Pseudogramma polyacantha complex (Serranidae, tribe Grammistini): DNA barcoding results lead to the discovery of three cryptic species, including two new species from French Polynesia
Author
Williams, Jeffrey T.
Author
Viviani, Jeremie
text
Zootaxa
2016
4111
3
246
260
journal article
39056
10.11646/zootaxa.4111.3.3
662f3029-c9b0-4de7-9567-c5ac57252f14
1175-5326
265897
89E9A206-8D5B-45D9-ABD9-4EC317610A23
Pseudogramma brederi
(Hildebrand in
Longley & Hildebrand, 1940
)
Confused Podge
(
Figure 6
;
Table 1
)
Rhegma brederi
Hildebrand in
Longley & Hildebrand, 1940
:244
, Fig. 11 (Exact
type
locality unknown, but apparently from the Hawaiian Islands; erroneously listed as being from the
Tortugas
as discussed by
Randall & Baldwin 1997
).
Pseudorhegma diagramma
Schultz, 1966
: 193
(
type
locality, Hawaii).
Pseudogramma polyacantha hawaiiensis
Randall and Baldwin, 1997
: 42
(
Holotype
: BPBM 28742;
type
locality: Ke’ei, Hawaii).
Diagnosis
. A species of
Pseudogramma
with modally 21 segmented dorsal-fin rays, modally 17 segmented analfin rays, a relatively long LL (1.6–1.9, mean= 1.8) in SL, relatively well-developed scalation on the interorbital, suborbital and dentary (
Fig. 2
C); head length
2.4–2.7 in
SL, peduncle depth 3.2–4.0 in HL.
Description.
Dorsal rays VII, 20–21 (rarely 22); anal rays III, 16–18 (rarely 18); pectoral rays 15–17; LL scales usually 34–39 (
3 specimens
with 31), LL length long, 1.6–1.9 (mean=1.8) in SL; usually no fully developed second LL (some tubed scales rarely present posteriorly); longitudinal scale series 47–52; gill rakers 5–6 + 11–12; vertebrae 10 + 16.
Body depth 3.2–4.0 in SL (mean=3.57); HL 2.4–2.7 (mean=2.5) in SL; snout
5.3–6.3 in
HL; caudal-peduncle length 4.0–
5.9 in
head; peduncle depth 3.2–4.0 in HL. Fifth or sixth dorsal spines longest, 3.3–4.8 (mean= 4.0) in HL; longest dorsal segmented ray 3.6–4.5 (mean=4.0) in HL; posterior dorsal and anal rays nearly reaching, just reaching or extending slightly posterior to vertical at caudal-fin base, second anal spine 4.2–5.6 (mean= 4.8) in HL; longest anal soft ray 3.2–4.3 (mean= 3.8) in HL; caudal fin short and rounded 2.0–2.8 (mean= 2.4) in HL; pectoral fins barely reaching or reaching slightly posterior to anal-fin origin (but not to segmented rays), 1.5–2.0 in HL. Interorbital width 8.3–20.0 (mean= 12.5) in HL.
Mouth large, the maxilla extending posteriorly to a vertical at rear edge of orbit; maxilla 2.0–2.3 (mean= 2.1) in HL; a band of villiform teeth in jaws; upper jaw with a small canine tooth in outer row on each side at front of jaw; villiform teeth on palatines in 3–5 rows in adults, the band distinctly longer than side of V-shaped patch of teeth on vomer.
No dermal flap or small tentacle dorsally on eye. Cephalic sensory pores as shown in
Fig. 1
, supraorbital and some infraorbital pores variably present on head and may be absent or covered by scales when present. Tubular anterior nostril near edge of snout at base of upper lip, the tube not long, reaching one-third the distance to and almost to posterior nostril when depressed onto snout. A sharp spine projecting downward (30–60° to horizontal axis of body, mean= 50°) on posterior edge of preopercle at level of upper base of pectoral fin; upper surface of preopercular spine V-shaped with a central furrow. Three flat spines on opercle nearly in vertical alignment, middle spine closer to lower than upper spine (preopercular and opercular spines usually covered with scales).
FIGURE 6.
Pseudogramma brederi
USNM 409417, 45 mm SL, Marquesas. Photo: J.T. Williams.
