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Cirrhilabrus cyanogularis, a new species of fairy wrasse from the Philippines and Indonesia (Teleostei: Labridae)

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Cirrhilabrus cyanogularis, sp. nov., is described on the basis of the holotype and three paratypes from Banguingui Island, Sulu Archipelago, Philippines, and a paratype from Sulawesi, Indonesia. The new species belongs to a complex consisting of C. filamentosus (Klausewitz), C. rubripinnis Randall & Carpenter, and C. tonozukai Allen & Kuiter. Aside from similar nuptial male coloration, the four species share the following character combination: a single row of cheek scales; dorsal-fin spines taller than dorsal-fin rays (slightly incised between spinuous and soft dorsal fin in C. rubripinnis and C. cyanogularis; last three dorsal-fin spines converging to form a single filament in C. tonozukai and C. filamentosus); relatively long pelvic fins (reaching past anal-fin origin); and isthmus and breast blue. The new species differs from the other members of the complex in lacking a dorsal filament, as well as possessing six predorsal scales, more extensive blue coloration on the isthmus, lower head and breast, and a soft dorsal fin with narrow black, medial stripe. The status of Klausewitz’s Cirrhilabrichthys is briefly discussed.
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Accepted by W. Holleman: 12 Mar. 2018; published: 11 May 2018
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ZOOTAXA
ISSN 1175-5326 (print edition)
ISSN
1175-5334
(online edition)
Copyright © 2018 Magnolia Press
Zootaxa 4418 (6): 577
587
http://www.mapress.com/j/zt/
Article
577
https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4418.6.5
http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:6AE452CD-75B2-4E36-9F7C-67A806815CA8
Cirrhilabrus cyanogularis, a new species of fairy wrasse from
the Philippines and Indonesia (Teleostei: Labridae)
YI-KAI TEA
1
, BENJAMIN W. FRABLE
2
& ANTHONY C. GILL
3,4,5
1
School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia. E-mail: teayk1@gmail.com
2
Marine Vertebrate Collection, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
3
Macleay Museum and School of Life and Environmental Sciences, A12—Macleay Building, The University of Sydney, New South
Wales 2006, Australia.
4
Ichthyology, Australian Museum, 1 William Street, Sydney, New South Wales 2010, Australia.
5
Corresponding author. E-mail: anthony.c.gill@sydney.edu.au
Abstract
Cirrhilabrus cyanogularis, sp. nov., is described on the basis of the holotype and three paratypes from Banguingui Island,
Sulu Archipelago, Philippines, and a paratype from Sulawesi, Indonesia. The new species belongs to a complex consisting
of C. filamentosus (Klausewitz), C. rubripinnis Randall & Carpenter, and C. tonozukai Allen & Kuiter. Aside from similar
nuptial male coloration, the four species share the following character combination: a single row of cheek scales; dorsal-
fin spines taller than dorsal-fin rays (slightly incised between spinuous and soft dorsal fin in C. rubripinnis and C. cy-
anogularis; last three dorsal-fin spines converging to form a single filament in C. tonozukai and C. filamentosus); relative-
ly long pelvic fins (reaching past anal-fin origin); and isthmus and breast blue. The new species differs from the other
members of the complex in lacking a dorsal filament, as well as possessing six predorsal scales, more extensive blue col-
oration on the isthmus, lower head and breast, and a soft dorsal fin with narrow black, medial stripe. The status of Klause-
witz’s Cirrhilabrichthys is briefly discussed.
Key words: taxonomy, ichthyology, Banguingui Island, Sulu Archipelago, coloration
Introduction
The Indo-Pacific labrid genus Cirrhilabrus Temminck & Schlegel (1845) consists of small, planktivorous fishes
found mostly on rubble slopes. Allen et al. (2015) listed 51 valid species in the genus. Seven other species have
subsequently been described: Cirrhilabrus isosceles Tea et al. (2016), C. hygroxerus Allen & Hammer (2016), C.
rubeus Victor (2016), C. africanus Victor (2016), C. efatensis Wals h et al. (2017), C. shutmani Tea & Gill (2017)
and C. greeni Allen & Hammer (2017) bringing the valid species count to 58.
Klausewitz (1976) erected the genus Cirrhilabrichthys to accommodate the placement of his new species, C.
filamentosus. In his original description, Klausewitz made reference to the close relationship that C. filamentosus
might have to Cirrhilabrus rubriventralis Springer & Randall (1974), based in part on the presence of a single row
of cheek scales (versus the usual two). This apomorphic character is now known from several additional
Cirrhilabrus species: C. rubripinnis Randall & Carpenter (1980), C. condei Allen & Randall (1996), C. morrisoni
Allen (1999), C. tonozukai Allen & Kuiter (1999), C. joanallenae Allen (2000), C. walshi Randall & Pyle (2001),
C. naokoae Randall & Tanaka (2009), C. humanni Allen & Erdmann (2012), C. marinda Allen, Erdmann &
Dailami (2015), C. africanus Victor (2016), C. rubeus Victor (2016), C. hygroxerus Allen & Hammer (2016), and
C. greeni Allen & Hammer (2017). Further study is required to determine whether this feature is synapomorphic,
and thus diagnostic for Cirrhilabrichthys. Pending that investigation, we follow Randall & Lubbock (1982) in
recognizing Cirrhilabrichthys as a synonym of Cirrhilabrus (discussed in further detail below).
