Three new species of the fangblenny genus Meiacanthus from Indonesia, with color photographs and comments on other species (Teleostei: Blenniidae: Nemophini)
Author
Smith-Vaniz, William F.
Author
Allen, Gerald R.
text
Zootaxa
2011
3046
39
58
journal article
46240
10.5281/zenodo.278871
1b0f764a-ad01-4d54-94b5-07084208dc8e
1175-5326
278871
Meiacanthus
(
Meiacanthus
)
limbatus
Smith-Vaniz
The original description of
Meiacanthus limbatus
was based only on the 37.0 mm SL female
holotype
from Manus I.,
Bismarck Archipelago
. The following collection represents a northern range extension, at a locality where it was the only species of
Meiacanthus
seen: USNM 397427 (5,
10.4–26.3 mm
SL), South West Islands, Hatohobei, Helen Reef,
2°47'57"S
,
131°45'18"E
, vertical drop off from reef top,
22–
34 m
. Although adult
Meiacanthus
were also observed at this location, they rapidly swam away from the ichthyocide station and could not be captured (J. T. Williams, pers. comm.). The Helen Reef specimens agree with the
holotype
(for which life coloration was not recorded) in having the diagnostic dark brown chin and anal fin with a narrow dark stripe at its base. Meristic data for the
holotype
followed by the three largest Helen Reef specimens, in parentheses, are: dorsal fin IV, 26 (IV, 25, IV, 25, IV, 26), anal fin II, 17 (II, 16, II, 16, II, 16); pectoral fin 14-14 (same); vertebrae 13+ 22 (13+22, 13+23, 14+23).
The only available color photographs of
M. limbatus
(
Fig. 22
) are based on a juvenile and two subadults. The only other member of the
M. lineatus
group known to have a yellow caudal fin (life colors unknown for
M. naevius
and M.
abditus
) is the eastern Australian endemic,
M. lineatus
(
Fig. 23
).