Amphiprion barberi, a new species of anemonefish (Pomacentridae)
from Fiji, Tonga, and Samoa
Gerald R. Allen1, Joshua Drew2 and Les Kaufman2,3
1) Department of Aquatic Zoology, Western Australian Museum, Locked Bag 49, Welshpool DC, Perth,
Western Australia 6986, Australia. E-mail: tropical_reef@bigpond.com
2) Boston University Marine Program, 5 Cummington Street, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
3) Conservation International, 2011 Crystal Drive, Suite 500, Arlington VA 22202, USA.
Received: 16 March 2008 – Accepted: 29 June 2008
Abstract
Amphiprion barberi, a new species of anemonefish fish, is described from 46 specimens, 16.3-85.8 mm SL, collected at depths of 2-10 m from coral reefs of Fiji, Tonga, and Samoa. It is closely allied to A. melanopus, which is widely distributed in the western Pacific. The two species exhibit significant colour-pattern differences, including a mainly reddish orange body in A. barberi and dark brown or blackish body in A. melanopus. Adults of the new species also possess fewer spinules (11-19 versus 19-26) in the upper-opercular series than A. melanopus. Genetic data presented here confirms the separation of these species.
Zusammenfassung
Die neue Art der Riffbarsche: Amphiprion barberi, wird auf der Grundlage von 46 Exemplaren mit 16,3 bis 85,8 mm SL beschrieben, die in Tiefen von 2 bis 10 Metern über Korallenriffen von Fidschi, Tonga und Samoa gefangen wurden. Sie ist nahe mit A. melanopus verwandt, die im Westpazifik weit verbreitet ist. Die beiden Arten zeigen deutliche Unterschiede im Farbmuster: U.a. ist bei A. barberi der Rumpf hauptsächlich rötlich orange, bei A. melanopus dunkelbraun oder schwärzlich. Außerdem haben die erwachsenen Tiere der neuen Art auf den Reihen oberhalb vom Kiemendeckel weniger Dörnchen (Spinulae), nämlich 11 bis 19 im Vergleich zu 19 bis 26. Die hier vorgelegten genetischen Datensprechen ebenfalls für eine Trennung der beiden Arten.
Résumé
Amphiprion barberi, une nouvelle espèce de poisson-clown,est décrit sur base de 46 spécimens, de 16,3 à 25,8 mm de LS, collects à des profondeurs de 2 à 10 m dans des récifs co ral -liens de Fidji, Tonga et Samoa. L’espèce est très proche d’A. me lanopus qui connaît une vaste distribution dans le Pacifi que ouest. Les deux espèces montrent des différences sensibles dans le patron de coloration, incluant un corps principa le ment orange-rougeâtre chez A. barberi et brun foncé à noi râ tre chez A. melanopus. Les adultes de la nouvelle espèce pré sen tent aussi moins de spicules (11-19 contre 19-26) dans les ran gées su - pra-operculaires qu’A. melanopus. Les données gén é tiques qui figurent ici confirment la distinction entre les deux espèces.
Sommario
Amphiprion barberi, una nuova specie di pesce pagliaccio è descritto sulla base di 46 esemplari, di 16.3-85.8 mm SL, raccolti a profondità di 2-10 m lungo le barriere coralline di Fiji, Tonga e Samoa. Appare strettamente imparentato con A. me -lanopus, che è ampiamente distribuito nel Pacifico occidentale. Le due specie mostrano significative differenze nella co - lo ra zione. In particolare, mentre il corpo di A. barberi è principalmente arancio-rossastro quello di A. melanopus è Bruno scuro o nerastro. Inoltre, gli adulti della nuova specie posseggo no un numero inferiore di spinule nella serie opercolare su -periore rispetto A. melanopus (11-19 verso 19-26). I dati genetici presentati qui confermano la separazione in due specie distinte.
INTRODUCTION
The brightly coloured members of the pomacentrid subfamily Amphiprioninae are well known for their commensal relationship with large sea anemones. Allen (1972, 1980) provided comprehensive reviews of the group and summary of their biology. More recently, these fishes were treated by Fautin & Allen (1992), who recognized 27 species in Amphiprion Bloch & Schneider, 1801 and one species in Premnas Cuvier, 1816. The present paper describes a new species that was previously considered as a geographic colour variation.
Primarily on the basis of colour-pattern similarities, Allen (1972) included specimens of a reddish orange Amphiprion from Fiji, Tonga, and Samoa in his account of Amphiprion rubrocinctus Richardson, 1842. However, further investigation (Allen 1980) revealed that the latter species is restricted to northwestern Australia. The same study considered specimens from Fiji, Tonga, and Samoa as geographic colour variants of A. melanopus Bleeker, 1852 and suggested this population was perhaps deserving of separate subspecific status.
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