Zoological Studies

Vol. 42 No. 1, 2003

Redescription of the Labrid Fish Oxycheilinus orientalis (Günther), a Senior Synonym of O. rhodochrous (Günther), and the First Record from the Red Sea

John E. Randall1,* and Maroof Khalaf2

1Bishop Museum, 1525 Bernice St., Honolulu, HI 96817-2704, USA
2Marine Science Station, P.O. Box 195, Aqaba, Jordan

John E. Randall and Maroof Khalaf (2003) Oxycheilinus orientalis (Günther), type locality Indonesia, is recorded from the northern Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea from specimens collected from seagrass beds in 8-15 m. A full description of the species is provided, with color illustrations. Oxycheilinus rhodochrous (Günther), known from 1 specimen from Zanzibar, is a junior synonym. Specimens of O. orientalis are also reported from the Ryukyu Islands, Marshall Islands, and Lombok, Indonesia.

Key words: Labridae, Oxycheilinus rhodochrous, O. orientalis, Red Sea.

*Correspondence: E-mail: jackr@hi.net