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SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY NUMBER 134

Additions to Revisions of the Blenniid Fish Genera Ecsenius and Entomacrodus, with Descriptions of Three New Species of Ecsenius

Victor G. Springer

SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION PRESS

City of Washington

1972

ABSTRACT

Springer, Victor G. Additions to Revisions of the Blenniid Fish Genera Ecsenius and Entomacrodus, with Descriptions of Three New Species of Ecsenius. Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology, number 134, 13 pages, 3 figures, 1972.–New distribution records and supplemental data on species of Ecsenius and Entomacrodus are given with reference to recent revisions of these genera by Springer (1967, 1971). Three new species of Ecsenius are described and illustrated: Ecsenius (Ecsenius) collettei, from New Guinea, Ecsenius (Ecsenius) fourmanoiri, from New Caledonia, and Ecsenius (Ecsenius) trilineatus from the Banda Sea and New Guinea. A revised key to the species of Ecsenius is provided.

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Official publication date is handstamped in a limited number of initial copies and is recorded in the Institution’s annual report, Smithsonian Year.

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Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data

Springer, Victor Gruschka, 1928–

Additions to revisions of the blenniid fish genera Escenius and Entomacrodus.

(Smithsonian contributions to zoology, no. 134)

Bibliography: p.

1. Ecsenius. 2. Entomacrodus. I. Title. II. Series: Smithsonian Institution. Smithsonian contributions to zoology, no. 134

QL1.S54 no. 134 [QL638.B6] 591′.08s [597′.58] 72–3785

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U. S. Government Printing Office Washington, D.C. 20402 - Price 30 cents (paper cover)

Contents

Introduction

Genus Ecsenius McCulloch

Ecsenius (Anthiiblennius) midas Starck

Ecsenius pulcher species group

Ecsenius (Ecsenius) yaeyamaensis (Aoyagi)

Ecsenius (Ecsenius) trilineatus, new species

Ecsenius (Ecsenius) oculus Springer

Ecsenius (Ecsenius) opsifrontalis Chapman and Schultz

Ecsenius (Ecsenius) fourmanoiri, new species

Ecsenius (Ecsenius) collettei, new species

Revised Key to the Subgenera and Species of Ecsenius

Genus Entomacrodus Gill

Entomacrodus decussatus (Bleeker)

Entomacrodus epalzeocheilus (Bleeker), E. niuafoouensis (Fowler), and E. randalli Springer

Entomacrodus rofeni Springer

Entomacrodus vomerinus (Valenciennes), E. textilis (Quoy and Gaimard), E. cadenati Springer, and E. nigricans Gill

Entomacrodus sealei Bryan and Herre

Entomacrodus caudofasciatus (Regan)

Entomacrodus thalassinus (Jordan and Seale)

Literature Cited

Publication in Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology

Additions to Revisions of the Blenniid Fish Genera Ecsenius and Entomacrodus, with Descriptions of Three New Species of Ecsenius

Victor G. Springer

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Victor G. Springer, Department of Vertebrate Zoology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. 20560.

Introduction

The purpose of this paper is to describe three new species of Ecsenius McCulloch and to present significant new distributional records and information on species of Ecsenius and Entomacrodus Gill that have come to my attention since publication of my revisions of these two genera (Springer, 1967, 1971).

In reporting data I have followed the methods used in the two studies mentioned above.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.–I wish to extend my appreciation to P. Fourmanoir, New Caledonia, J. E. Randall, Bernice P. Bishop Museum (BPBM), C. R. Robins and W. F. Smith-Vaniz, University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (UMML), and J. C. Tyler, Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia (ANSP), for calling my attention to new material and for the loan of specimens.

Other institutional abbreviations used herein are for the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution (USNM), Australian Museum, Sydney (AMS), and Museum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris (MNHN).

Genus Ecsenius McCulloch

Ecsenius (Anthiiblennius) midas Starck

Six specimens (BPBM 10866, 29.2–67.3 mm SL) collected by J. E. Randall at Ua Pou, Marquesas Islands, represent an eastward range extension of approximately 65° of longitude for this species over that reported by me (1971). The species now has the greatest range of any species of Ecsenius, and is the only one known to occur west of Tonga.

I (1971) reported the following caudal vertebral counts for E. midas: Red Sea, 27 (4 specimens); Indian Ocean 28–29 (6 specimens); Great Barrier Reef, 27–28 (2 specimens). The Marquesas specimens have 28–29 caudal vertebrae, similar to the Indian Ocean specimens. Apparently, caudal vertebral count is variable with population.