Herein we describe an additional species of Cirrhilabrus with a single row of cheek scales on the basis of five
specimens collected for the aquarium trade, four from Banguingui Island, Sulu Archipelago, Philippines, and one
from Sulawesi, Indonesia.
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Materials and methods
Methods of counting and measuring follow Randall & Masuda (1991). Gill raker counts follow Tea & Gill (2017),
and are presented as upper (epibranchial) + lower (ceratobranchial); the angle raker is included in the second count.
In the description that follows, data are presented for all type specimens, followed where variation was noted by
data for the holotype in parentheses. Where counts were recorded bilaterally for the holotype, both counts are given
and separated from each other by a slash; the first count presented is the left count. Type specimens are deposited in
the Australian Museum, Sydney (AMS), Kanagawa Prefectural Museum of Natural History (KPM), National
Museum of the Philippines (PNM), Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO), and the Zoological Reference
Collection of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum at the National University of Singapore (ZRC).
Cirrhilabrus cyanogularis n. sp.
Blue-throated Fairy-wrasse
Figures 1–6, 8, 9A, 10A; Tables 1–3
Holotype. PNM 15354, 44.5 mm SL male, Philippines, Sulu Archipelago, Banguingui Island (6°0’N 121°52’E),
30 m, rubble slopes, collected by Rolando Dungog, 17 July 2016.
Paratypes. AMS I.47440-001, 44.5 mm SL male (collected with holotype); ZRC 56451, 44.1 mm SL male
(collected with holotype); SIO 17-27, 54.8 mm SL male, Philippines, Sulu Archipelago, Banguingui Island, 30 m,
rubble slopes, collected by Rolando Dungog, 2017; KPM-NI 16299, 61.6 mm SL male, Indonesia, Sulawesi,
collected by aquarium fish collectors, purchased from an aquarium store 13 October 2005.
Diagnosis. Cirrhilabrus cyanogularis differs from congeners in having the following combination of
characters: single row of cheek scales; six predorsal scales; dorsal-fin spines taller than segmented rays; no
filament on middle of dorsal fin; pelvic fins long, reaching past anal-fin origin; males in life with broad blue area
covering isthmus, lower part of head and breast to at least pelvic origin, and soft dorsal fin with narrow black,
medial stripe.
Description. Dorsal-fin rays XI,9; anal-fin rays III,9; dorsal and anal-fin soft rays branched except first ray
unbranched; last dorsal and anal-fin ray branched to base; pectoral-fin rays 14–15 (15/15), upper two unbranched;
pelvic-fin rays I,5; principal caudal-fin rays 7+6, uppermost and lowermost unbranched; upper procurrent caudal-
fin rays 6, lower procurrent caudal-fin rays 6; lateral line interrupted, with dorsoanterior series of pored scales
13–16 (16/13) and midlateral posterior peduncular series 4–7 (6/7); scales above lateral line to origin of dorsal fin
2; scales below lateral line to origin of anal fin 6–7 (6/6); median predorsal scales 6; median prepelvic scales 6;
rows of scales on cheek 1; circumpeduncular scales 16; gill rakers 5 + 8 = 13; pseudobranchial filaments 10–11
(11); vertebrae 9+16; epineurals 13.
Body moderately elongate and compressed, depth 3.1–3.4 (3.3) in SL, width 5.8–7.8 (6.0) in SL; head length
2.9–3.3 (3.1) in SL; snout pointed, its length 3.1–3.8 (3.7) in HL; orbit diameter 3.4–4.0 (3.5) in HL; depth of
caudal peduncle 2.2–2.6 (2.3) in HL. Mouth small, terminal, and oblique, with maxilla almost reaching vertical at
front edge of orbit; dentition typical of genus with three pairs of canine teeth present anteriorly at side of upper jaw,
first forward-projecting, next two strongly recurved and outcurved, third longest; an irregular row of very small
conical teeth medial to upper canines; lower jaw with a single stout pair of canines anteriorly which protrude
obliquely outward and are slightly lateral to medial pair of upper jaw; no teeth on roof of mouth. Gill rakers small,
longest on first branchial arch less than half length of longest gill filaments.
Posterior margin of preoperculum with 27–32 (27) very fine serrae; margins of posterior and ventral edges of
preoperculum free to about level of middle pupil. Anterior nostril in short membranous tube, located nearer to orbit
than snout tip; posterior nostril larger, roughly ovoid to rectangular, located just medial and anterior to upper edge
of eye. Scales cycloid; head scaled except snout and interorbital space; 5–6 (6) large scales on opercle; a broad
naked zone on membranous edge of preopercle; a row of large, elongate, pointed scales along base of dorsal fin,
one per element, longest about two-fifths length of spines, scales progressively shorter posteriorly on soft portion
of fin; anal fin with a similar basal row of scales; last pored scale of lateral line (posterior to hypural plate) enlarged
and pointed; one scale above and below last pored scale also enlarged; a horizontal series of greatly enlarged scales
extend two-thirds distance to central posterior margin of caudal fin; pectoral fins naked except for a few small
scales at extreme base; a single large scale at base of each pelvic fin, about three-fourths length of pelvic spine.
