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aqua, International Journal of Ichthyology
Xyrichtys pastellus, a new razorfish from the southwest Pacific,
with discussion of the related X. sciistius and X. woodi
John E. Randall1, John L. Earle1, and Luiz A. Rocha2
1) Bishop Museum, 1525 Bernice St., Honolulu, HI 96817-2704, USA.
E-mail: jackr@hawaii.rr.com
2) Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawaii, P.O. Box 1346, Kaneohe,
HI 96744, USA.
Received: 21 March 2008 – Accepted: 31 March 2008
149 aqua vol. 14 no. 3 - 10 July 2008
l’ADN. En outre, X. woodi a un nombre moins élevé de
branchiospines que les deux autres espèces soeurs.
Sommario
Cinque specie di pesci rasoio del genere Xyrichtys sono
note dal Pacifico centrale e occidentale: X. woodi delle isole
Hawai; X. sciistius (precedentemente considerato un sino -
ni mo di X. woodi) originario di Giappone e Taiwan; X.
pastellus, descritta come nuova sulla base di due esemplari
originari dell’isola Lord Howe Island e tre da Elizabeth e
Middleton Reefs, Nuovo Galles del Sud; X. halsteadi dif-
fuso da Papua New Guinea a Tahiti; e X. koteamea presente
solo all’isola di Pasqua. Le prime tre formano un com -
plesso di specie strettamente imparentate che si distin-
guono principalmente per la colorazione, ma anche per il
loro DNA. Inoltre, X. woodi ha un valore modale di ra -
strelli branchiali inferiore alle altre due specie sorelle.
INTRODUCTION
Labrid fishes of the genera Iniistius and Xyrichtys
are known by the common name razorfishes, in
reference to their compressed bodies and the sharp
leading edge of their forehead and snout. These are
specializations for quick entry into sand with the
approach of a predator, enabling these species to
exist over open expanses of sand. Most other ben-
thic inshore fishes require the shelter of reefs, beds
of seagrass, heavy algal growth, or an existing bur-
row.
Iniistius Gill, 1862 was usually considered a syn-
onym of Xyrichtys Cuvier, 1815 until Randall &
Earle (2002) distinguished the two, following the
osteological study of Nguyen (1974). The fishes of
these two genera can be distinguished externally by
characters of the dorsal fin. The origin of the fin is
over or less than half an orbit diameter behind the
eye in Iniistius, but more behind the eye in
Abstract
Five species of razorfishes of the genus Xyrichtys are
known from the central and western Pacific: X. woodi from
the Hawaiian Islands; X. sciistius (formerly a synonym of X.
woodi) from Japan and Taiwan; X. pastellus, described as
new from two specimens from Lord Howe Island and
three from Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs, New South
Wales; X. halsteadi from Papua New Guinea to Tahiti; and
X. koteamea from Easter Island. The first three form a com-
plex of closely related species that are distinguished mainly
by color, but also by DNA. In addition, X. woodi has a
lower modal gill-raker count than the other two sister
species.
Zusammenfassung
Fünf Arten der Schermesserfische der Gattung Xyrichthys
sind vom zentralen und westlichen Pazifik bekannt: X.
woodi von den Hawaii-Inseln; X. sciistius (früher ein Syn-
onym zu X. woodi) von Japan und Taiwan; X. pastellus, neu
beschrieben nach zwei Exemplaren von der Insel Lord
Howe und drei Exemplaren der Riffe Elizabeth und Mid-
dleton, New South Wales; X. halsteadi von Papua-
Neuguinea bis Tahiti; sowie X. koteamea von der Osterin-
sel. Die ersten drei bilden einen Komplex nahe verwandter
Arten, die sich hauptsächlich durch ihre Farbe unterschei-
den, doch auch nach DNA-Untersuchungen. Bei X. woodi
ist außerdem die mittlere Kiemenblätter-Zahl geringer als
bei den beiden nahestehenden Arten.
