Plectranthias maekawa, a new species of perchlet from the Tokara Islands, Kagoshima, Japan, with a review of Japanese records of P. wheeleri (Serranidae: Anthiadinae)

Abstract

A new species of perchlet, Plectranthias maekawa, is described on the basis of three specimens (58.2–65.1 mm standard length: SL) from the Tokara Islands, Kagoshima, Japan. The new species can be distinguished from all congeners by the following combination of characters: X, 15 or 16 dorsal-fin rays; 14 pectoral-fin rays; lateral line complete with 30 pored scales; 3 scale rows above lateral line; 6 diagonal rows of large scales on cheek between eye and corner of preopercle; two antrorse spines on ventral margin of preopercle; margins of subopercle and interopercle smooth; body depth 33.5–34.7% of SL; body width 17.2–17.4% of SL; third dorsal-fin spine longest, its length 46.2–47.2% of HL; caudal-peduncle depth 58.0–63.2% of caudal-peduncle length; body pinkish-white with five orange-red bands on lateral surface when fresh, first band broadest, first, fourth and fifth bands vertical to body longitudinal axis, second and third bands slightly backwardly oblique; small poorly defined yellow blotches scattered below lateral line when fresh, especially along red bands; scales above lateral line white, with distinct red margins when fresh; most cheek scales white or yellowish-white, without distinct red or yellow margins; body uniformly pale, with reduced nape pigmentation in preserved specimens. Japanese records of Plectranthias wheeleri Randall 1980, closely related to P. maekawa, is reviewed, with additional specimens of P. wheeleri from the Ryukyu Islands and Sagami Bay, Pacific coast of central Japan, the latter representing the northernmost record for the species. An unidentified specimen of Plectranthias from Okinawa, Japan, is briefly described.