/VW-L.£:an.lov^,ci^e1 DO NOT ClRC^J'.'^^^O^lP. zoc ' LIBRARY J * «f o B R E V I O R „.„„„„ UNlVERSIXYi Mmseiiini of Comparative Zoology Cambridge. Mass. ;:{0 J.axuary, 1970 Number 342 REDESCRIPTION OF POMACENTRUS OTOPHORUS POEY 1860, A VALID SPECIES FROM THE CARIBBEAN (PISCES: POMACENTRIDAE) Robert W. Toppi Abstract. Pomacentrus otophorus Poey 1860 is restored to valid status and redescribed on the basis of material from Panama and Jamaica. It is distinguished from its western Atlantic congeners by a black opercular "earspot," soft vertical fin tips of bright yellow-orange, and the combina-tion of short head, small eye, deep suborbital, absence of ocelli, and strong suborbital and preopercular serrations. P. otophorus is unique among American damselfishes in that the adults are excluded from waters of sustained high salinity. This aspect of their ecology may have a bearing on the dissimilarity between Panama and Jamaica populations, as well as on the implied phyletic relationship between the Pomacentridae and Cichlidae. INTRODUCTION In late 1967 my attention was drawn to an unrecognized dam-selfish living in the Chagres River Estuary on the Caribbean coast of Panama. During subsequent months more than 60 specimens were collected from this and other Panama localities. In June, 1968, 10 additional specimens were obtained from Jamaica. Upon review of nominal Caribbean species I found that this material seemed to agree in detail with the description of Poma-centrus otophorus Poey 1860. Examination of the holotype, USNM 4710, confirms the identity and thereby restores the species to valid status. Poey's original description was drawn from a single 1 30 mm TL specimen and served as a model for his generic treatment. Jordan and Evermann's (1898: 1555) account was essentially an abridg-ment of Poey's original description. 1 Present address: Florida Department of Natural Resources, Marine Research Laboratory, St. Petersburg, Florida; Contribution No. 131.
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