Résumé
Cinq espèces de poisson rasoirs du genre Xyrichtys sont
connues en provenance du Pacifique central et occidental:
X. woodii des îles Hawaï; X. sciistius (auparavant synonyme
de X. woodii) du Japon et de Taïwan; X. pastellus, décrit
comme nouvelle espèce, sur base de deux spécimens de l’île
Lord Howe et trois de Elizabeth et Middleton Reef, Nou-
velle Galles du Sud; X. halsteadi de Papouasie – Nouvelle-
Guinée jusqu’à Tahiti; et X. koteamea de l’île de Pâques. Les
trois premières forment un complexe d’espèces très proches
qui se distinguent surtout par la couleur, mais aussi par
Xyrichtys pastellus, a new razorfish from the southwest Pacific, with discussion of the related X. sciistius and X. woodi
150
aqua vol. 14 no. 3 - 10 July 2008
the greatest depth from the base of the dorsal
spines to ventral edge of the abdomen (correcting
for any malformation of preservation); body width
is measured just posterior to the gill opening; head
length is taken from the upper lip to the posterior
end of the opercular flap; orbit diameter is the
greatest fleshy diameter, and interorbital width the
least bony width; snout length is measured from
the median anterior point of the upper lip to the
nearest fleshy edge of the orbit; upper-jaw length
from the same anterior point to the posterior end
of the maxilla; caudal-peduncle depth is the least
depth, and caudal-peduncle length the horizontal
distance between verticals at the rear base of the
anal fin and the caudal-fin base; lengths of spines
and rays are measured to their extreme bases; cau-
dal-fin and pectoral-fin lengths are the length of
the longest ray; pelvic-fin length is measured from
the base of the pelvic spine to the tip of the longest
soft ray.
Morphometric data are presented in Table I as
percentages of the standard length. Proportional
measurements in the text are rounded to the near-
est 0.5.
Lateral-line scale counts include the last pored
scale that overlaps the end of the hypural plate;
scales in transverse series are counted from the ori-
gin of the anal fin obliquely upward to the base of
the first dorsal fin; the count of gill rakers is made
on the first gill arch and includes all rudiments.
Meristic and morphometric data in parentheses
refer to paratypes.
Total genomic DNA was extracted from available
tissue samples using the QIAGEN DNeasy tissue
kit following the manufacturer’s protocol. A frag-
ment of the cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene from
the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) was amplified
for nine specimens, three from Japan, five from
Hawaii and one from Australia. Primers used for
amplification and sequencing were BOL-F1 (5’
TCA ACY AAT CAY AAA GAT ATY GGC AC
3’) and BOL-R1 (5’ ACT TCY GGG TGR CCR
AAR AAT CA 3’), modified from Ward et al.
(2005). Detailed PCR and sequencing conditions
are the same as those in Rocha (2004).
Xyrichtys pastellus n. sp.
(Figs 1-3, Tables I-II)
Hemipteronotus sp. Allen et al. 1976: 420 (Lord
Howe Island).
Xyrichtys. The first two dorsal spines of Iniistius are
flexible, whereas only the first is flexible in
Xyrichtys. The space between the second and third
dorsal spines in Iniistius is much broader than the
space between the first and second spines. These
two spaces are about equal in Xyrichtys.
Some razorfishes have been classified in the genus
Hemipteronotus Lacépède, 1801, as by Randall
(1965). As recommended by Randall & Bauchot
(1993), this generic name was suppressed by Opin-
ion 1799 of the International Commission on
Zoological Nomenclature to preserve the names
Naucrates Rafinesque, 1810 and Xyrichtys. Species
of the latter, such as X. woodi (Jenkins, 1901), have
also been placed in the genera Novaculichthys
Bleeker, 1862 and Novaculops Schultz, 1960; how-
ever, Novaculichthys now contains only one species,
N. taeniourus (Lacépède, 1801), and Novaculops is
a synonym of Xyrichtys.
Six species of Xyrichtys are known for the Atlantic
Ocean, and Victor et al. (2001) reported four for
the eastern Pacific, one of which is an undescribed
species from the Galápagos Islands. Another possi-
ble new species of the genus has been pho-
tographed at the Revillagigedo Islands (Victor et al.
2001).
