Two New Chaenopsid Fishes, Neoclinus monogrammus and Neoclinus nudiceps (Teleostei: Perciformes: Blennioidei), from Japan

Abstract

Two new species of blenniQid fish, IVeoclinus moncigrammus and N nudiceps, are described on the basis oe respectively, ten specimens frbm the Boso Peninsula, Pacific eoast of Japan, depth 28 m, and seven specimens from the Oki Islands, Sea of Japan, depth 7-9m. The two new species are distinguished from al1 other congeners by the following comblnation of characters: lateral-line canal continuous, with single row of pores; two cirri on orbit; no true ocellus on anterior part of dorsal fin; dorsai fin low, not elevated anteriorly in either sex; no narrow membrane along anterior edge of lst dorsal-fin spine. IVleoclinus monQgrammus and Nl nndiceps differ in the fo11owing characters: pore counts and extent of lateral-line canal (9-15 pores, reaching to below 6th to 9th dorsal-fin spine in the foumer vs 3-5 pores, reaching to below 3rd to 4th dorsal-fin spine in the latter); counts of supraorbital cirri tips (anterior and posterior cirri with 10-28 and 3-14 tips, respectively, vs 2-6 and 1-2 tips, respectively); male color pattern on head (scattered reddish spots vs no conspicuous spots); body depth in proportion to standard length (11,3-13,4'as vs 13,or15,4%); and head depth in proportion to head length (51.2-58.0% vs 56,6-60.69its).

Heterochrony in fringeheads (Neoclinus) and amplification of an extraordinary aggressive display in the Sarcastic Fringehead (Teleostei: Blenniiformes)

“…With the exception of N. blanchardi and N. uninotatus the relative maxilla length is similar in N. stephensae , all members of the western Pacific clade [ N. okazaki, N. chihiro, N. bryope , N. nudus , N. monogrammus and N. nudiceps (Fukao, ; Murase et al, )] and the sister group of Neoclinus , M. sandae (Rosenblatt & Stephens, ), extending posteriorly to the level of the posterior orbital margin or slightly beyond it. The maxilla of N. uninotatus is relatively longer, extending well past the orbit to just before the posterior margin of the preopercle, while that of N. blanchardi is even longer, extending well‐past the posterior margin of the head.…”

“…Blenniiform fishes of the genus Neoclinus are known to show the gaping display for territorial defense. Neoclinus includes eleven species of benthic shallow‐water fishes, three in the eastern Pacific from northern California to Baja California ( N. blanchardi , N. uninotatus , and N. stephensae ; Hubbs, ), and eight in the western Pacific from South Korea to northern Taiwan (Fukao, ; Love, ; Murase, Aizawa, & Sunobe, ). Phylogenetic relationships based on morphological characters and molecular data (Hongjamrassilp, ) reveal that the eastern Pacific species form a monophyletic group with N. blanchardi sister taxon to N. uninotatus , and both are sister taxa to N. stephensae .…”

New record of Neoclinus lacunicola (Actinopterygii: Perciformes: Chaenopsidae) from Ulleung Island, Korea revealed by body morphometry and mitochondrial DNA barcoding

“…The specimen collected in this survey had a black spot in the membrane of the second and third dorsal spines. This morphological character i.e., the presence or absence of a black spot between first and second dorsal spines, is one of the things that distinguish between males and females of Neoclinus monogrammus Murase, Aizawa et Sunobe, 2010 (see Murase et al 2010) and it cannot be classified as Neoclinus species according to the taxonomic key suggested by Aizawa and Doiuchi (2013). For the presently reported specimen, yellow pelvic fins are key to distinguishing it as a female, despite the presence of black spots in the second and third dorsal spines membrane (Murase et al 2015).…”