Ecsenius pulcher species group

In the graph showing the relationship between longest caudal fin-ray length as percent standard length against standard length (Springer, 1971: 26, fig. 11), the symbols for males and females were transposed (should be open symbols for females and solid symbols for males), and the open rectangle at coordinates 35 percent, 58 mm, should be solid.

Ecsenius (Ecsenius) yaeyamaensis (Aoyagi)

New locality records for this species are Madang Harbour, New Guinea (USNM 205706, 33.3 mm SL) and Ceylon (USNM 206381, 9 specimens, 21.9–33.4 mm SL; USNM 206382, 16 specimens, 28.547.0 mm SL; USNM 206383, 8 specimens, 24.6–31.4 mm SL; and several other uncataloged lots). Both the New Guinea and Ceylon specimens exhibit the most common color pattern for this species (Springer, 1971, fig. 27). Fin-ray, vertebral and tooth counts for these specimens are within the ranges of those I reported.

The Ceylon specimens are of interest because they represent the westernmost records of E. yaeyamaensis and the first records from the Indian Ocean. Ceylon is very near Addu Atoll, Maldive Islands, the easternmost known occurrence of the closely related E. nalolo. These two species are distinguishable only in that E. nalolo has a single dark stripe on the fleshy pectoral fin base and E. yaeyamaensis has a Y-shaped mark in the same area. There are no islands between Ceylon and the Maldives, where one might look for transitional populations. Inasmuch as only one specimen of E. nalolo is known from the Maldives, additional specimens from that area will be necessary to determine whether a transitional population exists. If so, E. nalolo should be recognized only as a subspecies of E. yaeyamaensis.

I (1971) reported a single specimen of E. yaeyamaensis from the Banda Sea. This specimen had a unique striped pattern (Springer, 1971, fig. 29) not found in the other specimens available to me. Additional material of this striped form from New Guinea, together with a sympatric specimen of E. yaeyamaensis with the typical color pattern, has caused me to re-examine the status of the striped form, which I describe below as a new species, E. trilineatus.

Ecsenius (Ecsenius) trilineatus, new species

FIGURE 1

Ecsenius yaeyamaensis (Aoyagi).–Springer, 1971:32 [in part].

DESCRIPTION.–Dorsal fin XII, 14–15 (only 1 of 7 specimens XII, 15); anal fin II, 16–17; pectoral fin 13 (1 of 7 specimens with 14 rays on 1 side only); segmented caudal fin rays 13; dorsal procurrent caudal fin rays 6–8; ventral procurrent caudal fin rays 7; total caudal fin elements 26–28; lower jaw incisor teeth 43–46; lower jaw posterior canines 1, each side; vertebrae 10+22–23; epipleural ribs 12–13; lateral line with no paired pores, extending posteriorly to below level of 10th–12th dorsal fin spine; dorsal fin notched eight-ninths to nine-ninths length first dorsal fin ray; third, innermost, pelvic fin ray obvious; one cirrus on rim of each anterior nostril. (For proportions see Table 1.)

COLOR PATTERN (males and females).–Most noticeable mark on head a dark stripe extending from midupper portion of opercle ventroanteriorly to underside of head, ceasing before meeting similar stripe from other side. Discontinuous dark spot may appear anterior to anterior end of stripe. Scattered dark spots present or absent on side of head, other markings on head diffuse, irregular. Three dark, longitudinal stripes on body; dorsalmost beginning just anterior to dorsal fin origin, continuing on dorsal body contour, ending in region of anterior third of rayed portion of dorsal fin; middle stripe beginning at dorsal end of gill opening, continuing to caudal fin base; posterior third of middle stripe usually appearing as series of dark dashes and spots with diffuse extension of posteriormost spot onto caudal fin rays; ventralmost stripe beginning in area covered by appressed pectoral fin, continuing posteriorly similarly to middle stripe. One specimen exhibited about nine diffusely dusky, vertical bands crossing stripes. Fleshy pectoral fin base with two short stripes, which may extend onto fin rays basally; stripes separate for entire length. Posterior portion of dorsal fin with dusky distal edging. Anal fin with narrow subterminal dark or dusky stripe over entire length; other fins, except as noted, immaculate or bearing diffusely dusky marks.

