (15, 30.1–35.9 mm SL), Itaparica, Ilha de Itaparica, Bahia, Brazil, col. N.A. Menezes and C.E. Dawson, 25 August, 1972.
Diagnosis: Malacoctenus zaluari sp. n. can be distinguished from its southwestern Atlantic congeners by the following combination of characters: Dorsal rays XX,11 or 12, rarely XXI or 10; anal rays II,19–21; pectoral rays14; length of third pelvic ray contained 2.5 to 3.0 times in second pelvic-fin ray. Lateral-line scales 51–53. Total nuchal cirri 12–16. Pre-dorsal scales present; pre-pectoral scales, when present, considerably smaller than scales on body; breast usually fully scaled on males, often naked on females. One pore, rarely absent, from preopercular canal onto opercle. Color pattern dominated by five or six saddle-like bars on body, not extending on dorsal fin; upper lip usually with two thin white bands often extending to snout.
Description: Proportional measurements and counts in Table 2. Description based on the holotype, thirteen paratypes and 67 non-type specimens. Body elongated. Head moderate, snout pointed, forehead steep; eye 24–36% in head length; upper lip separated from snout by deep groove; jaws subequal with about 11 pairs of pointed, slightly curved teeth; a crescent patch of villiform teeth on vomer; palatines toothless; maxillary not reaching orbit; gill rakers on first arch 3-4 + 7–8; nasal cirrus simple or bifid (rarely triple or quadruple), arising from posterior border of short tube of anterior nostril and often reaching to or beyond posterior nostril when depressed; supra orbital cirri 3 or 4 (rarely 2 or 5) over each eye, its length equal or larger than half eye diameter; nuchal cirri 6–8 (rarely 5) on each comb, paired or with one cirrus less, 12–15 (rarely 11 or 16) in total, the longest reaching beyond dorsal-fin origin; space between nuchal cirri combs contained 0.66 to three times in comb´s base. One pore from preopercular canal onto opercle, rarely absent. Pores on ventral side of head: 2–4 mental, 3–4 symphysial and 6–8 interopercular.
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* Specimens from Rocas Atol: 59–68; specimens from Fernando de Noronha and St. Peter´s Rocks: 54–58. See Remarks on description of Malacoctenus lianae sp. n.
Dorsal fin continuous, with three sections: first three spines decrease in length, followed by fourth to eighth spines progressively longer and last spines successively shorter, antepenultimate and penultimate of similar size; last spine longer varying from one third to slightly less than half length of first and longest soft ray; soft rays decreasing in height, last one joined to body by a membrane for most of its length. Caudal fin slightly emarginate to slightly rounded with 11 unbranched, segmented rays, followed above and below by a single non-segmented ray and several procurrent spines. Anal fin continuous, the 16 th to 18 th rays the longest; first anal spine length about 2/3 of second anal spine; first anal ray almost 1/3 longer than second anal-fin spine; anal-fin membrane notched at tip of each ray; last anal-fin ray not attached to body by membrane. Pectoral fin elongate, fifth or sixth lower rays usually longest. Pelvic fin second ray longer than third, usually reaching to or beyond anus and anal-fin origin; length of third, inner, shortest pelvic-fin ray, contained 2.5 to 3.0 times in second pelvic-fin ray.
Body covered with cycloid scales except pre-pelvic and immediate surrounding area. Head naked. Breast usually fully scaled (about 10% of examined specimens with only a few scales) on males, and often naked on females; breast and belly scales much smaller than body scales. Space between first dorsal-fin spine and nuchal cirrus comb naked; pre-pectoral area varying from naked to presenting two to three scale rows, much smaller than body scales; lateral line complete, running high anteriorly, abruptly curved below 11 th to 12 th dorsal-fin spines and straight along mid-body posteriorly. All fins naked.
Coloration. Color pattern varies considerable between individuals. Males usually brightly colored, reddish, rusty, and orangish patterns; females duller colored, greenish, grayish, tan, to dark patterns.
Color in alcohol: Background varies from light grey to tan, five or six dark, triangular-shaped, saddle-like bars on body, not extending to dorsal fin, anterior 3 or 4 often coalesced, the 2 or 3 posteriors more distinct. Saddles usually much darker than interspaces between them, uniformly colored, rarely outlined by dark spots; lower apices of saddles can be abruptly constricted below body midline. Interspaces may have dark triangular patches, and often uniformly light. Lower sides of body light to tan usually with dark irregular markings. Two thin elongated light blotches from upper lip to beyond snout and occasionally to orbit border, not always present. No dark bordered ocellus present at lower portion of opercle. Pre-pectoral area tan or with dark spots or irregular markings. Fins of mature males clear to light dusky, occasionally with small spots on spines and rays, membranes transparent. Dorsal, anal, and caudal fin of females light to heavily spotted. Lower part of head tan and often with dark spots, irregular blotches or bands in females, less conspicuous on males.
Color in life: Background varies from white to greenish to grayish, yellowish or light tan. Saddle-like bars of males orangish, rusty, golden, or reddish on males, which may present the last 2 or 3 bars bluish dark; on females these bars may be greenish, grayish or bluish. Dorsum with interspaces between saddle-like bars varying from greenish to grey or tan. Lower part of body often with an alternated reticulation of dots of same color as saddles and yellowish to whitish dots disposed in lines among dark irregular blotches. Two thin, elongated white blotches from upper lip to beyond snout, occasionally to orbit border, often absent on males. Eye varies from dark to orange, with or without lighter marks, occasionally with a conspicuous white area on lower border delimited by black borders. A dark somewhat triangular spot behind eye, often with an iridescent blue lower margin, may be present in both sexes. Top of head same color as first saddle-like bar, sometimes lighter. Dorsal fin transparent, spines and rays often presenting dark and white dots, more visible on females; anterior 3–4 spines usually more pigmented, including the connecting membrane. Anal fin transparent (often with upper anterior border yellowish in males) usually peppered with white dots. Pectoral fins usually transparent, with or without a cast of light yellow, occasionally whitish; pelvic fin white. Males can display a bright conspicuous red head and posterior saddles heavily pigmented with blue and usually are darker ventrally than females. Young usually present the saddle-like bars more isolated and the interspaces clearer than those of adults.
Etymology: the specific name honors Ricardo Zaluar Passos Guimarães, our ichthyologist friend, who decisively contributed to studies and descriptions of several reef fishes from the Brazilian coast.
Distribution and habitat: Malacoctenus zaluari sp. n. is known from the Brazilian coastline from Maranhão (Parcel Manoel Luiz) to Santa Catarina States, and is associated with shallow reefs and tide pools, usually in clear waters where it feeds on small benthic invertebrates. This labrisomid is abundant in Northeastern Brazil (Maranhão to Bahia), and while still abundant in the northern part of Southeastern Brazil (Espírito Santo), it is uncommon southwards in the Southeast (Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo), and increasingly rare southwards to Paraná and Santa Catarina States. In southern Brazil, it is often confused with Malacoctenus delalandii, a species that usually lives in shallow rocky shores among algae, as well as mangroves and even in low salinity waters.
description: Published as part of Carvalho-Filho, Alfredo, Sazima, Ivan, Lima, Sergio Maia Queiroz, Almeida, Daniel, Mendes, Liana, Dias, Ricardo Marques, Britto, Marcelo R. & Gasparini, João Luiz, 2020, Review of the genus Malacoctenus (Actinopterygii: Labrisomidae) from the Southwestern Atlantic, with description of two new species, pp. 499-520 in Zootaxa 4819 (3) on pages 506-510, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4819.3.4, http://zenodo.org/record/4397065