| Zusammenfassung: | Three new plesiopid fishes of the genus Plesiops are described. Plesiops gracilis n. sp. is known from the Palau Ids., Yap, New Guinea, Philippines, and Rowley Shoals off Western Australia. It is characterized by having 17-19 pectoral rays, an enlarged anteroventral sensory pore of the preopercular series, and nine pale stripes on the body. It is most similar to P. cephalotaenia Inger, but differs in having 5-7 dentary pores instead of 7-24, 9-11 predorsal scales rather than 6-8, and 4-5 cheek scales vs 3-4. Plesiops insularis n. sp. ranges from Lord Howe Id. to New Caledonia. It has 21-24 pectoral rays and lacks pale spots or stripes on the body. The cheek scales are visible as far forward as the posterior margin of the maxilla. The suborbital, dentary, and preopercular sensory-pore series are not continuous with one another, and the dentary pore number to SL (mm) ratio (pore: SL) usually less than one. Plesiops genaricus n. sp. is known only from the Great Barrier Reef. It has 22-25 pectoral rays and lacks pale spots or stripes on the body. Due to overlying pore-bearing skin, the visible cheek scales are restricted to a narrow band that does not reach the maxilla. Suborbital, dentary, and preopercular sensory-pore series are continuous with one another, and the pore: SL ratio is usually greater than one. The latter species is most similar to P. insularis, but differs in the narrower band of cheek scales and the greater number of sensory pores on the head.
|
|---|