The Pacific Species of the Clinid Fish Tribe Starksiini

Abstract

The Atlantic species of the clinid fishes of the tribe Starksiini were revised by Bohlke and Springer (1961), who synonymized the nominal genus Brannerella with Starksia, and regarded the group as monogeneric. They recognized eight species, describing two as new. Subsequently three additional Atlantic species have been described (C.R. Gilbert, 1965; C.R. Gilbert, in press). The Pacific forms were last treated by Al-Uthrnan (1960) who recognized two species, describing Brannerella spinipenis as new. Our study began with the collection of an obviously und escribed species in the Gulf of California. Further examination of starksiin material revealed that the species that had been called Starksia cremnobates by recent authors (Hubbs, 1952; Al-Uthman, 1960; Bohlke and Springer, 1961) could not be referred to cremnobates of Gilbert and had never been named. This species differs so strongly from the other starksiin species that a new genus is proposed for it. This, coupled with the discovery of seven additional undescribed species of Starksia, bringing the total for the eastern Pacific to nine, has necessitated an extensive treatment of all the Pacific species.