Only one species of the genus, X. woodi, was rec-
ognized from the central and western Pacific region
until Randall & Lobel (2003) described X. hal-
steadi from Papua New Guinea, Guam, Wake
Island, and Tahiti, and Randall & Allen (2004)
named X. koteamea from Easter Island. In the pre-
sent paper, we describe a new species from Lord
Howe Island and nearby Elizabeth and Middleton
Reefs, New South Wales, and show that X. sciistius
Jordan & Thompson, 1914 from Japan and Tai-
wan is a valid species, not a synonym of X. woodi
of the Hawaiian Islands.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Type specimens of the new species are deposited
in the Australian Museum, Sydney (AMS), the
Bernice P. Bishop Museum, Honolulu (BPBM),
and the U.S. National Museum of Natural History,
Washington, D.C. (USNM). Specimens of
Xyrichtys sciistius were obtained on loan from the
National Museum of Nature and Science, Tokyo
(NSMT).
The length of specimens is given as standard
length (SL), measured from the median anterior
end of the upper lip to the base of the caudal fin
(posterior end of the hypural plate); body depth is
Fig. 1. Holotype of Xyrichtys pastellus, presumed female, AMS I.43850-001, 106 mm SL, Lord Howe Island. Aquarium
photo by G. Kelly.
John E. Randall, John L. Earle and Luiz A. Rocha
151 aqua vol. 14 no. 3 - 10 July 2008
ond to ninth dorsal spines stiff and sharp-pointed;
space between first and second dorsal spines about
equal to space between second and third spines;
color of body of presumed female in life pale blue-
green, the scales edged in pale orange or reddish,
becoming maroon with vertical orange lines ven-
trally on abdomen, and blue with maroon edges on
scales above anal fin; a broad pale orange zone
extending posteriorly from beneath pectoral fin,
altering to pale green as it passes above anal fin; axil
of pectoral fin deep blue; pores of lateral line white;
iris pink and white; spinous portion of dorsal fin
blue; remaining median fins translucent gray-
brown; color of male when fresh pale gray, the
edges of scales greenish gray except ventrally; sixth
and seventh interspinous membranes of dorsal fin
nearly black, with blackish pigment continuing
obliquely onto body to lateral line; pores of lateral
line white; transverse dusky bands ventrally on
head; iris red.
Description: Dorsal rays IX,12, the first two rays
unbranched, the last branched to base; anal rays
III,12, all branched; pectoral rays 13, the first two
rays unbranched (first ray very short and closely
applied to second); pelvic rays I,5, all soft rays
branched; principal caudal rays 12, all branched;
upper procurrent caudal rays 5 (5-6); lower procur-
rent caudal rays 5; lateral-line scales 20 + 5, the last
Novaculops sp. Francis 1993: 165 (Lord Howe
Island).
Novaculops sp. Francis & Randall 1993: 122, pl. II,
fig. B (Lord Howe Island and Middleton Reef).
Holotype: AMS I.43850-001, 106.0 mm, pre-
sumed female, Lord Howe Island, near Admiralty
Islands, estimated 31°28’S 159°4’E, hook and line,
Darrin Nobbs, 16 March 2006 (viscera removed).
Paratypes: BPBM 14758, 66.2 mm, Lord Howe
Island, reef west of Mt. Lidgbird, 25 m depth,
rotenone, J. E. Randall, G. R. Allen, B. Goldman,
B. C. Russell, D. F. Hoese, and G. P. Whitley, 5
February 1973; USNM 393157, 77.7 mm, New
South Wales, Elizabeth Reef, north side, 14 m
depth, dug from sand by hand, J. L. Earle, 24 Feb-
ruary 1992; AMS I.44600-001, 129.3 mm, same
data as preceding; BPBM 35027, male, 117.0 mm,
New South Wales, Middleton Reef, off entrance to
lagoon west of wreck of Japanese longliner, sand
channel, 10 m depth, caught by hand, J. L. Earle,
25 February 1992.
Diagnosis: Dorsal rays IX,12; anal rays III,12;
pectoral rays 13; lateral line interrupted, the pored
scales 20 + 5; cheek naked; gill rakers 18-20; body
depth 2.75-2.8 in SL; dorsal profile of snout about
50° to horizontal axis of body; first dorsal spine
flexible and not long, 3.0-3.5 in head length; sec-
Holotype Paratypes
AMS I. BPBM USNM BPBM AMS I.