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NEW CIRRHILABRUS SP. FROM PHILI PPINES
TABLE 1. Proportional measurements of type specimens of Cirrhilabrus cyanogularis expressed as percentages of
standard length.
Origin of dorsal fin above third lateral-line scale, predorsal length 2.9–3.2 (3.2) in SL; first 1–4 dorsal-fin
spines progressively longer, fourth to fifth subequal, sixth to eighth longest, 1.6–2.3 (2.3) in HL; interspinous
membranes of dorsal fin in males extend beyond dorsal-fin spines, with each membrane extending in a pointed
filament beyond spine; first dorsal-fin soft ray longest, 1.5–1.7 (1.7) in HL, remaining rays progressively shorter;
origin of anal fin below base of tenth dorsal-fin spine; third anal-fin spine longest, 2.9–3.4 (3.4) in HL; interspinous
membranes of anal fin extended as on dorsal fin; anal-fin soft rays relatively uniform in length, fifth longest, 1.4–
1.8 (1.7) in HL; dorsal and anal-fin rays barely reaching caudal-fin base; caudal fin of males rounded, length 1.0–
1.2 (1.0) in HL; pectoral fins short, reaching a vertical between bases of sixth or seventh dorsal-fin spines, longest
ray 1.4–1.8 (1.6) in HL; origin of pelvic fins below lower base of pectoral fins; pelvic fins relatively long, reaching
past anal fin origin, longest ray 0.8–0.9 (0.9) in HL.
Coloration of males in life (based on colour photographs of the holotype and paratype when freshly dead, and
aquarium photos of live individuals; Figures 1, 3–6, 9A & 10A): head and body orange to orange-red; lower part of
head white, overlaid with metallic blue-green; lower part of operculum, isthmus and breast extensively overlaid
with metallic blue-green; upper part of nape, interorbital and upper part of snout orange to orange-red, with a series
Holotype Paratypes
PNM 15354 ZRC 56451 AMS I.47440-001 SIO 17-27 KPM-NI 16299
Sex male male male male male
Standard length (mm) 44.5 44.1 44.5 54.8 61.6
Body depth 30.1 29.7 30.6 29.3 32.5
Body width 13.5 13.6 13.0 12.8 15.6
Head length 32.1 32.0 33.3 33.5 29.9
Snout length 8.8 8.6 8.8 8.5 9.7
Orbit diameter 9.2 9.3 9.7 8.1 7.5
Interorbital width 8.8 7.7 7.6 7.6 8.1
Upper jaw length 7.0 7.3 7.6 6.6 8.3
Caudal-peduncle depth 13.7 13.4 13.0 14.3 13.5
Caudal-peduncle length 16.9 19.0 16.6 20.1 17.4
Predorsal length 33.5 33.3 33.3 34.6 32.3
Preanal length 60.9 56.2 58.0 57.0 56.8
Prepelvic length 36.0 32.9 38.0 36.2 34.4
Dorsal-fin base 58.4 59.6 56.2 55.1 60.4
First dorsal spine 6.4 7.9 7.4 8.5 5.7
Second dorsal spine 10.3 12.5 11.7 15.0 10.2
Longest dorsal spine 15.5 17.5 15.3 20.4 15.4
Longest dorsal ray 19.3 21.8 19.3 16.9 19.2
Anal-fin base 27.2 28.6 27.4 22.6 28.4
First anal spine 5.6 4.8 5.2 5.9 5.2
Second anal spine 8.3 7.7 7.6 7.7 8.3
Third anal spine 9.4 10.0 9.0 8.4 10.4
Longest anal ray 19.3 22.7 18.2 21.3 19.7
Caudal-fin length 30.8 29.7 27.0 22.9 27.0
Pectoral-fin length 19.6 18.8 18.2 18.2 21.9
Pelvic spine length 11.0 11.8 8.1 15.9 12.3
Pelvic fin length 37.5 42.6 35.9 46.7 37.8
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of fine white stripes; iris bright orange, with yellow ring around pupil; lower part of body yellowish orange to
white, delimited from upper body by a red medial stripe starting from pectoral fin base to caudal peduncle; dorsal
fin reddish-orange, often with whitish sinuous markings anteriorly; posterior dorsal fin hyaline yellow to reddish-
yellow, with a large medial stripe, dark red, black distally, often with blue spots; distal margin of posterior dorsal
fin narrowly bright blue; anal fin dark red, washed with magenta, sometimes with blue spots basally; caudal fin
hyaline yellow to yellowish-green, washed with magenta, slightly metallic, with diffused black margin and with
three to five metallic blue vertical bands, often broken into spots; pelvic fins dark red, narrowly bright blue on
leading edge; pectoral fins reddish hyaline.
FIGURE 1. Cirrhilabrus cyanogularis, PNM 15354, freshly euthanized male holotype, 44.5 mm SL, Banguingui Island, Sulu
Archipelago, Philippines. Photo by Y.K. Tea.
