Description of a new goatfish species, <i>Upeneus randalli</i> n. sp. (Mullidae), from the Persian Gulf, with remarks and identification keys for the genus <i>Upeneus</i>

Abstract

SUMMARY: The number of species of the goatfish genus Upeneus from the western Indian Ocean has increased considerably due to recent taxonomic efforts. Here we describe a new species, Upeneus randalli n. sp., based on body and fin coloration and 50 morphometric and meristic characters of eight specimens from the Persian Gulf, and supported by comparative data from a taxonomic review of western Indian Ocean Upeneus species and additional material from collections. Upeneus randalli is distinguished from congeners by the combination of 8 dorsal-fin spines, 14 pectoral-fin rays, 23 to 25 gill rakers, 28 to 30 lateral-line scales, pectoral-fin width 22 to 26 times in SL, and red bars on both caudal-fin lobes. We provide two identification keys: one key is for distinguishing among four species groups and the morphologically unique U. filifer, accounting for all 28 species of the genus, and the other key is for the six closely related species of the "U. tragula group" from the western Indian Ocean, including U. randalli n. sp. Since the colour patterns fade away soon after collection and can be completely lost during preservation, morphometric and meristic characters are important for correctly identifying U. randalli n. sp. and the closely related U. margarethae. The latter species shows considerable variation in body form in different areas of the western Indian Ocean. We discuss the significance of detailed comparative studies of caudal-fin colour patterns and body-form characters for obtaining a deeper understanding of inter-and intraspecific diversity among Upeneus.Keywords: body form, colour patterns, goatfishes, Mullidae, new species, population differences, taxonomy, Upeneus. RESUMEN: Descripción de una nueva especie de salmonete, UpeneUs randalli n. sp. (Mullidae), del golfo Pérsico, con discusión y claves de identificación del género UpeneUs. -El número de especies de salmonetes del género Upeneus del Océano Índico Occidental ha aumentado considerablemente debido a los recientes trabajos taxonómi-cos. En este trabajo se describe una nueva especie, Upeneus randalli n. sp., en base a la coloración del cuerpo y las aletas y a 51 caracteres morfométricos y merísticos de ocho especímenes del golfo Pérsico, apoyados por datos comparativos de una revisión taxonómica de las especies del océano Índico occidental Upeneus y material adicional de colección. Upeneus randalli es differenciada de sus congeners por la combinación de 8 espinas en la aleta dorsal, 14 radios en la aleta pectoral, 23-25 branquiespinas, 28-30 escamas en la línea lateral, anchura de la aleta pectoral 22-26 veces en LS y barras rojas en ambos lóbulos de la aleta caudal. Se proporcionan dos claves de identificación, una para la distinción entre cuatro grupos de especies y la especie U. filifer, morfológicamente única, que responde por el total de las 28 especies del género y la otra clave para las seis especies estrechamente relacionadas del "grupo U. tragula" del océano Índico occidental incluyendo U. randalli n. sp. A causa de que los patrones de c...

Just off the beach: intrageneric distinctiveness of the bandtail goatfishUpeneus taeniopterus(Mullidae) based on a comprehensive alpha-taxonomy and barcoding approach

“…Collectively, this genetic evidence suggests a basal position for the highly divergent U. taeniopterus among the remaining Upeneus species groups. The species' phenotypic distinctiveness (now supported by genetic data), with size, colour and varying combinations of meristic characters (see above) differentiating the species from congeners, including members of the tragula group to which it was previously assigned (Uiblein & Heemstra 2010), precludes it from clear membership of the existing species groups; this reflects the situation around U. filifer (Uiblein & Heemstra 2011a, 2011bUiblein & McGrouther 2012). By adopting this comprehensive alpha-taxonomic and genetic approach, it should be possible to further disentangle the phylogenetic relationships, when more genetic tissue samples of yet to be barcoded Upeneus species become available.…”

“…Among the comparative material examined for this study is a paratype of Upeneus randalli (ZMUC 49161), which was erroneously referred to as coming from the Persian Gulf in the original description (Uiblein & Heemstra 2011a). During the course of re-examination for this study it was discovered to have been collected from the same locality as a specimen of U. suahelicus (reported in Uiblein & Gouws 2015) from off Chahabar, southern Iran, Gulf of Oman.…”

“…They included U. taeniopterus in the so-called tragula species group due to low gill raker and pectoral fin-ray counts and the presence of dark oblique bars on both caudal-fin lobes. This assignment facilitated the preparation of identification keys and was followed in subsequent studies that added additional species to the tragula group (Uiblein & Heemstra 2011a;Uiblein & Gouws 2014).…”

“…Regarding the currently available distribution information, none of the other nine tragula-group species matches the wide range of U. taeniopterus (cf. Uiblein et al 1998;Randall & Kulbicki 2006;Uiblein & Heemstra 2010, 2011aUiblein & Gouws 2014): U. heemstra Uiblein & Gouws, 2014 occurs in the Western Indian Ocean and off SE India; U. luzonius Jordan & Seale, 1907 is currently known only from the Philippines (reported occurrences from other areas have not been verified so far); U. margarethae Uiblein & Heemstra, 2010 occurs in the Indian Ocean and the Arafura Sea; U. mouthami Randall & Kulbicki, 2006 has only been recorded from the Chesterfield Islands, New Caledonia; U. niebuhri Guézé, 1976 is restricted to the Gulf of Suez, Red Sea; U. oligospilus Lachner, 1954 and U. randalli Uiblein & Heemstra, 2011 occur in the Persian Gulf; U. sundaicus (Bleeker, 1855) is known from the Persian Gulf and the Eastern Indian Ocean to the South China Sea and Australia; and U. tragula Richardson, 1846 occurs from off the Andaman Islands to New Caledonia and Japan. With the exception for U. mouthami, all these species occur mostly on continental shelves and much less around islands or atolls than does U. taeniopterus.…”

Distinction and relatedness – Taxonomic and genetic studies reveal a new species group of goatfishes (Upeneus; Mullidae)

“…For 134 specimens (only photographs were examined of two U. suahelicus from Madagascar), 41 morphometric characters including standard length (SL) (all in mm, to the nearest second decimal point), 10 meristic characters and several colour characters were compiled, following earlier published work (e.g. Uiblein & Heemstra 2010, 2011a, 2011bUiblein & Gouws 2014). As in Uiblein & Gouws (2014), the number of oblique bars on each caudalfin lobe was determined and quantitatively studied.…”