marinelife
08-11-2010, 08:40 PM
http://www.halichoeres.org/halichoeres/Species_Discovery.html
A team led by preeminent anemonefish biologist Dr. Gerald R. Allen, with Dr. Douglas Fenner, and Dr. Joshua Drew, has described two new Amphiprion species in quick succession and reported them in Heiko Bleher's aqua (http://cts.vresp.com/c/?MicrocosmAquariumExp/cf4b7c4d46/ae723f60e3/6370a2ed91), the International Journal of Ichthyology.
Abstract (aqua 16:3 129-138)
Amphiprion pacificus n. sp. is described on the basis of four specimens, 30.9-48.3 mm SL, from Wallis Island and Tonga in the western Pacific. Underwater photographs also reveal its presence on coral reefs of Fiji and Samoa. The new taxon is nearly identical in appearance to A. akallopisos from the Indian Ocean. Both species are generally pinkish brown, grading to orange or yellowish on the lower half of the head and side and possess a white stripe on the dorsal midline of the head extending from just anterior to the eye to the dorsal fin origin, continuing along the base of the dorsal fin to the caudal fin base. However, genetic results indicate that A. pacificus is more closely related to A. sandaracinos from Western Australia and the Indo-Malayan region, forming a moderately supported clade that is well differentiated from A. akallopisos. Read more...
(http://cts.vresp.com/c/?MicrocosmAquariumExp/cf4b7c4d46/ae723f60e3/5c7e440dda)
Abstract (aqua 14: 105-114)
Amphiprion barberi, a new species of anemonefish fish, is described from 46 specimens, 16.3-85.8 mm SL, collected at depths of 2-10 m from coral reefs of Fiji, Tonga, and Samoa. It is closely allied to A. melanopus, which is widely distributed in the western Pacific. The two species exhibit significant colour-pattern differences, including a mainly reddish orange body in A. barberi and dark brown or blackish body in A. melanopus. Adults of the new species also possess fewer spinules (11-19 versus 19-26) in the upper-opercular series than A. melanopus. Genetic data presented here confirms the separation of these species. Read more... (http://cts.vresp.com/c/?MicrocosmAquariumExp/cf4b7c4d46/ae723f60e3/a63329c85e)
A team led by preeminent anemonefish biologist Dr. Gerald R. Allen, with Dr. Douglas Fenner, and Dr. Joshua Drew, has described two new Amphiprion species in quick succession and reported them in Heiko Bleher's aqua (http://cts.vresp.com/c/?MicrocosmAquariumExp/cf4b7c4d46/ae723f60e3/6370a2ed91), the International Journal of Ichthyology.
Abstract (aqua 16:3 129-138)
Amphiprion pacificus n. sp. is described on the basis of four specimens, 30.9-48.3 mm SL, from Wallis Island and Tonga in the western Pacific. Underwater photographs also reveal its presence on coral reefs of Fiji and Samoa. The new taxon is nearly identical in appearance to A. akallopisos from the Indian Ocean. Both species are generally pinkish brown, grading to orange or yellowish on the lower half of the head and side and possess a white stripe on the dorsal midline of the head extending from just anterior to the eye to the dorsal fin origin, continuing along the base of the dorsal fin to the caudal fin base. However, genetic results indicate that A. pacificus is more closely related to A. sandaracinos from Western Australia and the Indo-Malayan region, forming a moderately supported clade that is well differentiated from A. akallopisos. Read more...
(http://cts.vresp.com/c/?MicrocosmAquariumExp/cf4b7c4d46/ae723f60e3/5c7e440dda)
Abstract (aqua 14: 105-114)
Amphiprion barberi, a new species of anemonefish fish, is described from 46 specimens, 16.3-85.8 mm SL, collected at depths of 2-10 m from coral reefs of Fiji, Tonga, and Samoa. It is closely allied to A. melanopus, which is widely distributed in the western Pacific. The two species exhibit significant colour-pattern differences, including a mainly reddish orange body in A. barberi and dark brown or blackish body in A. melanopus. Adults of the new species also possess fewer spinules (11-19 versus 19-26) in the upper-opercular series than A. melanopus. Genetic data presented here confirms the separation of these species. Read more... (http://cts.vresp.com/c/?MicrocosmAquariumExp/cf4b7c4d46/ae723f60e3/a63329c85e)