Coloration of females in life (based on colour photographs and aquarium photos of live individuals): similar to
male, but body uniformly orange to orange-red, fading to pale whitish ventrally, and with three to four fine white
stripes dorsally; upper part of caudal peduncle with small black spot; dorsal and anal fins hyaline red without any
obvious markings; pelvic fins hyaline red; caudal fin hyaline red with indistinct spots; pectoral fins hyaline.
Coloration in preservative (Figure 2): similar to colour in life; metallic blue and black markings become dusky
grey; red markings become pale tan; white markings become whitish-grey; dorsal fin greyish hyaline, posterior
black markings remain; anal and pelvic fins greyish hyaline; caudal fin greyish hyaline, vertical bands become
whitish-grey, distal black margin remain; pectoral fins hyaline.
Etymology. The specific epithet is a combination of the Greek kyanos, blue, and Latin, gularis, throated,
alluding to the extensive blue throat coloration of males of the species. Gender is masculine.
Distribution and habitat. Cirrhilabrus cyanogularis is known from the type locality from Banguingui Island,
Sulu Archipelago, Philippines and from an unknown locality in Sulawesi, Indonesia (Figure 8). The species has
also been collected regularly for the aquarium trade at Sarangani Island, off the southern tip of Mindanao,
Philippines (B. Shutman, pers. comm.). Photographs in the Image Database of Fishes, Kanagawa Prefectural
Museum of Natural History (KPM) indicate that the species ranges to Sabah, Malaysia (Kapalai Island, KPM-
NR71060; Mabur Island, KPM-NR71181). The species has also been photographed in Indonesia at Derawan,
Eastern Kalimantan, and Bali (Figures 9A, 10A). Like other species in the genus, it favors rubble slopes with little
structure, at depths of about 30 m, though has been photographed in as little as 4 m.
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FIGURE 2. Cirrhilabrus cyanogularis, PNM 15354, preserved male holotype, 44.5 mm SL, Banguingui Island, Sulu
Archipelago, Philippines. Photo by Y.K. Tea.
FIGURE 3. Cirrhilabrus cyanogularis, SIO 17-27, 54.8 mm SL, paratype, x-radiograph. Radiograph by B.W. Frable.
Comparisons. Cirrhilabrus cyanogularis most closely resembles Cirrhilabrus rubripinnis from the
Philippines, C. tonozukai from Indonesia, Timor-Leste and Palau, and C. filamentosus from Indonesia (Figures 9 &
10). The four species share the following combination of characters: a single row of cheek scales; males with
dorsal-fin spines taller than dorsal-fin rays (slightly incised between spinous and soft dorsal fin in C. rubripinnis
and C. cyanogularis; last three dorsal-fin spines converging to form a single filament in C. tonozukai and C.
filamentosus); relatively long pelvic fins (reaching pass anal-fin origin), and isthmus blue in life. Differences in
live coloration and characters distinguishing C. cyanogularis, C. rubripinnis, C. tonozukai and C. filamentosus are
summarized in Tables 2 and 3, and illustrated in Figures 9 and 10.
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FIGURE 4. Cirrhilabrus cyanogularis, KPM-NI 16299, freshly euthanized male paratype, 61.6 mm SL, from Sulawesi,
Indonesia. Photo by H. Senou.
FIGURE 5. Cirrhilabrus cyanogularis, aquarium specimen, approximately 75 mm TL, from Banguingui Island, Sulu
Archipelago, Philippines. Image reversed, specimen not retained. Note the extensive blue coloration reaching the bases of the
pectoral, pelvic and anal fins. Photo by Y.K. Tea.
Aside from live coloration, C. cyanogularis differs from C. rubripinnis in having one more predorsal scale (6
vs 5), a lower number of preopercular serrae (27–32 vs 37), a shorter head (32.0–33.5 vs 33.0–42.2 % SL), a
shorter preanal distance (56.2–60.9 vs 59.3–72.7 % SL), and a shorter first anal fin spine (4.8–5.9 vs 7.0–9.7 %
SL), and from C. tonozukai in having more predorsal scales (6 vs 4–5), a shallower caudal peduncle (13.0–14.3 vs
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14.4–15.6 % SL), and a longer first dorsal fin spine (5.7–8.5 vs 4.3–4.7 % SL). Cirrhilabrus cyanogularis is readily
separated from C. filamentosus on the basis of dorsal fin morphology and coloration (Figures 9 and 10). The
filamentous dorsal fin character of C. rubripinnis and C. cyanogularis is discussed in the remarks below.
FIGURE 6. Cirrhilabrus cyanogularis, aquarium specimen from Sulawesi, Indonesia. Specimen not retained. Photo by K.
Endoh.
FIGURE 7. Cirrhilabrus rubripinnis, male holotype, 59.9 mm SL, from Luzon, Philippines. Photo by J.E. Randall.