FIGURE 1.–Ecsenius (Ecsenius) trilineatus, USNM 202477, male, 26.6 mm SL, Banda Sea. [Drawn by S. L. Chambers.]

TABLE 1.–Selected counts and measurements (percent SL) from specimens of Ecsenius trilineatus, new species

RELATIONSHIPS.–E. trilineatus is a member of the E. yaeyamaensis species group, and appears to belong to the E. oculus subgroup (see relationships under Ecsenius fourmanoiri). E. trilineatus keys closest to E. oculus and E. yaeyamaensis in my 1971 key (Springer, 1971:10–12). It can be differentiated from both of these species by the presence of two nonconverging stripes on the fleshly pectoral fin base. To determine that the two stripes are separate for their entire lengths may necessitate raising the gill cover, which overlaps the anterior end of the fin base.

REMARKS.–In the material list for E. yaeyamaensis (see Springer, 1971:33), I reported on a single poorly preserved specimen, now identifiable as E. trilineatus, from the Banda Sea. While I noted that the color pattern of this specimen was different from all other specimens of E. yaeyamaensis I believed that it probably represented only a variant population of that species. In one of the New Guinea collections made by B. B. Collette both E. yaeyamaensis and E. trilineatus were taken together, thus providing evidence that the two forms represent different species. The locality, Banda Sea, was tentatively assigned the specimen of E. trilineatus based on information provided in the appendix to my paper. The new material of E. trilineatus from the Trobriand Islands and Madang Harbor, New Guinea, near the Banda Sea, provides evidence in support of the Banda Sea locality (on my 1971 distribution map, figure 2, the symbol for E. yaeyamaensis in the Banda Sea refers to the Banda Sea specimen of E. trilineatus).

HOLOTYPE.–USM 205705, male, 25.6 mm SL, New Guinea, Trobriand Islands, off Towai Pt., NW pt. Kiriwina Island, 0–7.6 m, collected by B. B. Collette, et al., 8 June 1970.

PARATYPES.–USNM 206378, 2 males and female, 26.2–27.2 mm SL, taken with the holotype; USNM 205703, male, 25.9 mm SL, Briwadi Island, Trobriand Islands, 1.5–7.6 m, collected by B. B. Collette, et al., 9 June 1970; USNM 205704, female, 27.0 mm SL, Massas Island, Madang Harbor, New Guinea, 10.7–13.7 m, collected by B. B. Collette, et al., 26 May 1970; USNM 202477, male, 26.6 mm, presumably Banda Sea (Banda or Amboina), collected by W. H. Longley.

ETYMOLOGY.–Named trilineatus in reference to the characteristic three longitudinal stripes on the body.

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL.–A single specimen, BPBM 12122, male, 26.2 mm SL, from Efate, New Hebrides, is tentatively identified as E. trilineatus. This specimen differs somewhat in color pattern from that described for the typical specimens. Dusky spots are present anteriorly in the position of the two ventral body stripes. The spots intensify posteriorly and are similar to those in typical specimens. The two stripes on the pectoral fin base and the stripe on the opercle are only diffusely represented, but are identifiable. There is a narrow dusky stripe running most of the length of the dorsal fin just distal to the base of the fin, and there is a distal dusky edging on the rayed portion of the fin. Other markings and characters (meristic, proportional, qualitative) are closely similar to those of the typical specimens. In view of the differences noted I hestitate to designate this specimen as a paratype of E. trilineatus.

Ecsenius (Ecsenius) oculus Springer

Recent collections from the Trobriand Islands, New Guinea (USNM 206431, 9 specimens, 26.6–37.1 mm SL), and Viti Levu, Fiji (BPBM 11270, 3 specimens, 34.2–44.5 mm SL) represent noteworthy new locality records for this species. Both localities are west of the Andesite Line, which I considered as the eastern distribution limit for the species. The localities are both from south of the equator, from where I had few specimens, and counts for segmented dorsal and anal fin rays, caudal vertebrae, and dentary incisor teeth fit well into the clinal pattern (see Springer, 1971:61, table 18). The counts for the recent material are as follows:

Color pattern for the Fijian specimens is most similar to that which I reported for New Hebrides specimens: dorsal and ventral rows of dark spots are present on the body. The ventral row of spots is absent in the New Guinea specimens and the dorsal row is on the dorsal body contour, almost forming saddles as I described for the single Palau Island specimen.

