Zoological Studies

Two New Species of Anthiine Fishes of the Genus Plectranthias (Perciformes: Serranidae) from Taiwan

Kao-Yi Wu, John E. Randall, and Jeng-Ping Chen (2011) Two new species of anthiine fishes of the genus Plectranthias are described from single specimens taken by trawling off southwestern Taiwan at depths of 200-243 m. Plectranthias elongatus sp. nov. is characterized by having an elongate body (body depth 3.7 in standard length (SL)), dorsal fin X, 15, pectoral fin 16, lateral-line scales 31, scales present on maxilla, no scales on snout, no antrorse spine on ventral margin of preopercle, posterior margin serrate, and pinkish-white coloration with large orange-red spots on fish when fresh. Plectranthias xanthomaculatus sp. nov. is characterized by body depth 3.2 in SL, dorsal rays X, 14, pectoral rays 15, lateralline scales 30, scales present on maxilla, no scales on snout, the posterior margin of preopercle smooth, with no antrorse spine ventrally, and deep-pink when fresh, with large yellow blotches on body, yellow bands on head, and mainly yellow fins. A key is provided for the 13 species of Plectranthias known from off Taiwan.