Remarks. Klausewitz (1976) erected the genus Cirrhilabrichthys for C. filamentosus on the basis of two
characters: a single row of scales on the cheek, and males with the last three dorsal-fin spines fused into a
filamentous prolongation. As noted in the Introduction, there are now 16 species known with a single row of cheek
scales. Elongation of the last three dorsal-fin spines into a filament has a more restricted distribution among
Cirrhilabrus species, and appears to be variable in some species. In describing C. rubripinnis from Luzon,
Philippines, Randall & Carpenter (1980) noted the presence of a posterior dorsal fin filament on the holotype, but
not in the other specimens in the type series (Figure 7). Examination of subsequent specimens and photographs
reveal that the species normally lacks a filamentous extension. A similar situation occurs in C. cyanogularis.
Although none of the specimens in the type series possess dorsal filaments, we are aware of a single aquarium
individual of the species with that feature. Unfortunately, that individual was not preserved, and is unavailable for
additional study. Aside from C. filamentosus, only C. tonozukai has males with consistent extension of the
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posterior three dorsal-fin spines into a filament. Nonetheless, we believe the four species are closely related, and
hereafter refer to them as the C. filamentosus complex.
TABLE 2. Comparison of coloration and morphological characters of males of selected Cirrhilabrus species based on
live individuals and color photographs of individuals in aquaria and in the field.
FIGURE 8. Distribution records for selected species of Cirrhilabrus: closed circle, C. cyanogularis; closed square, C.
rubripinnis; open circle, C. filamentosus; half circle, C. filamentosus + C. cyanogularis; closed triangle, C. tonozukai; half
triangle, C. tonozukai + C. filamentosus; closed star, C. tonozukai + C. cyanogularis.
The remaining species with a single row of cheek scales may be grouped into two complexes. Species of the
first of these, the C. rubriventralis complex, are characterized by males having the anterior dorsal-fin spines
elevated or developed into filaments, and with relatively broad and long pelvic fins. The complex includes C.
rubriventralis, C. africanus, C. rubeus, C. joanallenae, C. humanni, C. hygroxerus, C. morrisoni and C. naokoae.
The second complex, the C. condei complex, includes species in which the males have long filamentous pelvic fins
and sail-like dorsal fins without filaments. The complex includes C. condei, C. walshi and C. marinda. An
additional species, C. greeni, from the Northern Territory, Australia, also possesses the cheek scale character.
Preliminary analysis of mitochondrial CO1 by Allen & Hammer (2017) revealed that it shares haplotypes with C.
rubripinnis and C. cyanogularis (as C. aff. tonozukai). However, C. greeni lacks blue scaling on the isthmus and
breast characteristic of the C. filamentosus complex, possessing instead coloration details more similar to that of
C. cyanogularis C. rubripinnis C. tonozukai C. filamentosus
Dorsal filament Absent Absent Present Present
Predorsal scales 6 5 4–5 5
Posterior medial
stripe on dorsal fin
Present Absent Present Absent
Blue coloration on
isthmus and breast
Very extensive, reaching lower part
of head, breast and pectoral-fin base
Present, restricted to
isthmus
Present, restricted
to isthmus
Present, restricted to
isthmus
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the C. condei complex. Cirrhilabrus greeni is distinguished from C. cyanogularis and all other species with a
single row of cheek scales in having the central portion of the caudal fin completely hyaline.
FIGURE 9. Males of selected Cirrhilabrus species: A) C. cyanogularis from Bali, Indonesia (photo by K. Nishiyama); B) C.
tonozukai from Lembeh, Sulawesi, Indonesia (photo by G. Allen); C) C. rubripinnis from Anilao, Luzon, Philippines (photo by
G. Allen); D) C. filamentosus from Nusa Penida, Bali, Indonesia (photo G. Allen).
Victor’s (2016) phylogenetic analysis of Cirrhilabrus mtDNA (CO1) sequences retrieved a sister-group
relationship between sampled members of the C. rubriventralis and C. condei complexes, but did not include
members of the C. filamentosus complex. Whether the three complexes form a monophyletic group—which might
justify resurrection of Klausewitz’s Cirrhilabrichthys from synonymy—will require more extensive sampling and
analysis.
TABLE 3. Comparison of nuptial coloration of males of selected Cirrhilabrus species based on live individuals and
color photographs of individuals in aquaria and in the field.
C. cyanogularis C. rubripinnis C. tonozukai C. filamentosus
Dorsal fin color White anteriorly Red entirely Whitish-hyaline anteriorly Yellow entirely
White saddle behind
pectoral fin
Absent Present Present Present
Medial body stripe Present Absent Absent Present
Facial and dorsal
markings
Absent Absent Red markings on upper part of
operculum and dorsum
Absent
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FIGURE 10. Males of selected Cirrhilabrus species in nuptial display: A) C. cyanogularis from Derawan, Indonesia (photo by
H. Chan); B) C. tonozukai from East Timor (photo by G. Allen); C) C. rubripinnis from Anilao, Philippines (photo by G.
Allen); D) C. filamentosus from Bali, Indonesia (photo R. Kuiter).
Acknowledgements
We thank K. Lim, H. Senou and M. McGrouther for curatorial assistance. We are grateful to B. Shutman for
providing the holotype and paratypes via Iwarna Aquafarm, Singapore and C. Podkin-Johnson for providing the
paratype at SIO via Pacific Island Aquatics, Oregon, USA. We thank G.R. Allen, B. Shutman, H. Senou, S.