Scalation on the head moderately developed (
Fig. 2
C). Interorbital scalation extending anteriorly to at least anterior border of orbits (pore InO2) in smallest specimens (below
40 mm
), extending onto snout in larger specimens where scales reach level of posterior nostrils and N1 pore (
Fig. 2
C). Cheek scalation extending anteriorly to infraorbital pore IO C or IO B. Dentary scales extending anteriorly at least to first dentary pore (D1), some specimens with dentary completely scaled.
Color pattern
. Based on photos of freshly dead specimens from Marquesas, Mururoa and Australs (
Fig. 6
). Head brown with pale streak extending ventroposteriorly from ventral border of orbit, across preopercle toward upper end of pectoral-fin base; large black spot on opercle bordered by pale ring; anterior nostril short brown tube with pale stripe laterally; branchiostegal membranes sometimes with pale reddish cast; iris of eye brown with narrow irregular ring of yellow or orange bordering pupil; ventral border of orbit black. Body with mottled checkerboard pattern of alternating dark brown and tan spots. Fins dusky brown or reddish brown, caudal fin with narrow pale bar on base bordered posteriorly by half-moon shaped brown crescent. Color in alcohol essentially the same as fresh color, but without reddish tones.
Remarks.
We name this the Confused Podge to reflect the confusion surrounding its
type
locality when the species was first described as an Atlantic species. Our analysis of mtDNA data reveal the presence of
Pseudogramma brederi
at the Marquesas and Austral Islands and there is a BOLD sequence from a
Reunion
Island specimen that clusters in the same lineage (
Fig.4
), which is supported by our examination of preserved museum specimens of this species from the Agalega Islands and
Mauritius
, Western Indian Ocean. We have found additional specimens of
P. brederi
at
Taiwan
, Ogasawara Islands (based on
Randall
et al.
1997
: plate 6B, previously identified as
P. polyacantha
), Johnston Island, Hawaii, Rapa,
Fiji
,
Tonga
, Loyalty Islands and
Vanuatu
.
Pseudogramma brederi
displays an interesting distribution pattern in the Pacific Ocean that, with the exception of the Marquesas, is antitropical (
Fig. 5
), with populations found north of 20 degrees N and south of about 19–20 degrees S latitude. Although the Marquesas are located in the tropics, Marquesan waters are influenced by upwelling that simulates a more subtropical environment. In addition, the species is currently known to have an east-west disjunct geographic distribution with a Central Pacific population from Ogasawara, Johnston, Hawaii, Marquesas, Australs,
Tonga
and
Vanuatu
and a southwestern Indian Ocean population currently known only from Agalega Islands,
Mauritius
and
Reunion
. We believe it is likely to be more widely distributed in appropriate subtropical habitats.
Material examined.
TAIWAN
:
USNM
361831,
48.3 mm
SL. HAWAII:
USNM
160672
,
holotype
of
Pseudogramma diagramma
,
67.5 mm
SL. JOHNSTON
ISLAND
:
USNM
140729
,
18 specimens
,
31.3–65.8 mm
. MARQUESAS ISLANDS:
USNM
409419, tissue number: MARQ-414,
53.4 mm
;
USNM
409417, tissue number: MARQ-417,
42.8 mm
;
USNM
409418, tissue number: MARQ-418, 55.0 mm;
USNM
409146, tissue number: MARQ-146,
39.1 mm
;
USNM
409147, tissue number: MARQ-147,
54.5 mm
;
USNM
411305,
3 specimens
, 46.6–52.0 mm;
USNM
411461,
3 specimens
,
33.8–45.1 mm
. MURUROA, TUAMOTU ARCHIPELAGO:
USNM
419833,
5 specimens
, 37.6–52.0 mm.
RAPA
:
USNM
379703, AUSTRAL ISLANDS:
USNM
422967, tissue number: AUST-498,
49.3 mm
.
TONGA
ISLANDS:
USNM
334318, 51 mm;
USNM
329736,
8 specimens
,
34.1–52.6 mm
.
FIJI
, southern Islands:
USNM
287812,
3 specimens
,
14.8–53.6 mm
;
USNM
258327,
3 specimens
,
29.9–39.8 mm
.
VANUATU
:
USNM
356623,
47.3 mm
;
USNM
347531,
44.1 mm
. AGALEGA ISLANDS, North Island:
USNM
259061, 3:
37–44 mm
. AGALEGA ISLANDS, CARGADOS CARAJOS SHOALS:
USNM
259060, 2, 41.4,
53.7 mm
.
MAURITIUS
:
USNM
366584,
8 specimens
,
12.9–39.9 mm
.