Ecsenius (Ecsenius) opsifrontalis Chapman and Schultz

Three specimens, ANSP 114789, 25.5–39.1 mm SL, collected at a depth of 24.4–27.4 m, northern Escape Reef, Great Barrier Reef, represent an important range extension for this species. These specimens represent the first records of E. opsifrontalis from west of the Andesite Line, which I (1971:8) believed to be the western distribution limit of this species. The range of E. opsifrontalis is now known to overlap that of its closest relative, E. oculus, which is known only from areas west of the Andesite Line. All specimens of E. opsifrontalis reported by me (1971:37) were collected from shallow depths, less than 8 m.

The present specimens all have 14 segmented dorsal fin rays (an exceptional count for other specimens); two have 16 and one has 17 segmented anal fin rays (16 is an exceptional count for other specimens and none have as many as 17); and two have 10+22 and one has 10+23 vertebrae (10+22 is the modal count for the other specimens and none have as many as 10+23).

Ecsenius (Ecsenius) fourmanoiri, new species

FIGURE 2

DESCRIPTION.–Dorsal fin XII, 14–15; anal fin II, 17; pectoral fin 13; segmented caudal fin rays 13; dorsal procurrent caudal fin rays 7–8; ventral procurrent caudal fin rays 6–7; total caudal fin elements 26–28; lower jaw incisor teeth 47; lower jaw posterior canines 1, each side; vertebrae 10+23; epipleural ribs 12–13; lateral line with no paired pores, extending posteriorly to below level of 10th–12th dorsal fin spine; dorsal fin notched seven-ninths to eight-ninths length of first dorsal fin ray; third, innermost pelvic fin ray obvious; one cirrus on rim of each anterior nostril. (For proportions see Table 2).

COLOR PATTERN (males only known).–Dark stripe extending from posterior margin of eye along body to well out on caudal fin. Dark stripe beginning along anterior dorsal body contour, extending posteriorly into basal portion of rayed portion of dorsal fin. Dark stripe on lower side of body beginning in area below midspinous dorsal fin, extending posteriorly well out on caudal fin where it and stripe just dorsal to it coalesce. About 7–10 slender, vertical, dusky bars connecting longitudinal stripes on body, resulting in segregation of pale spots on side of body. Dark stripe on fleshy pectoral fin base extending onto basal portion of pectoral fin rays. Dark stripe margining opercle, continuing ventroanteriorly, meeting similar stripe from other side on ventral side of head. Dark spot anteriorly on underside of lower jaw. Anal fin with broad dark stripe extending entire fin length; anal fin immaculate basally.

RELATIONSHIPS.–Ecsenius fourmanoiri is a member of the yaeyamaensis species group (Springer, 1971:13). Within this group it appears to be most closely related to the species of the oculus subgroup comprising E. oculus, E. opsifrontalis, and E. trilineatus. E. fourmanoiri is somewhat intermediate between E. oculus and E. opsifrontalis. E. oculus has two dark spots on the body at the caudal fin base. The spots decrease in intensity as they extend out on the caudal fin (Springer, 1971, fig. 13). E. fourmanoiri has the two main body stripes intensifying slightly at the caudal fin base and decreasing in intensity as they extend onto the caudal fin. Because of this color pattern E. fourmanoiri could possibly key to E. oculus in my 1971 key. The spots on the caudal fin base and fin are at best faintly represented in E. opsifrontalis and are faintly to well represented, but relatively smaller, in E. trilineatus. The striped and barred color pattern of E. fourmanoiri is different from the dark spotted pattern of E. oculus and the striped pattern of E. trilineatus, but is very similar to, although much more strongly emphasized than, that found in E. opsifrontalis (Springer, 1971, fig. 32). The discrete stripe on the fleshy pectoral fin base of E. fourmanoiri is absent in E. opsifrontalis and only diffusely represented in some specimens of E. oculus. E. trilineatus has two stripes on the fleshy pectoral fin base. The four species agree in having a deeply notched dorsal fin, greatly reduced 13th dorsal fin spine and a relatively far posterior termination of the lateral line.

FIGURE 2.–Ecsenius (Ecsenius) fourmanoiri, BPBM 11416, holotype, male, 48.8 mm SL, New Caledonia (insert shows ventral view of head). [Drawn by J. R. Schroeder.]