43850 14758 393157 35027 44600
Standard length (mm) 106.0 66.2 77.7 117.0 129.3
Body depth 36.3 36.2 38.5 36.0 35.5
Body width 12.4 11.3 12.1 12.7 12.5
Head length 32.5 33.9 34.3 33.0 33.2
Snout length 11.4 11.0 11.3 11.5 11.8
Orbit diameter 7.2 7.6 7.5 6.2 6.5
Interorbital width 4.9 4.7 5.2 5.1 5.1
Upper-jaw length 9.7 9.4 9.6 9.4 9.5
Caudal-peduncle depth 14.0 15.3 15.4 15.5 14.9
Caudal-peduncle length 9.1 9.1 9.4 9.4 9.2
Predorsal length 26.0 25.6 27.0 27.1 26.4
Preanal length 52.9 54.5 54.2 53.1 56.7
Prepelvic length 31.1 32.9 31.4 31.1 30.9
Base of dorsal fin 71.3 69.6 73.9 71.3 69.9
First dorsal spine 9.6 11.3 10.1 9.5 9.4
Second dorsal spine 10.6 10.7 10.3 10.3 10.0
Third dorsal spine 10.7 10.4 10.0 9.8 9.2
Ninth dorsal spine 11.2 broken 10.4 10.9 10.5
Longest dorsal ray 13.4 14.3 15.7 12.7 14.1
Base of anal fin 41.6 41.0 40.3 40.8 38.7
First anal spine 3.9 4.5 4.9 4.3 4.3
Second anal spine 6.0 6.2 7.5 6.3 7.1
Third anal spine 8.3 8.9 9.6 8.0 9.8
Longest anal ray 13.7 14.4 17.0 13.7 15.5
Caudal-fin length 21.2 24.2 23.0 20.5 21.4
Pectoral-fin length 21.0 21.4 24.5 22.3 21.6
Pelvic-spine length 8.2 10.2 10.0 7.7 7.8
Pelvic-fin length 20.4 22.7 27.9 23.6 28.4
Table I. Proportional measurements of type specimens of Xyrichtys pastellus as percentages of standard length.
Xyrichtys pastellus, a new razorfish from the southwest Pacific, with discussion of the related X. sciistius and X. woodi
152
aqua vol. 14 no. 3 - 10 July 2008
Mouth moderately large, the maxilla nearly reach-
ing a vertical at anterior edge of orbit, the upper-
jaw length 3.35 (3.5-3.6) in head length; mouth
slightly oblique, forming an angle of about 10° to
horizontal axis of body (nearly 20° in small
paratype); a pair of large, recurved, outflaring
canine teeth at front of jaws that overlap lips when
mouth closed (jaws of holotype seem abnormal
and cannot close completely); lower pair of canines
medial to upper pair; side of jaws with a series of
about 12 strong conical teeth, smaller posteriorly;
an inner row of nodular teeth behind front canines
and continuing closely medial to teeth of side of
jaws. Tongue broadly rounded, set far back in
mouth. Lips thin, the lower with a flap along side
of mandible that is longer posteriorly. Gill rakers
short, the longest on first arch one-half length of
longest gill filaments.
Posterior edge of preopercle free slightly dorsal to
level of lower edge of orbit; ventral edge of preop-
ercle free to a vertical at anterior edge of orbit; a
narrow fleshy rim to orbit with a free edge in holo-
on base of caudal fin; scales above lateral line to
origin of dorsal fin 4; scales above lateral line to
middle of spinous portion of dorsal fin 2 (upper-
most small); scales below lateral line to origin of
anal fin 9 (the last small); circumpeduncular scales
16; gill rakers 19 (18-20); branchiostegal rays 5;
vertebrae 25.
Body moderately deep, the depth 2.75 (2.75-2.8)
in SL; body very compressed, the width 2.85 (2.85-
3.1) in body depth; head length 3.1 (2.95-3.0) in SL;
snout length (as measured from lower edge of orbit
to front of upper lip) 2.85 (2.85-3.1) in head length;
dorsal profile of head convex, the profile of snout
forming an angle of about 50° to horizontal axis of
body; front of snout narrowing to sharp ridge that
extends to above eye; leading edge of chin rounded;
minimum distance from lower edge of orbit to cor-
ner of mouth equal to orbit diameter; orbit diameter
4.5 (4.45-5.35) in head length; interorbital width
7.25 (6.5-7.2) in head length; caudal-peduncle depth
2.3 (2.15-2.2) in head length; caudal-peduncle
length 3.6 (3.5-3.7) in head length.
