Coastal fishes of the Kermadec Islands

Abstract

Fishes were observed and collected at the Kermadec Islands in 1984 and 1985. Five families and 16 species were newly recorded from the New Zealand region and a further 18 species were newly recorded from the Kermadec Islands. The number of coastal fishes known from the Kermadec Islands is now 112. Seventy-seven coastal fish species were classified into five abundance classes at five Kermadec Islands localities; 27 showed north-south abundance trends. Of the 112 Kermadec Islands species, 55% are found in temperate New Zealand, but only 20% are common there. The fish fauna at the Kermadec Islands has greater affinity with that at Lord Howe Island (64%) and also has significant links with Rapa and Easter Islands (both 22%) which are at similar latitudes in the eastern Pacific Ocean. Two (possibly three) coastal fish species are endemic to the Kermadec Islands.

Confirmation ofParma polylepis,a pomacentrid teleost, in New Zealand waters (note)

“…Francis et al (1987) have shown that those reports were based on misidentifications of the recently described and morphologically similar P. kermadecensis (though Allen (1987) was apparently unaware of the reports and did not include them in the synonymy of P. kermadecensis). The discovery of two specimens of /".…”

“…Parma kermadecensis is endemic to the Kermadec Islands, where it is common to abundant (Allen 1987;Francis et al 1987). Parma polylepis Gunther, 1862 was reported from the Kermadec Islands by Paulin & Stewart (1985) and Schiel et al (1986), but their reports were based on misidentified P. kermadecensis (Francis et al 1987). Therefore there are currently no valid reports of P. polylepis from New Zealand waters.…”

“…Parma alboscapularis Allen & Hoese, 1975 is locally common around the offshore islands and coastal headlands of north-eastern North Island (Doak 1972;Ayling 1982;Ward & Roberts 1986), and is occasional to abundant at the Kermadec Islands (Francis et al 1987). Parma kermadecensis is endemic to the Kermadec Islands, where it is common to abundant (Allen 1987;Francis et al 1987). Parma polylepis Gunther, 1862 was reported from the Kermadec Islands by Paulin & Stewart (1985) and Schiel et al (1986), but their reports were based on misidentified P. kermadecensis (Francis et al 1987).…”

“…Parma alboscapularis Allen & Hoese, 1975 is locally common around the offshore islands and coastal headlands of north-eastern North Island (Doak 1972;Ayling 1982;Ward & Roberts 1986), and is occasional to abundant at the Kermadec Islands (Francis et al 1987). Parma kermadecensis is endemic to the Kermadec Islands, where it is common to abundant (Allen 1987;Francis et al 1987).…”

Review of New Zealand bullseyes (Perciformes: Pempheridae)

“…5, inset). Francis et al (1987) reported that the species increased in abundance from south to north through the Kermadec Islands, with none seen at L'Esperance and Havre Rocks, but schools seen at least occasionally at Cheeseman, Curtis, Macauley, Haszard, Raoul, and Meyer Islands. Outside New Zealand, the species is recorded from Norfolk and Lord Howe Islands, and has a disjunct distribution on the eastern and western coasts of Australia.…”