TABLE 2.–Selected counts and measurements (percent SL) from specimens of Ecsenius fourmanoiri, new species

Aside from color pattern, E. fourmanoiri differs from E. oculus and E. trilineatus in having fewer teeth (in 47 available specimens of E. oculus, mandibular tooth counts ranged from 47–64, with only one specimen having 47 teeth; tooth counts in E. trilineatus rahge from 43–46 and in E. opsifrontalis from 43–50). It differs from E. opsifrontalis in having 33 vertebrae (31–32, rarely 33, in E. opsifrontalis) and 17 anal fin rays (14–16, rarely 17, in E. opsifrontalis), and from E. trilineatus in having a longer nasal cirrus (2.2–3.9 percent SL in E. trilineatus). Although there are too few specimens of E. trilineatus available to conclude definitely, it appears that E. trilineatus and E. opsifrontalis attain a much smaller maximum size than do the other two species (E. oculus, 53.8 mm; E. opsifrontalis, 39.1 mm; E. fourmanoiri, 48.8 mm; E. trilineatus, 27.0 mm).

HOLOTYPE.–BPBM 11416, male, 48.8 mm SL, New Caledonia, outside barrier reef off Noumea, 1 km NW of Dumbea Pass, rotenone at 15.1–18.3 m, collected by J. E. Randall, et al., 14 August 1971.

PARATYPES.–USNM 206456, male, 39.4 mm SL, collected with the holotype; MNHN 1971–134, 2 males, 39.8–44.3 mm SL, near locality of holotype, but depth 5 m, collected by M. Michel, 22 May 1971.

ETYMOLOGY.–Named in honor of P. Fourmanoir of New Caledonia, who obtained the first specimens of the species and recognized that it was undescribed.

Ecsenius (Ecsenius) collettei, new species

FIGURE 3

DESCRIPTION.–Dorsal fin XII, 14–15; anal fin II, 16; pectoral fin 13; segmented caudal fin rays 13; dorsal procurrent caudal fin rays 7–8; ventral procurrent caudal fin rays 7–8; total caudal fin elements 27–28; lower jaw incisor teeth 45–50; lower jaw posterior canines 1, each side; vertebrae 10+21–22; epipleural ribs 12–14; lateral line with no paired pores, extending posteriorly to below 8th–10th dorsal fin spine; dorsal fin notched eight-ninths to nine-ninths length first dorsal fin ray; third, innermost, pelvic fin ray varying from obvious to reduced and obscured; one cirrus on each anterior nostril. (For proportions see Table 3.)

COLOR PATTERN (males and females).–Side of head with one or two small dark spots near posterior margin of orbit, larger spot on dorsal portion of opercle; underside of head plain dusky or with two elongate, curved dark marks, each with or without slightly disjunct dark spot just anterior. Sides of body with two longitudinal rows of dark spots, 10–11 spots in upper row, 6–9 in lower row; rows may continue to caudal base or terminate on caudal peduncle with dark spot at midcaudal base between rows. Fleshy pectoral fin base dusky dorsally, paler ventrally. Rayed portion of dorsal fin with suprabasal dusky stripe; other fins varying from immaculate to dusky.

RELATIONSHIPS.–Ecsenius collettei is a member of the prooculis subgroup of the yaeyamaensis species group (Springer, 1971:13). The four species of this subgroup (E. prooculis, E. biamaculatus, E. bandanus, E. collettei) differ from each other only in particulars of their strikingly different color patterns (see key; the three previously described species are illustrated in Springer, 1971, figs. 33–35).

REMARKS.–In my discussion of the species of the prooculis subgroup (Springer, 1971:39) I noted that the distribution of the three species then known correlated well with zoogeographic patterns exhibited by terrestrial organisms, based on the biogeographical subdivisions of the islands of the tropical western Pacific Ocean (Thorne, 1963:322). I predicted that additional species in the prooculis subgroup could be expected if the distributions of the three known species were indicative. The distribution of E. collettei furnishes additional support for Thorne’s subdivisions. E. collettei occurs in the Papuan Province of the Papuan Subregion of the Oriental Region.

In breaking the Oriental (tropical) Region of the western Pacific into separate biotic areas, Thorne divided the region into subregions, provinces, and districts. Not all provinces were broken into districts. The four species of the prooculis subgroup occur in three different subregions. E. bandanus and E. collettei occur in different provinces of one subregion (no districts indicated for the provinces); E. prooculis occurs in both the districts of one province of another subregion; and E. bimaculatus occurs in one of the four districts of one of the provinces of the third subregion. Based on the fact that there remain other subregions, provinces and districts from which no member of the prooculis subgroup is known, one can continue to expect undescribed species of the subgroup to appear in the future.

