AMBLYPOMACENTRUS CLARUS, A NEW SPECIES OF DAMSELFISH (POMACENTRIDAE) FROM THE BANGGAI ISLANDS, INDONESIA

WA Museum Records and Supplements | Updated 1 decade ago

Abstract - A new species of pomacentrid fish, Amblypomacentrus clarus, is described from 4 specimens, 26.]-40.3 mm SL from the Banggai Islands, off central-eastern Sulawesi, Indonesia. It closely resembles A. breviceps (Schlegel and Muller), the only other species in the genus. Colour pattern differences constitute the main criteria for separating the two species. The pattern of three dark bars is more highly contrasted in A. clarus, and this species lacks rows of light blue spots on the side and a yellow suffusion on the lower body, features usually evident in A. breviceps. There are also differences in lower limb gill-raker counts and tubed lateral-line scales, with 16 lower-limb rakers and 15 tubed lateral-line scales in A. clarus and usually 14-15 rakers and 16-17 tubed scales in A. breviceps. Amblypomacentrus clarus is known only from the type locality, where it is sympatric with A. breviceps, affording ready comparison of the two species.