PROC. BIOL. SOC. WASH. 96(4), 1983, pp. 632-637 A NEW SPECIES OF THE SERRANID FISH GENUS PLECTRANTHIAS (PISCES: PERCIFORMES) FROM THE SOUTHEASTERN PACIFIC OCEAN, WITH COMMENTS ON THE GENUS ELLERKELDIA Phillip C. Heemstra and William D. Anderson, Jr. Abstract.— Plectranthias exsul, new species, is described from six specimens collected off the Juan Fernandez Islands and from the Nazca Ridge off the coast of Chile. This new species is the first Plectranthias to be reported from the eastern Pacific Ocean. The distinction between Plectranthias and Ellerkeldia is discussed. For several years we have been working on a revision of the American Anthiinae. Among the considerable material examined are six specimens of a new species of Plectranthias Bleeker, 1873, from the southeastern Pacific. Rather than delay description of this new species until the completion of our revision, we decided to publish the description separately. Type-specimens are deposited in the Academy of Natural Sciences of Phila-delphia (ANSP); Bemice P. Bishop Museum, Honolulu (BPBM); Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University (MCZ); National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution (USNM); and Zoological Museum, Moscow State University (ZMMU). Measurements and counts were made following Anderson and Heemstra (1980). Plectranthias exsul, new species Figs. 1-2 Plectranthias sp., Parin et ah, 1981:14 (brief description of Nazca Ridge speci-mens). Holotype.—AN^V 127843, 158 mm SL (standard length); Juan Fernandez is-lands (33°37'S, 78°49'W); Feb 1957; R. Manning, collector. Paratypes.— MCZ 52520, 2 specimens 134 & 140 mm SL; Juan Fernandez islands; 140 to 165 m; 27 Jan 1966; R/V Anton Brunn Cruise 13, Stn. 35; 40' otter trawl. USNM 176577, 158 mm SL; Juan Fernandez islands (33°38'S, 78°50'W); 31 Mar 1945. BPBM 27978, 133 mm SL; Nazca Ridge (25°45'S, 85°29'W); 200 to 225 m; 1 Nov 1979; R/V Ikhtiandr Trawl 59. ZMMU P-16022, 150 mm SL; data as for BPBM 27978. Diagnosis.— Dorsal-fin rays X, 15 or X, 16. Anal-fin rays III, 7. Pectoral-fin rays 16 or 17 (usually 16); dorsalmost (and occasionally ventralmost) ray un-branched, the rest branched. Branched caudal-fin rays 8 + 7. Lateral-line scales 40 to 46; scales between middle of spinous dorsal fin and lateral line 1 Vi to IVi. Lateral part of snout and anterior part of lower jaw naked. Maxilla naked or with very few scales. Small splint-like supramaxilla usually present. Preopercle serrate, with or without antrorse spine on lower limb. Gillrakers 8 to 1 + 1 8 to 2 1 , total 26 to 31. Second soft ray of dorsal fin and one of dorsalmost branched rays of
A new species of the serranid fish genus Plectranthias (Pisces: Perciformes) from the southeastern Pacific Ocean, with comments on the genus Ellerkeldia
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