FIGURE 3.–Ecsenius (Ecsenius) collettei, USNM 206380, male, 33.0 mm SL, Krankett Island, Madang Harbour, New Guinea (insert shows ventral view of head). [Drawn by J. R. Schroeder.]

TABLE 3.–Selected counts and measurements (percent SL) from specimens of Ecsenius collettei, new species

HOLOTYPE.–USNM 206379, male, 29.7 mm SL, New Guinea, bay in Krankett Island, Madang Harbour, 1.6–8.2 m, collected by B. B. Collette, et al., 30 May 1970.

PARATYPES.–USNM 206380, male, 30.0 mm SL, taken with the holotype; USNM 205701, male, 21.6 mm SL, New Guinea, south end of Beliau Island, Madang Harbour, New Guinea, 0–6.6 m, collected by B. B. Collette, et al., 22 May 1970; USNM 205702, male and female, 29.7–31.7 mm SL, New Guinea, inlet on harbor side of Krankett Island, 0–3.3 m, collected by B. B. Collette, et al., 23 May 1970.

ETYMOLOGY.–Named for Bruce B. Collette, whose New Guinea collections of fishes provided many important blenniid specimens, including those described above.

Revised Key to the Subgenera and Species of Ecsenius

Genus Entomacrodus Gill

Entomacrodus decussatus (Bleeker)

Salarias kikaiensis Aoyagi (1954) is a junior synonym of E. decussatus that I missed in my Entomacrodus revision (Springer, 1967). Although the location of the holotype is unknown, Aoyagi’s illustration of the species is adequate for identification. The type-locality of S. kikaiensis, Kikai Island, Riu Kiu Islands, represents a northward range entension for E. decussatus, which I previously reported only from as far north as the Philippine Islands (Springer, 1967, fig. 5). There are also a considerable number of uncataloged USNM specimens of E. decussatus from Taiwan and Okinawa (also Riu Kiu Islands, but south of Kikai).

Seven specimens of E. decussatus (AMS I.11810–12, 6 specimens, 46.5–96.0 mm SL; AMS I.11972, 129 mm SL) from Murray Island, Torres Strait, represent a new locality record of interest for the species. Murray Island is about midway in the wide distribution gap between the eastern and western populations of E. decussatus (Springer, 1967, fig. 5). The island also indicates the possible pathway by which the Pacific Ocean populations of E. decussatus invaded western Australia (Indian Ocean). E. decussatus is otherwise known only from the Pacific Ocean (but has not yet been reported from northern or eastern Australia).

Entomacrodus epalzeocheilus (Bleeker) E. niuafoouensis (Fowler) and E. randalli Springer

Springer (1967) considered E. epalzeocheilus to be an Indian Ocean species with an extralimital population at Samoa. Its closest relative, E. niuafoouensis, was considered to be a western Pacific, peripherally distributed species with an extralimital population at Madagascar. I proposed that the extralimital populations of both species were either relicts from when the species were more widespread or represented populations of the dominant species in each area (Pacific, Indian Ocean) that were convergent upon the species in the other area. Little alteration of either species would be necessary to confuse it with the other. The main character for separating the two species was the presence of palmate nuchal cirri in E. epalzeocheilus and simple nuchal cirri in E. niuafoouensis. Secondary characters, with broad overlap, were numbers of lip crenulae and gill-rakers.

In 1968, I collected in southwestern Taiwan, an island geographically intermediate between the areas from which I reported the main distributions of E. epalzeocheilus and E. niuafoouensis. In each of two collections I obtained specimens of both species, based on the nuchal cirrus characters (one E. niuafoouensis, USNM 206394, 88.7 mm SL, and two E. epalzeocheilus, USNM 206392, 75.0–85.8 mm SL in one collection, and three E. niuafoouensis, USNM 206391, 44.6–53.5 mm SL, and six E. epalzeocheilus, USNM 206390, 68.7–87.3 mm SL, in the other). Besides nuchal cirri and gill-rakers, there were no noticeable differences by which the specimens could be separated. The four specimens of E. niuafoouensis had 25, 22, 22, and 17 gill-rakers; of the eight E. epalzeocheilus, five had 18 gill-rakers and three had 19.

