SINGLE PAPER
Volume 15, Issue 3
20 July 2009
Gerald R. Allen and Mark V. Erdmann: Two new species of damselfishes (Pomacentridae: Chromis) from Indonesia, pp. 121-134
Abstract
Two new species in the pomacentrid genus Chromis are described from Indonesian seas. Chromis albicauda is described from nine specimens, 79.6-133.7 mm SL, collected at Nusa Penida, off the east coast of Bali. It closely resembles C. analis, which ranges widely in the western Pacific. Both species have a similar yellow colouration, but C. albicauda has an abruptly white caudal fin compared to the yellow caudal of C. analis.
It also differs in having a more densely scaled preorbital and a
suborbital margin that is obscured by scales. Additional differences
include a black blotch covering the anal opening, a larger size, and
taller dorsal spines. The other new species, Chromis unipa, is
described from five specimens, 42.8-50.4 mm SL collected in 45-60 m in
Cenderawasih Bay, Western Papua, Indonesia. Diagnostic features include
XIV,11 dorsal rays; II,11 anal rays; 18 pectoral rays; 3 spiniform
caudal rays; 14-17 tubed lateral-line scales; body depth 2.0-2.2 in SL,
and a distinctive colouration of alternating blue-grey and brassy
yellow stripes on the side of the body, blue-grey ventrally on the head
and body, bluish fins except for brown basal portion of the caudal
fin, and a prominent black spot on the anal fin. It belongs to a
complex of deep-dwelling Chromis possessing 14 dorsal spines and it appears most similar to C. degruyi,
known from 85-120 m depths in the Caroline Islands. Although both
species have similar counts for pectoral-fin rays, tubed lateral-line
scales, and gill rakers, they differ with respect to modal numbers of
soft dorsal and anal-fin rays as well as body depth and snout length.
They also exhibit significant colour pattern differences.
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