Fig. 2. Paratype of Xyrichtys pastellus, male, BPBM 35027, 117 mm SL, Middleton Reef, New South Wales. Photo by J. E.
Randall.
Fig. 3. Paratype of Xyrichtys pastellus, BPBM 14758, 66.2 mm SL, Lord Howe Island. Photo by J. E. Randall.
John E. Randall, John L. Earle and Luiz A. Rocha
153 aqua vol. 14 no. 3 - 10 July 2008
Scales cycloid and very thin; lateral-line scales
with a single horizontal tubule, ending posteriorly
in a pore; scales on chest about three-fifths height
of largest scales on side of body; head naked except
for a single small partly embedded scale dorsally on
opercle; no scales on dorsal and anal fins; four rows
of progressively smaller scales on base of caudal fin
(counting obliquely, the last pored scale of lateral
line in the first row); no prepelvic scales (two partly
embedded scales in paratype); no pelvic axillary
type below posterior half of eye. Nostrils very small,
the posterior oval with a slight rim, three-fourths
pupil diameter in front of upper third of eye; ante-
rior nostril a short tube with a small posterior flap,
slightly ventral, the internarial space about one-
fourth pupil diameter. Cephalic sensory pores very
small, 9 in suborbital series, the first below nostrils,
the next two at end of short ventral branches, the
last behind eye; a series of 7 preopercular pores, con-
tinuing anteriorly as 3 mandibular pores.
Table II. Gill-raker counts of species of Xyrichtys.
Gill rakers 16 17 18 19 20
X. pastellus 111
X. sciistius 1441
X. woodi 283
Fig. 4. Xyrichtys sciistius, presumed female, Izu Peninsula, Japan. Aquarium photo by J. E. Randall.
Fig. 5. Xyrichtys sciistius, male, NSMT-P 33516, 144 mm SL, Ani-jima, Ogasawara Islands. Photo by J. E. Randall.
Xyrichtys pastellus, a new razorfish from the southwest Pacific, with discussion of the related X. sciistius and X. woodi
154
aqua vol. 14 no. 3 - 10 July 2008
dorsal spine slender and flexible, the remaining
dorsal spines sharp-pointed and stiff; space
between first and second dorsal spines about equal
to space between second and third spines; mem-
brane not notched between second and third
spines; first dorsal spine 3.4 (3.0-3.5) in head
length; ninth dorsal spine longest, 2.9 (3.0) in head
length (first spine longest in smallest paratype, 3.0
in head length); fifth to seventh dorsal soft rays
longest, 2.4 (2.35-2.6) in head length; origin of
anal fin below base of first dorsal soft ray, the pre-
anal length 1.9 (1.85-1.9) in SL; third anal spine
longest, 3.9 (3.8-4.15) in head length; sixth and sev-
scale; a single pointed scale extending posteriorly
from between base of pelvic fins, its length about
one-third length of pelvic spine.
Origin of dorsal fin above upper free end of pre-
opercle (two-thirds orbit diameter posterior to
eye), the predorsal length 3.85 (3.7-3.9) in SL; first
Fig. 6. Xyrichtys sciistius, BPBM 35061, 62 mm SL, Chichi-jima, Ogasawara Islands. Photo by J. E. Randall.
Fig. 7. Xyrichtys sciistius, BPBM 35187, 43 mm SL, Chichi-jima, Ogasawara Islands. Underwater photo by J. E. Randall.
John E. Randall, John L. Earle and Luiz A. Rocha
155 aqua vol. 14 no. 3 - 10 July 2008
remaining fins translucent pale yellowish. Color of
male paratype in alcohol pale purplish gray, the
scale edges a little darker dorsally on body; fins
translucent yellowish, the sixth and seventh inter-
spinous membranes of dorsal fin dusky with a large
blackish spot; scales below these membranes to lat-
eral line a little dusky. Color of small paratype in
alcohol light brown; axil of pectoral fin blackish; a
large blackish spot on first membrane of dorsal fin,
and a spot of lesser intensity on second membrane;
fins otherwise translucent pale yellowish.
