Pentapodus numberii, a New Species of Whiptail (Pisces: Nemipteridae) from Eastern Indonesia

• Main Authors: Gerald R. Allen, Mark V. Erdmann
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 2008
• Subjects: Stripe; Triton; Triton Bay
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.651.9116; http://zoolstud.sinica.edu.tw/Journals/48.2/280.pdf

Nemipteridae) from eastern Indonesia. Zoological Studies 48(2): 280-286. Pentapodus numberii is described from 4 specimens, 149.0-160.5 mm in standard length, collected in eastern Indonesia at Batanta I. (Papua Barat Province) and Halmahera. It was also observed at Misool I. and Triton Bay (Papua Barat Province). The depth of capture and observation range were 12-60 m. Diagnostic features include forked caudal fin with upper and lower rays produced into long trailing filaments; a single dusky (blue in life) stripe on side of snout; a pale yellow stripe in life on middle of side that can be instantly “switched ” on or off; predorsal scales reaching forward to level between posterior margin of posterior nostrils; scaled suborbital; lower limb of preopercle with 3 rows of scales; lateral-line scales 45 or 46; pectoral-fin rays 15 or 16; and pelvic fins moderately long, reaching to level of anus in adult males. It is most similar to the sympatric P. emeryii, the only other species of Pentapodus possessing long filaments on both the upper and lower caudal lobes of adult males. Pentapodus numberii sp. nov. is a comparatively drab-colored fish and lacks the pair of bright yellow stripes that are diagnostic for P. emeryii. It also differs in having a scaly suborbital bone compared to the scaleless condition in P. emeryii and has a lower lateral-line scale count (45 or 46 vs. 51-55).