Parapercis flavescens Fourmanoir & Rivaton 1979
Creators: name: Ho, Hsuan-Ching
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2015
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Chordata
Actinopterygii
Perciformes
Pinguipedidae
Parapercis
Parapercis flavescens

description: Parapercis flavescens Fourmanoir & Rivaton, 1979
Figs. 3 A–C; Table 2
Parapercis flavescens Fourmanoir & Rivaton, 1979:412, fig. 6 (Type locality: Isle of Pines, New Caledonia, 360 m). Randall, 2001: 3503.
Collecting data of type series. Fourmanoir & Rivaton (1979) provided the original collecting data as “sud de l’ile des Pins, chalut, 360 m [south of the Isle of Pines, trawl, 360 m]”. The database of MNHN collection (coldb.mnhn.fr) currently provides no information for these two type specimens (MNHN 1978-475, 1978-476). By searching the database of fishes collected from New Caledonia region by P. Fourmanoir, there are only four lots collected from the Isle of Pines, including holotype of Paraulopus legandi Fourmanoir & Rivaton, 1979. All specimens were collected from the same locality of “ 22°34’59”S, 167°30’E, Isle of Pines, New Caledonia, Coral Sea, bottom trawl, 360–415 m ”, but without a date. From the information provided by Fourmanoir & Rivaton (1979) and the database, it seems that the type series of P. flavescens may have been collected in the same station.
Specimen examined. Holotype. MNHN 1978-475 (90.0 mm SL), south of the Isle of Pines, New Caledonia, 360 m. Paratype. MNHN 1978-476 (75.0 mm SL), collected together with the holotype. Non-type. MNHN 2000- 1390 (2, 77.9–82.8 mm SL), 22°43’59”S, 167°7’59”E, New Caledonia, Coral Sea, perch trawl, 345 m, 24 Jan. 1985. MNHN 2000-1395(2, 77.2–83.1 mm SL), 22°51’S, 167°12’E, New Caledonia, Coral Sea, perch trawl, 405– 430 m, 29 Sep. 1985. MNHN 2003-1915(3, 75.3–97.2), 22°43’59”S, 167°7’59”E, New Caledonia, Coral Sea, perch trawl, 405–430 m, 24 Jan. 1985.
Diagnosis. A species of Parapercis with scattered melanophores on dorsal third of body, more dense on pored scales along the anterior half of lateral line, membranes between 1st and 4th dorsal-fin spines, and forming patches on snout and upper part of eye. The following combination of characters also separates it from the congeners: a small head (26.1–27.3% SL); a very short snout (5.6–7.1% SL); large eye (9.9–12.5% SL); narrow interorbital space (1.1–1.7% SL); 4 canines at each side of front of lower jaw; 2 or 3 rows of conical teeth on vomer and palatines; dorsal-fin rays IV, 23, the spines progressively longer posteriorly; anal-fin rays I, 19; pectoral-fin rays modally 19; pored lateral-line scales mainly 60–61; pre-dorsal scale rows 7–8; scale rows between origin of dorsal fin and lateral line 3.5 or 4.5; circumpeduncular scale rows 22 or 23; total gill rakers of 1st gill arch 16–19.
Description. The following data or character states are given for holotype (MNHN 1978-475), followed by those of other specimens in parentheses when different, except where indicated otherwise.
Dorsal-fin rays IV, 23, the spines progressively longer, the first spine relatively long, longer than half length of last spine; the last spine fully connected to the first dorsal-fin ray by membrane, all rays branched; anal-fin rays I, 19, all rays branched, the last one to the base; pectoral-fin rays 18/19 (18 or 19, modally 19), branched except the uppermost ray; principal caudal-fin rays 17, uppermost 2 and lowermost 1 rays unbranched; pored lateral-line scales 60 (58–61, mostly 60 or 61), not including 2 /3 (1–3) on the caudal-fin base; scale rows between origin of dorsal fin posteroventrally to lateral line 4 (4 or 4.5); scale rows below lateral line posteroventrally to origin of anal fin 17 (15–18); median predorsal scales 7 (7 or 8); circumpeduncular scale rows 22 (22 or 23); rakers on outer side of 1st gill arch 5+12=17 (4–7+11–12=16–19); pseudobranchial filaments 13 (12 or 13); branchiostegal rays 6. Body elongated, relatively slender, nearly cylindrical anteriorly and gradually compressed posteriorly; head short and slightly depressed, its length 26.1% (26.3–28.0%) SL; ventral part of head, chest, and abdomen slightly convex; snout very short 6.6% (5.6–7.3%) SL; eye relatively large, its diameter 9.9% (10.5–12.5%) SL; interorbital space very narrow, its width 1.3% (1.1–1.9%) SL.
Mouth large, maxilla reaching a vertical from anterior half of eye; mouth oblique, forming an angle of about 15°–20° to horizontal axis of body; lower jaw extends slightly beyond upper jaw anteriorly; upper jaw with outer row of conical teeth that curve medially and posteriorly, anterior 2 (2 or 3) distinctly larger, others smaller and subequal in size; broad band of villiform teeth medial to canines in about 5 (3–6) rows at front of upper jaw, gradually narrowing posteriorly to a narrow band in about 1 or 2 irregular rows; front of lower jaw with modally 4 pairs of recurved canine teeth (holotype has 4 teeth on right side and 3 on left side; paratype has 3 on each side; 1 tooth might have been lost), outer one largest; band of about 5 (5 or 6) rows of villiform teeth medial to canines at front of lower jaw, medial row continuing laterally in jaw posterior to first few canines as row of 8 (6–8) increasingly larger and more strongly recurved teeth (last 3 or 4 of these distinctly enlarged), followed by a single row of small teeth to middle portion of jaw; vomer with 3 (2 or 3) rows of stout conical teeth, those on first row distinctly larger than the rest; palatines with 3 (2 or 3) rows of small teeth; lips smooth, their inner surface with large fleshy papillae that interdigitate with anterior teeth; tongue broadly rounded, reaching forward to posterior vomerine teeth.
