A New Species of Serranid Fish of the Genus Anthias from the Hawaiian Islands and Johnston Island

Abstract

The serranid fish Anthiasfucinus is described from 15 specimens collected from steep rocky slopes at depths of 168-198 m in the Hawaiian Islands and 214-237 m at Johnston Island. It is unique among the known species of the genus in lacking vomerine teeth. Other diagnostic characters are 9 soft anal rays (ofthe Indo-Pacific species of Anthias only A. ventralis has this count); 16 dorsal soft rays; 15 or 16 pectoral rays (all unbranched); lateral line with a distinct angle at anterior end of straight peduncular part, the pored scales 34-36 (only A. boulengeri from the Gulf of Oman has this number of pored scales); membranes of dorsal fin not incised; no prolonged dorsal spine (fourth or fifth spines barely longest); and a distinctive head color pattern of alternating stripes of violet and yellow.