Michael, J.E. Randall, R.H. Kuiter and A. Wilkens for providing excellent photographs of various Cirrhilabrus
species.
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... These are C. cyanogularis, C. cyanopleura, C. rubripinnis, C. ryukyuensis, C. shutmani, and C. temminckii. The new species differs from C. cyanogularis and C. rubripinnis in having two rows of cheek scales (versus one; Tea et al., 2018b;Randall and Carpenter, 1980); and from C. cyanopleura, C. ryukyuensis, C. shutmani, and C. temminckii in coloration pattern, particularly in having: a black spot on the posterior dorsal fin; a black margin on the caudal fin; and reticulations and pinstripes on the head. Both Cirrhilabrus cyanopleura and C. ryukyuensis are further separated from C. briangreenei in having body scales that are darkened on the outer edge, and C. shutmani is further separated from C. briangreenei in having unmarked median fins and with pelvic fins that do not reach past the anal-fin origin. ...
... This applies to published information in the literature for some species we compare with our new species (Randall and Lubbock, 1982;Randall, 1988Randall, , 1992Allen and Randall, 1996). Although not explicitly mentioned in the methods, all pored lateral-line scale counts taken by the first and last author for previous studies conducted on species in this genus include the last overlapping scale (Tea and Gill, 2017;Tea et al., 2018aTea et al., , 2018bTea et al., , 2019, which we here clarify and amend. Because the last pored scale originates on the posterior part of the caudal peduncle rather than the caudal fin and is closely applied to the preceding pored scale, we consider its omission from the lateral scale series unnecessary (especially since no justification has been given for its exclusion). ...
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The new species, Cirrhilabrus briangreenei, is described on the basis of the holotype and six paratypes collected from mesophotic coral ecosystems of the Verde Island Passage, Philippines, between depths of 82 and 110 m. The new species is most closely related to Cirrhilabrus pylei, but it differs primarily in the presence of: more pored scales on the posterior lateral line (7–9 vs. 5–6); a lower number of circumpeduncular scales (14 vs. 16); a lower number of gill rakers (16–17 vs. 18–20); and differences in coloration details of the dorsal and caudal fins. Both species differ from all other congeners in sharing the following combination of characters: pelvic fins very long (56.5–70.0% SL), often extending past anal-fin terminus in males; caudal fin scintillating and iridescent in males; dorsal fin with sinuous scribbling in both sexes; anterior dorsal fin with a metallic blue spot on first one to two interspinous membrane spaces; snout with three parallel stripes from maxilla to anterior edge of orbit; and rest of head with a network of short broken pinstripes in both sexes. These characters are also distributed in part amongst other species of Cirrhilabrus, in particular, C. katoi, C. lineatus, C. rhomboidalis, and C. rubrimarginatus, and their putative relationships are discussed on the basis of meristic, morphometric, and molecular sequence data. We briefly comment on the variability of morphological characters within Cirrhilabrus and their implications towards phylogenetic classification, with remarks on methods for data collection for species of Cirrhilabrus.
... Although dorsal-fin prolongation is not synapomorphic for either the C. filamentosus or C. rubriventralis complex, the occurrence of these characters at the complete exclusion of the C. condei complex suggests a sister relationship between the two on the basis of morphology (Tea et al. 2018a). Furthermore, the C. rubriventralis and C. filamentosus complexes have allopatric distributions in the Indian and Pacific Ocean basins, reflecting a common evolutionary history shared by many Indo-Pacific reef fishes (Randall 1988;Gaither and Rocha 2013;Liu et al. 2014;Ludt and Rocha 2014). ...
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The fairy wrasses (genus Cirrhilabrus) are among the most successful of the extant wrasse lineages (Teleostei: Labridae), with their 61 species accounting for nearly 10% of the family. Although species complexes within the genus have been diagnosed on the basis of coloration patterns and synapomorphies, attempts to resolve evolutionary relationships among these groups using molecular and morphological data have largely been unsuccessful. Here we use a phylogenomic approach with a data set comprising 991 ultraconserved elements (UCEs) and mitochondrial COI to uncover the evolutionary history and patterns of temporal and spatial diversification of the fairy wrasses. Our analyses of phylogenetic signal suggest that most gene-tree incongruence is caused by estimation error, leading to poor resolution in a summary-coalescent analysis of the data. In contrast, analyses of concatenated sequences are able to resolve the major relationships of Cirrhilabrus. We determine the placements of species that were previously regarded as incertae sedis and find evidence for the nesting of Conniella, an unusual, monotypic genus, within Cirrhilabrus. Our relaxed-clock dating analysis indicates that the major divergences within the genus occurred around the Miocene-Pliocene boundary, followed by extensive cladogenesis of species complexes in the Pliocene-Pleistocene. Biogeographic reconstruction suggests that the fairy wrasses emerged within the Coral Triangle, with episodic fluctuations of sea levels during glacial cycles coinciding with shallow divergence events but providing few opportunities for more widespread dispersal. Our study demonstrates both the resolving power and limitations of UCEs across shallow timescales where there is substantial estimation error in individual gene trees.