Gill membranes free from isthmus, with a broad transverse free fold. Gill rakers short and spinous, longest about 1/3 length of longest gill filaments. Nostrils small, anterior nostril tube-like, in front of center of eye (viewed from side), a little more than half way to groove at edge of upper lip, with a broadly pointed posterior flap that reaches posterior nostril when laid back; posterior nostril dorsoposterior to anterior nostril, ovate with slight rim; internasal distance about 2 (1–2) times diameter of posterior nostril.
Pores of cephalic sensory system relatively few in number and connected by canals beneath the skin; row of 3 large pores above maxilla; 2 pores near nostrils, 1 pore above and 1 below the posterior nostril; 2 pores on each side of anterior interorbital space; single row of large pores at anterior half of infraorbital series, becoming 2 irregular rows at posterior half, each pore on lower row connected by a subcutaneous canal from the main canal of upper row; pores on top of head forming two major series, 1 continues to upper end of infraorbital series, 1 to anterior end of lateral line with a branch, and continues to upper end of preopercular series; row of 6 large pores on free margin of preopercle; 4 large pores on mandibular; two large pores at front of chin.
Opercle bearing a strong sharp spine, at about same level as ventral edge of pupil when viewed from the side; free margin of subopercle with a strong spine (2 smaller spines in left side of holotype), slightly smaller than the opercular spine; preopercle broadly rounded, its free edge smooth; free margin of interorbital smooth.
Scales strongly ctenoid and imbricate in most parts of body; those on opercle large and ctenoid; on space anterior to pectoral-fin base ctenoid; on pectoral-fin base small and ctenoid; on nape anterior to a line from upper free end of gill opening to origin of dorsal fin cycloid; on cheek large, those on anterior portion cycloid and on posterior portion weakly ctenoid; on chest cycloid anteriorly and ctenoid posteriorly; on abdomen weakly ctenoid, except for some cycloid ones near the pelvic-fin base; on caudal fin progressively smaller and ctenoid, except for some cycloid ones at posterior margin of the scale patch, covering about 3/4 of the upper and lower lobes, and 2/3 of the middle portion; no scales on dorsal, anal, or pelvic fins; predorsal scales extending forward to, or slightly anterior to, a vertical from hind margin of preopercle; lateral line broadly arched over pectoral fin, then gradually slanting to straight midlaterally on about posterior fourth of body.
Origin of dorsal fin over 3rd to 4th lateral-line scale, predorsal length about equal to head length; four dorsal spines, progressively longer posteriorly, the last spine entirely attached to 1st soft ray by membrane; soft dorsal-fin rays progressively longer posteriorly, penultimate soft dorsal-fin ray longest; pectoral fins broadly rounded when spread, 9th or 10th ray longest, reaching 1st or 2nd anal-fin ray; origin of pelvic fins anterior to pectoral fin origin, below base of exposed part of opercular spine; pelvic fin relatively short, 4th pelvic-fin ray longest, reaches the anus (slightly beyond in some non-types); origin of anal fin below base of 5th dorsal soft ray; anal-fin spine slender; penultimate anal soft ray longest; caudal fin rounded, without prolongation.
Coloration. Color when fresh: yellow vertical bars on the sides of the body; dorsal and anal fins golden yellow; grey pigmentation on lateral-line (remaining in alcohol and formalin); snout and eye olive yellow (based on Fourmanoir & Rivaton, 1979). Coloration when preserved: body uniformly yellowish, scales on dorsal third of body covered by scattered melanophores (clearer under magnification), which continues to the caudal-fin base; melanophores more dense on posterior margins of anterior 24 (23–26) pored lateral-line scales; a cluster of melanophores on membranes between 1st and 4th dorsal-fin spines (some non-types are paler); clusters of melanophores on snout, with a larger and denser patch at space between upper jaw and orbit; an elongate cluster of melanophores on dorso-posterior corner of eye; one non-type with a cluster of melanophores at posterior margin of preopercle.
Distribution. Known from a few specimens from New Caledonia at depths of 360– 430 m.
Remarks. In the original description, Fourmanoir & Rivaton (1979) provided the following data for the types: dorsal-fin rays IV, 20, anal-fin rays 20; pectoral-fin rays 18 or 19, lateral-line scales 64 (probably including those on caudal fin), and anterior canines 3. Based on current examination, the holotype and paratype have IV, 23 dorsalfin rays, I, 19 anal-fin rays, 18/19 (19/ 19 in paratype) pectoral-fin rays, 60 pored scales on lateral line (not including 2/3 on caudal fin in holotype, 3 in paratype), and canines at front of lower jaw 3 (left side)/4 (right side) (3/ 3 in paratype). All other non-types have 4 canines at each side of front of lower jaw, so the status of this character is revised accordingly.
description: Published as part of Ho, Hsuan-Ching, 2015, Description of a new species and redescriptions of two rare species of Parapercis (Perciformes: Pinguipedidae) from the tropical Pacific Ocean, pp. 255-271 in Zootaxa 3999 (2) on pages 261-265, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3999.2.5, http://zenodo.org/record/243762