Color of holotype in life shown in
Fig. 1. We believe the irregular dusky bars and
enth anal soft rays longest, 2.4 (2.35-2.4) in head
length; caudal fin slightly rounded, 4.75 (4.15-4.9)
in SL; third or fourth pectoral rays longest, reaching
to above anus (to above origin of anal fin in smallest
paratype), 4.75 (4.7) in SL; pelvic fins reaching anus
(reaching anal-fin origin in male paratype), the first
soft ray longest, 4.9 (4.25-4.4) in SL; pelvic spine
3.95 (3.4-4.3) in head length.
Color of holotype in alcohol pale gray,
a little paler below and behind pectoral fin, with a
prominent black spot in axil of pectoral fin; spin-
ous portion of dorsal fin dusky with a faint black-
ish spot near base of fourth to eighth membranes;
Fig. 8. Xyrichtys woodi, presumed female, Oahu, Hawaiian Islands. Underwater photo by J. E. Randall.
Fig. 9. Xyrichtys woodi, presumed male, Oahu, Hawaiian Islands. Underwater photo by J. P. Hoover.
Xyrichtys pastellus, a new razorfish from the southwest Pacific, with discussion of the related X. sciistius and X. woodi
156
aqua vol. 14 no. 3 - 10 July 2008
from the Hawaiian Islands; X. halsteadi Randall &
Lobel, 2003 from Papua New Guinea, Guam,
Wake Island, and Tahiti; X. koteamea Randall &
Allen, 2004 from Easter Island; X. sciistius Jordan
& Thompson, 1914 from Japan; X. tatoo Seale,
1901 from the Hawaiian Islands, and X. woodi
(Jenkins, 1901) from the Hawaiian Islands.
Xyrichtys entargyreus, X. tatoo, and X. sciistius have
long been considered as synonyms of X. woodi;
blotches on the body are a disruptive pattern that
appears when the fish is stressed. Color of
paratypes when fresh as in Figs 2 and 3.
Etymology: The specific name for this razorfish,
pastellus, is from the Late Latin word referring to
colors that are soft and subdued, as in the holotype.
Remarks: The following six nominal species of
Xyrichtys from the central and western Pacific have
been described: X. entargyreus (Jenkins, 1901)
Fig. 10. Xyrichtys woodi, BPBM 37044, 43 mm SL, Oahu, Hawaiian Islands. Photo by J. E. Randall.
John E. Randall, John L. Earle and Luiz A. Rocha
157 aqua vol. 14 no. 3 - 10 July 2008
For a comparison of the DNA, the third author
sequenced tissue samples of Xyrichtys pastellus, X. sci-
istius, and X. woodi using the barcode CO1 gene.
The three differed from one another by an average of
0.7% sequence divergence. While this is relatively
small, it is supported by the color difference, as well
as the isolation of the populations. From the distrib-
utions, X. sciistius would be expected to be genetically
closest to the Hawaiian X. woodi. However, these two
species have, in addition to color, a clear modal dif-
ference in gill-raker counts. The DNA differences
have enabled us to more confidently treat these three
razorfishes as species. Genetics has been used before
to help define species, and divergences of this magni-
tude between closely related sister species are not
uncommon (Rocha et al., 2007). Benjamin C. Vic-
tor (pers. comm.) has informed us that he has bar-
code sequences for many of the razorfishes and found
that all but one have less than 0.5% difference.
It is of interest to note that the present records of
the species of Xyrichtys in the central and western
Pacific show an antitropical distribution, except for
the one collection of X. halsteadi from Papua New
Guinea.
We should also mention the probable invalid
name Xyrichtys javanicus (Bleeker, 1862). De Beau-
fort (1940: 66) wrote: “Bleeker described this
species after a specimen labelled ,,Java” and belong-
ing to the old collection of the Leiden Museum. It
shows strong likeness to species from the Atlantic
and probably the locality mentioned on the label is
wrong. It has never been found again.” However,
Dor (1970: 22) reported one preserved specimen,
however, Randall & Allen (2004) wrote that color
differences suggest that X. sciistius is probably a dis-
tinct species.
