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Vol. 52, 2013
A new species of Pomacentrus
(Actinopterygii: Pomacentridae) from Micronesia, with comments on its
phylogenetic relationships
Shang-Yin
Vanson Liu1,2*†, Hsuan-Ching Hans Ho3†
and Chang-Feng Dai1
1Institute
of Oceanography, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
2Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, 610
Charles E. Young Drive South, University of California Los Angeles, Los
Angeles, CA 90095, USA
3National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium,
Institute of Marine Biodiversity and Evolutional Biology, National Dong
Hwa University, Pingtung 944, Taiwan
Abstract
Background: Many widely distributed
coral reef fishes exhibit cryptic lineages across their distribution.
Previous study revealed a cryptic lineage of Pomacentrus coelestis mainly distributed in the
area of Micronesia. Herein, we attempted to use molecular and
morphological approaches to descript a new species of Pomacentrus.
Results: The morphological comparisons have been
conducted between cryptic species and P.
coelestis. Pomacentrus
micronesicus sp. nov. is
characterized by 13 to 16 (typically 15) anal fin rays (vs. 13 to 15,
typically 14 rays in P. coelestis)
and 15 or 16 rakers on the lower limb of the first gill arch (vs. 13 or
14 rakers in P. coelestis).
Divergence in cytochrome oxidase subunit I sequences of 4.3% is also
indicative of species-level separation of P. micronesicus and P. coelestis.
Conclusions: P. micronesicus sp. nov. is
described from the Marshall Islands, Micronesia on the basis of 21
specimens. Both morphological and genetic evidences support its
distinction as a separate species from P. coelestis.
Key words: Cryptic species; Pomacentrus micronesicus; Speciation.
*Correspondence: E-mail: oceandiver6426@gmail.com
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