... Following publication of the original article ( Tea et al., 2018), an error was noted in the museum registration number for the holotype of the new species Cirrhilabrus cyanogularis (PNM 15354). This registration number is a duplicate number already in use for the holotype of Cirrhilabrus shutmani (Tea & Gill, 2017). ...
Article
Following publication of the original article (Tea et al., 2018), an error was noted in the museum registration number for the holotype of the new species Cirrhilabrus cyanogularis (PNM 15354). This registration number is a duplicate number already in use for the holotype of Cirrhilabrus shutmani (Tea & Gill, 2017). The new registration number for the holotype of Cirrhilabrus cyanogularis is now PNM 15360.
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Cirrhilabrus wakanda sp. nov. is described on the basis of the holotype and four paratypes collected between 50 and 80m depth over low-complexity reef and rubble bottoms at the east coast of Zanzibar, Tanzania, Africa. The new species belongs to a group of fairy wrasses from the western Indian Ocean, sharing a combination of characters that include: short pelvic fins (not or barely reaching anal-fin origin); relatively unmarked dorsal and anal fins; males with a strongly lanceolate caudal fin (except in C. rubrisquamis); both sexes with a pair of prominent facial stripes above and below the orbit; and both sexes with prominent purple scales and osseus elements that persist, and stain purple, respectively, even in preservation. This group of fairy wrasse is part of a larger complex that includes related species from the western Pacific Ocean. In addition to meristic and morphometric comparisons, we also compare mitochondrial DNA sequence data to the aforementioned, putatively related species.
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A new species of labrid fish, the Sunset Fairy-wrasse, Cirrhilabrus greeni n. sp., is described from seven specimens, 39.4-47.3 mm SL, collected from the eastern Timor Sea, Northern Territory, Australia. The species is clearly distinguished by its terminal-phase male color pattern, consisting of pink to reddish hues on the upper half of the head and body and yellow on the lower half, in combination with a mainly yellow-orange dorsal fin and a scarlet-red anal fin. The caudal fin of the male is particularly distinctive, being emarginate but appearing lunate due to a clear central portion and tapering red bands along dorsal and ventral margins. Females can be distinguished from sympatric congeners by having a large black spot on the upper caudal peduncle. Sequencing of the mtDNA-barcode marker COI reveals that the new species has identical sequences to C. rubripinnis and C. aff. tonozukai from the Philippines, which have very different color patterns and tail shapes from the new species, indicating the new species has diverged recently and/or there is historic or episodic hybridization within the species complex.
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Cirrhilabrus shutmani, new species, is described on the basis of four specimens from Didicas Volcano, Babuyan Islands, Cagayan province, northern Philippines. The holotype and three paratypes were collected at a depth of 50-70 m, along denuded rubble slopes. The new species belong to a complex consisting of C. blatteus, C. claire, C. earlei, C. jordani, C. lanceolatus, C. roseafascia, C. rubrisquamis and C. sanguineus. Aside from similar nuptial male colouration, the nine species share the following character combination: relatively short pelvic fins (not or barely reaching anal-fin origin, except for C. claire with relatively long pelvic fins); a pair of stripes on head (in both sexes); and, dorsal and anal fins without obvious stripes or spots. It differs from the other members of its group in lacking any stripes on the upper and lower body, and in having the following live colouration details: upper part of nape dusky red; dorsal and anal fin bright red with dusky markings; pelvic fins bright red, dusky anteriorly; caudal fin bright yellow basally with distal half bright red. We also present new distribution records for C. claire, C. earlei and C. lanceolatus, as well as a brief mention of a possibly new, related species from the Ogasawara Islands.
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A new species of labrid, Cirrhilabrus marinda, is described from 29 type specimens, 17.4–45.9 mm SL, collected at Ayau Atoll, West Papua Province, Indonesia and 7 non-type specimens, 32.0–67.0 mm SL, from Halmahera, Indonesia and the vicinity of Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu. The new taxon is closely related to Cirrhilabrus condei of Indonesia (West Papua), Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Coral Sea, and the northern Great Barrier Reef, mainly differing in the shape and colouration of the male dorsal fin. The spinous dorsal fin of C. marinda is mostly black and noticeably taller than the soft portion in comparison with C. condei, which has a more uniform fin profile with black colouration restricted to the outer fin margin. The population of C. marinda from Ayau Atoll differs from conspecific populations in other regions and from C. condei in having an exceptionally small maximum size of approximately 46 mm SL, with mature females as small as 30.4 mm SL. The two species are broadly sympatric, but do not share the same habitat; C. marinda prefer deeper offshore sand habitats. The barcode (COI) mitochondrial DNA sequences of the new species are the same as C. condei, apparently a case of phenotypic divergence outpacing changes in mitochondrial genotype. As in other reported cases of this phenomenon, the phenotypic differences are in the male mating display, which would be expected in the early stages of species divergence.