All of these species have the same fin-ray and scale
counts. Xyrichtys halsteadi is the most diverse, with
a more slender body (body depth 3.1-3.35 in SL),
small size (largest, 120 mm SL), and very different
color pattern. Xyrichtys koteamea is easily separated
by its deeper body (depth 2.6-2.75 in SL), shorter
pectoral fins, large size (194-206 mm SL), and pre-
dominantly deep red color.
The remaining three valid species have essentially
the same body and fin proportions and share some
color features, such as a deep blue or blackish spot
on the interspinous membranes of the dorsal fin
(also found in X. koteamea), the lateral-line pores in
a white spot (at least anteriorly), a red iris, and (in
juveniles and females) near-vertical white lines on
the abdomen and a white patch beneath the pec-
toral fin that narrows posteriorly. Xyrichtys pastellus
and X. sciistius have a deep blue or black spot in the
axil of the pectoral fins, in contrast to the red or
dusky axil in X. woodi. Adults of X. sciistius exhibit
much more orange or red coloration than is found
in adults of X. pastellus or X. woodi. Considerable
color variation of X. sciistius may be seen in
Masuda & Kobayashi (1994: 289: figs 3-8) and
Okamura & Amaoka (1997: 518, lower 5 left fig-
ures). Figures 1-3 of X. pastellus, Figs 4-7 of X. sci-
istius, and Figs 8-10 of X. woodi provide for a com-
parison of the color patterns of these three species.
Table II shows a modal difference in the gill-raker
counts of X. woodi from X. sciistius and X. pastellus.
Xyrichtys pastellus, a new razorfish from the southwest Pacific, with discussion of the related X. sciistius and X. woodi
158
aqua vol. 14 no. 3 - 10 July 2008
DOR, M. 1970. Nouveaux poisons pour la faune de la Mer
Rouge. Contributions to the knowledge of the Red Sea 44:
7-28.
FRANCIS, M. P. 1993. Checklist of the coastal fishes of
Lord Howe, Norfolk, and Kermadec Islands, Southwest
Pacific Ocean. Pacific Science 47 (2): 136-170.
FRANCIS, M. P. & RANDALL, J. E. 1993. Further additions
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106 mm SL, as Hemipteronotus javanicus from
Eilat, Gulf of Aqaba. Additional Red Sea speci-
mens should be obtained, and the life color deter-
mined.
Material Examined of Other Pacific Species of
Xyrichtys: Xyrichtys sciistius: Ogasawara Islands,
Chichi-jima, BPBM 35061, 62 mm; BPBM
35187, 43 mm. Ani-jima, BPBM 35081, 2: 95-
135 mm; NSMT-P 33516, 144 mm. Ryukyu
Islands, Okinawa Group, Nagan’nu Island,
NSMT-P 711312, 26 mm. Izu Islands, Miyake-
jima, NSMT-P 31557, 59 mm. Shizuoka Prefec-
ture, Izu Peninsula, NSMT-P 119141, 6: 75-
125 mm. X. woodi: Hawaiian Islands, Oahu,
BPBM 4723, 4: 123-136 mm; BPBM 4724,
125 mm; BPBM 4725, 2: 113-115 mm; BPBM
11980, 116 mm; BPBM 24531, 93 mm; BPBM
31028, 2: 67-71 mm; BPBM 37044, 43 mm;
BPBM 37118, 31 mm.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Geoff Kelly of the Lord Howe Island Marine Park
maintained the holotype of Xyrichtys pastellus in his
aquarium after it was caught by Darrin Nobbs, and
provided the photograph of Fig. 1. He sent the spec-
imen to Mark A. McGrouther of the Australian
Museum, who passed it on to us for the description.
We are grateful to all for their contributions.
Thanks are also due John P. Hoover for his under-
water photograph of a presumed male of X. woodi,
Loreen R. O’Hara of the Bishop Museum for
X-rays, Hiroshi Senou for obtaining tissue samples
of X. sciistius collected by M. Konno and S. Kato,
Gento Shinohara for the loan of specimens of X.
sciistius from the National Museum of Nature and
Science in Tokyo, and Benjamin C. Victor for his
information on barcode sequences of razorfishes.
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