One might expect that two closely related species would be most distinct in areas where they occur together. Apparently this is not the case with these two species, which are no more distinguishable when their Taiwan populations are compared than when their allopatric populations are compared (except for the extralimital population of E. niuafoouensis at Madagascar, which has very long orbital cirri). It is quite possible that the two species are really one and that the nuchal cirri differences separating them are merely indications of simple genetic dominance where the homozygous dominant and heterozygous allelic conditions produce one type nuchal cirrus and the homozygous recessive condition, another. In this scheme the supposed extralimital population of each type would merely represent a simple mutant of the dominant population in each area that had become established at a highly restricted locality. The genes controlling the numbers of gill-rakers are possibly linked to those controlling the manifestation of the nuchal cirri.

Smith (1966) reported Entomacrodus epalzeocheilos (sic) from Zululand, the only record for the African coast.

Springer (1967) believed that the Marquesas Island endemic Entomacrodus randalli and E. niuafoouensis were derived from the same ancestral species. E. randalli was distinguished from E. niuafoouensis in having a single pore before each anterior nostril and spots on the upper lip, whereas E. niuafoouensis had two or more pores before each anterior nostril and stripes on the upper lip. Recent collections of E. niuafoouensis from Pitcairn Island (BPBM uncataloged, 7 adults, 32.2–91.0 mm SL, and several tentatively identified young, 18.5–22.8 mm SL) and Henderson Island (BPBM uncataloged, 2 adults 64.0–80.9 mm SL) indicate that specimens from these islands typically have only one pore before each nostril. Hence, only the color pattern of the upper lip serves to distinguish these two species at the easternmost extremity of their range.

The Pitcairn and Henderson island specimens of E. niuafoouensis will key to the couplet separating E. randalli from E. sealei (see Springer, 1967:35). The lip stripes of E. niuafoouensis will serve to distinguish that species from both E. randalli and the few aberrant specimens of E. sealei, for which this couplet was meant to accommodate (see Note in Springer, 1967:35).

Entomacrodus rofeni Springer

Springer (1967:86) described E. rofeni from Raroia, Tuamotu Archipelago. Recent collections extend the range of this species eastward to Ducie Island (BPBM uncataloged, 9 specimens, 45.0–51.3 mm SL) and Henderson Island (BPBM uncataloged, 46.3 mm SL).

All the specimens have faint lip stripes; four lack vomerine teeth; five have a single tooth and one, two teeth on the vomer. The predorsal commissural pores range from 3–7. Two specimens have 34 vertebrae and eight have 35. Three specimens have 17 segmented anal fin rays (method A, Springer 1967:5) and seven have 18.

All specimens available to me in 1967 were smaller than those reported above, and all had only three predorsal commissural pores.

Entomacrodus vomerinus (Valenciennes), E. textilis (Quoy and Gaimard), E. cadenati Springer, and E. nigricans Gill

Springer (1967) differentiated E. vomerinus from the other Atlantic species of Entomacrodus on details of color pattern and its usually having more vertebrae and segmented dorsal and anal fin rays. The species was reported as occurring only along the coast of Brazil (from Natal to Bahia) and at Fernando de Noronja island (03°50′S,32°25′W). A recent collection of specimens was obtained by the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (UMML) from St. Peter and St. Paul Rocks (00°56′N; 29°22′W). These specimens represent an interesting range extension for the species, as well as exhibiting differences in certain meristic characters from mainland Brazil specimens (Table 4). The Fernando de Noronja specimens also exhibit similar differences. Inasmuch as additional material to that which I reported for E. textilis (endemic to Ascension and St. Helena islands) is also available, and I gave no breakdown on the most important meristic characters for the Atlantic species of Entomacrodus, I report these frequencies in Table 4 (data from specimens of E. nigricans from the Caribbean and Florida, of E. vomerinus from Brazil, and E. cadenati from all localities are lumped, as sub-localities showed no noticeable variation on inspection).

NEW MATERIAL.–E. vomerinus, St. Peter and St. Paul, UMML 26523 (11 specimens, 21.0–42.0 mm SL); E. textilis, Ascension, USNM 205839–205841 (258 specimens, 16.6–66.2 mm SL); St. Helena, USNM 206388 (49 specimens, 23.2–80.4 mm SL).

