A New Species of the Genus Pempheris (Teleostei: Pempherididae) from Rapa Iti, French Polynesia

Abstract

Pempheris rapa Mooi, n. sp., is distinguished from congeners by the following combination of characters: scales strongly ctenoid and adherent; no gular scales; pelvic axillary scale absent; dorsal fin with six spines; in specimens 35 mm SL or larger, gill-raker counts on first arch 11-13+26-29 = 37-42 (usually 38-40); lateral-line scales 72-84 (rarely fewer than 76); no anterior light organ; anal fin with 33-37 segmented rays. A second species of Pempheris of uncertain identification, but a member of the cycloid-scaled and keeled species complex that includes P. oualensis, was found among the collections of the new species.