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The new labrid species, Cirrhilabrus efatensis, is described from six specimens, 42.7–69.4 mm SL, collected from Éfaté Island in Vanuatu in the South Pacific Ocean. The new species, along with C. bathyphilus and C. nahackyi, form a small complex of allopatric closely related species in the southeastern Pacific Ocean, distinguished by a combination of features of the color pattern of terminal-phase males: black anteriormost dorsal-fin spines and membranes, a relatively uniform red-to-orange body color, a yellow anal fin with a blue-violet outer margin, and a dusky nape. The new species differs from C. bathyphilus and C. nahackyi in having a bright-red head and anterior body delimited abruptly from the orange posterior body. The mtDNA barcode COI sequence for C. efatensis is the same as that of C. bathyphilus and C. nahackyi, not surprising in view of the prevalence of shared haplotypes among some members of species complexes in Cirrhilabrus and Paracheilinus. The new species is apparently endemic to Vanuatu, adjacent to the range of C. bathyphilus in the Coral Sea, but not overlapping, and is likely another example of microendemism for the genus.
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A new species of labrid fish, Cirrhilabrus hygroxerus, is described from 19 type specimens, 38.4–56.1 mm SL, collected from the eastern Timor Sea, Northern Territory, Australia. The new taxon belongs to a species complex containing five other Indo-Pacific species, comprising C. humanni (western Lesser Sunda Islands of Indonesia and East Timor), C. joanallenae (western Sumatra), C. morrisoni (Hibernia Reef, western Timor Sea), C. naokoae (Nias Island, western Sumatra), and the widespread C. rubriventralis (Red Sea, western Indian Ocean, Maldives, and Sri Lanka). Members of this complex typically have a single row of scales on the cheek and share the unique combination in the terminal-phase (TP) male of an elevated anterior dorsal fin, rounded caudal fin, and large fan or club-shaped pelvic fins without filamentous extensions. The new species is most similar to C. humanni and C. morrisoni, and the three species have apparently allopatric distributions in the Timor Sea-western Sunda Islands region. These three species share a uniquely shaped dorsal fin characterized by the presence of an anterior elevated, spike-like pennant. The best means of separating these species are differences in the color patterns of the TP male, primarily on the head, upper body, and on the dorsal, anal, and pelvic fins. The new species is distinguished by a combination of a yellow-orange upper head, blackish upper body, mainly blackish dorsal fin, and scarlet-red pelvic and anal fins. The female of C. hygroxerus is most similar to that of C. morrisoni, sharing a yellowish head and yellow pectoral-fin base.
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The new labrid species, Cirrhilabrus isosceles, is described from six specimens, 31.0–56.7 mm SL, collected from the Ryukyu Archipelago of Japan and the northern reaches of the Philippines in the western Pacific Ocean. The holotype and a paratype were collected at 35 m depth from Funauki Bay, Iriomote-jima, Ryukyu Islands, while the four other paratypes were collected at 24–36 m from Fuga Island, Cagayan Province, northern Philippines. The new species is distinguished by features of the terminal-phase male: i.e. color pattern, a prominent long mid-dorsal-fin basal dark spot, and a broadly lanceolate caudal fin. Despite its atypical caudal-fin shape, the new species has similar color patterns to the Cirrhilabrus lunatus species complex, which differ in having a somewhat lunate caudal fin. Indeed, the mtDNA barcode COI sequences for the new species matches those of some other members of the C. lunatus complex, specifically C. cf. lunatus, C. brunneus, and C. squirei (shared mtDNA haplotypes among species has been documented in other Cirrhilabrus species complexes). Cirrhilabrus isosceles is sympatric with three other members of the C. lunatus complex, and apparently hybridizes with at
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The new labrid fish species, Pseudojuloides labyrinthus n. sp., is described from three specimens obtained via the aquarium trade from Kenya, in the western Indian Ocean. The species is similar in appearance to other Indo-Pacific Pseudojuloides in the P. severnsi complex, distinguished mainly by the markings of the terminal-phase male, which includes a maze of lines on the head and three thicker blue stripes along the rear body. Despite the similarity in appearance, the new species is 9.66% divergent in the sequence of the mtDNA barcode marker COI (minimum interspecific divergence, pairwise; 10.54% K2P distance) from its nearest relative, P. edwardi, also found in Kenya. A neighbor-joining tree and genetic distance matrix is presented for 12 of the 14 known species in the genus Pseudojuloides.
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Cirrhilabrus blatteus and Cirrhilabrus rubriventralis, new species, are described from the northwestern Red Sea, Gulf of Elat (= Gulf of 'Aqaba). C. blatteus, the largest species of the genus (up to at least 114 mm SL), is distinctive in color, particularly the purple of its bones, which persists in preservative, and in the biserial pairing of some of the suborbital pores. C. rubriventralis differs from all known species of the genus in having a single row of scales on its cheek, as well as a marked prolongation of the interspinous membranes at the anterior end of the dorsal fin of males.
Description of a new wrasse (Pisces: Labridae: Cirrhilabrus) from northern Sumatra, Indonesia. aqua
  • G R Allen
Allen, G.R. (2000) Description of a new wrasse (Pisces: Labridae: Cirrhilabrus) from northern Sumatra, Indonesia. aqua, Journal of Ichthyology and Aquatic Biology, 4, 45-50.
Reef fishes of the East Indies. Vols. I-III
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Allen, G.R. & Erdmann, M.V. (2012) Reef fishes of the East Indies. Vols. I-III. Tropical Reef Research, Perth, 1260 pp.