TABLE 4.–Frequency distributions for numbers of vertebrae and segmented dorsal and anal fin rays in the Atlantic Ocean species of Entomacrodus

Entomacrodus sealei Bryan and Herre

A specimen (USNM 206400, 38.0 mm SL) of this species from Madang Harbor, New Guinea, represents a new locality record for the species. The specimen is atypical in having several narrow, dusty stripes alternating with pale interspaces of about equal width on the upper lip. The typical pattern, which consists of broad, dusky bands alternating with pale pinstripes, is ordinarily diagnostic for the species. Additional specimens from New Guinea would be desirable in order to determine if the lip pattern is indicative of a distinct population.

Ten specimens from Pitcairn Island (BPBM uncataloged, 41.6–61.2 mm SL) represent a westward range extension for the species.

Entomacrodus caudofasciatus (Regan)

In my 1967 (pp. 134–135) revision I described five different color pattern types for this species. Each of the color pattern types, except number 4, was found to be restricted to a particular geographic area. No two color pattern types were found to occur sympatrically. Additional specimens of pattern number 3 (Waigeo, New Britain, New Georgia) are now available from New Guinea (USNM 206385, Trobriand Islands, 11 specimens 21.2–37.2 mm SL; USNM 206386, Madang, 7 specimens, 34.8–50.0 mm SL) and the New Hebrides (AMS 1.14308, 2 specimens, ca. 41–45.8 mm SL). The New Hebrides specimens extend the number 3 pattern type considerably southward. In my description of the number 3 pattern I mentioned that there were no stripes on the upper lip. Several of the new specimens show traces of such stripes.

Several specimens with color pattern number 4 (South China Sea, McKean, Swains, Tutuila, Tau, and Tongatapu islands) from Taiwan represent a slightly northern range extension for this color pattern type (USNM 206384, 3 specimens, 42.8–43.9 mm SL; USNM 206387, 11 specimens, 35.6–58.4 mm SL; USNM 206398, 7 specimens, 44.5–61.4 mm SL).

Recent collections of E. caudofasciatus from Ducie Island (BPBM uncataloged, 2: 31.5–35.1 mm SL) and Pitcairn Island (BPBM uncataloged, 9: 40.5–55.0 mm SL) represent a westward range extension for color pattern number 5, formerly reported only for Tahiti, Makatea, Rarotonga and Raroia.

Entomacrodus thalassinus (Jordan and Seale)

The following specimens are range extensions for the subspecies of E. thalassinus:

E. t. thalassinus: Ceylon, USNM 206399 (12 specimens, 19.0–36.6 mm SL); One Tree Island, Great Barrier Reef, USNM 201366 (30.8 mm SL); Trobriand Islands, New Guinea, USNM 206406 (23.6 mm SL).

E. t. longicirrus Springer: Southwest tip of Taiwan, USNM 206393, 206395, 206396 (6 specimens 28.6–34.8 mm SL).

E. t. thalassinus and E. t. longicirrus were differentiated by me on the basis of relative supraorbital cirrus lengths. E. t. longicirrus was reported only from Thailand, Viet Nam, and Hong Kong. All specimens from outside these South China Sea localities belonged to the nominal subspecies. The specimens here reported from Taiwan, a locality somewhat intermediate between the South China Sea and the other areas, are of interest because they are also somewhat intermediate on the basis of relative supraorbital cirrus lengths: four of the specimens fall at the lower end of the range of E. t. longicirrus for relative cirrus lengths and two fall within the range of E. t. thalassinus.

Literature Cited

Aoyagi, H.

1954. Additional Notes on the New and Rare Fishes of the Family Blenniidae from the Riu-Kiu Islands. Dobutsugaku Zasshi, 63 (6):231–243 [Japanese with English summary].

Smith, J L. B.

1966. Interesting Fishes from South Africa. Rhodes University, Department of Ichthyology, Occasional Paper, 8:83–94.

Springer, V. G.

1967. Revision of the Circumtropical Shorefish Genus Entomacrodus (Blenniidae: Salariinae). Proceedings of the United States National Museum, 122(3582):1–150.

1971. Revision of the Fish Genus Ecsenius (Blenniidae, Blenniinae, Salariini). Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology, 72:1–74.

Thorne, R. F.

1963. Biotic Distribution Patterns in the Tropical Pacific. Pages 311–350, in Pacific Basin Biogeogfaphy, edited by J. L. Gressitt. Honolulu: Bishop Museum Press.

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