Volume 16, Issue 2 – 20 April 2010

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Peter R. Last, William T. White, Melody Puckridge: Neotrygon ningalooensis n. sp. (Myliobatoidei: Dasyatidae), a new maskray from Australia, pp. 37-50

Abstract

A new maskray, Neotrygon ningalooensis n. sp., is described from material collected near Coral Bay in the Ningaloo Marine Park, off the central coast of Western Australia, where its distribution appears to be restricted and patchy. However, other recently accessed material, collected further south (Shark Bay, Western Australia) and east (Gove, Northern Territory), suggest that this species is more widespread. Like other members of the genus Neotrygon, it lives primarily on sandy substrates but often hides partly concealed beneath small coral bommies during the day. Its eyes are relatively more protrusible than its congeners enabling it to bury deeply in soft sediments with its eyes still exposed. The type specimens were speared in shallow water near the shore in close association with two congeners, N. leylandi and N. kuhlii, from which it differs in colour and morphology. Neotrygon ningalooensis and N. ley­landi both have an ornate dorsal coloration but lack the vivid blue spots typical of N. kuhlii. Molecular analysis has confirmed that the three sympatric species at Ningaloo are specifically distinct.

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Underwater photographs of Neotrygon ningalooensis n. sp., adult male, Bundegi Reef in Ningaloo Marine Park. Photo by F. Cerutti;

Stefano Valdesalici: Nothobranchius boklundi (Cyprinodontiformes: Nothobranchiidae): a new annual killifish with two male colour morphs from the Luangwa River basin, Zambia, pp. 51-60

Abstract

A new species of an annual killifish, Nothobranchius boklundi, is described based on specimens collected from ephemeral bodies of water in the Luangwa River basin, eastern Zambia. The new species belongs to the Nothobranchius brieni species-group and is distinguished from the other members by different male and female coloration and morphological characters.

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Adult male red morph Nothobranchius boklundi, not preserved; Zambia: Eastern province: near South Luangwa National Park main gate (photo reversed). Photo by A. Persson.

Gerald R. Allen, Mark V. Erdmann, and Paul H. Barber: A new species of damselfish (Chrysiptera: Pomacentridae) from Papua New Guinea and eastern Indonesia, pp. 61-70

Abstract

Chrysiptera arnazae is described from 19 specimens, 21.2-33.1 mm SL, from northern Papua New Guinea and eastern Indonesia (Papua Barat Province, Halmahera, and northern Sulawesi). A separate genetic study currently in progress indicates it belongs to a monophyletic clade of four species that includes C. giti (south-western New Guinea and the Togean Islands, Indonesia), C. hemicyanea (southern Sulawesi, Kei Islands, western New Guinea, and Northwest Shelf of Australia), and C. parasema (western Indonesia, Sabah, Philippines, and Ryukyu Islands). The members of this group are characterised by a brilliant blue colouration with variable amounts of yellow on the posterior/ventral portion of the body. It resembles C. hemicyanea in having mainly yellow pelvic fins (rarely with one-half to two thirds of fin blue) in contrast to the other two species, which possess entirely blue pelvics. However, it differs from all other members of the group in having a vertically, abrupt transition from blue to yellow posterior to the level of the posteriormost dorsal spines and possessing a combination of blue and yellow on the anal fin (entirely yellow or entirely blue in other species). Genetic data presented here also confirms the separation of this species from its close relatives. A key to the 10 members of the “hemicyanea complex” of Chrysiptera species is provided as well as comparative underwater photographs of the three species most closely related to C. arnazae.

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Underwater photograph of Chrysiptera arnazae, approximately 35.0 mm SL, Halmahera, Indonesia. Photo by G. R. Allen.

Gerald R. Allen and Mark V. Erdmann: Two new species of Calumia (Teleostei: Eleotridae) from West Papua, Indonesia, pp. 71-80

Abstract

Two new species of reef-dwelling eleotrids are described from Cenderawasih Bay, West Papua, Indonesia. Calumia eilperinae n. sp. is described from two specimens, 20.7-22.1 mm SL. It differs from the three other members of the genus in having a distinctive pattern of light and gray bands on the dorsal, anal and caudal fins, 13 pectoral rays and a unique short, rounded second dorsal fin. The upper jaw extends posteriorly to below the anterior half of the pupil and is intermediate to other Calumia with respect to this feature. Calumia papuensis n. sp. is described on the basis of 13 specimens, 18.4-30.7 mm SL. It is superficially similar to C. profunda, but has a more slender caudal peduncle (depth 3.0-3.7 vs. 2.4-2.9 in SL), longer filamentous extensions on the second dorsal and anal fins (often reaching middle of caudal fin), modally more predorsal scales (mean 9.31 vs. 7.8) and more gray bars on the side of the body (nine vs. 6-7). Both new species were collected together in 5-12 m depth on a sheltered, near-shore coral reef.

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Underwater photograph of Calumia eilperinae, male holotype, 20.7 mm SL, Cenderawasih Bay, Papua Barat Province, Indonesia. Photo by G. R. Allen.