LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN 590.5 FI v. 44 cop. 3 NArURAL HISTORY SURVFY ^•^FIELDIANA . ZOOLOGY m ^miiu m " n .3 Published *y MG 18 tefic \ CHICAGO NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM W Volume 44 June 15, 1965 * No. 23 **^*X A New Sparid Fish of the Genus Diplodus From Bermuda David K. Caldwell Curator of Ichthyology, Los Angeles County Museum The genus Diplodus, family Sparidae, has many described repre- sentatives, found primarily in inshore tropical and subtropical waters of the Atlantic Americas, Africa, southern Europe, the Mediterra- nean, the Indian Ocean and many of the offshore oceanic islands adjacent to these areas. Despite previous confusion in the litera- ture, the form endemic to the Western North Atlantic island of Bermuda is sufficiently distinct to warrant naming it at this time. For the following discussion all lengths are standard length (S.L.), measured with dial calipers calibrated to tenths of a millimeter with the tips placed at the tip of the upper jaw with the mouth closed and at the crease made at the end of the hypural plate when the tail is bent upward. Body depth was measured with dial calipers with the tips placed at the base of the first dorsal spine and at the base of the pelvic spine. Special care must be taken in making these two measurements because the positive separation of closely related spe- cies within this genus often depends on such accuracy. All pored lateral-line scales were counted beginning at the origin of the lateral line near the upper angle of the opercle and ending at the hypural crease noted above. The new form from Bermuda now may be known as: Diplodus bermudensis, new species. Figure 1. ? "Bream (Abramis ?)." Jones, 1859, p. 105. The name Abramis probably applied by Jones because Valenciennes (in Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1844, p. 6f.) used the common name Breme for that synonym of a group of cyprinoid fishes to which the common name Bream still is applied (Jordan, Evermann and Clark, 1930, pp. 115, 118, 350). The common name in Bermuda foLtJwnew^|fHURVE! is Bream. w(\iui\ftL Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 65-1 9121 JUL.22' No. 992 217 mm 218 FIELDIANA: ZOOLOGY, VOLUME 44 Fig. 1. Diplodus bermudensis, new species. Holotype, CNHM 72520, 168.6 mm., S. L., from St. George's Island, Bermuda. Sargus variegatus, non Lacepede. Goode, 1876, p. 52 (in part); Goode, 1877, p. 292 (in part). Sargus argenteus, non Valenciennes. Goode, 1876, p. 75; Giinther, 1880, p. 9. (Both writers listing this species using the name argenteus on the stated author- ity of J. M. Jones of Bermuda who reported this form to them employing the nomenclature of Giinther, 1859); Goode, 1877, p. 292 (in part). Sargus capensis, non Smith. Giinther, 1880, pp. 9, 10. Diplodus sargus, non Linnaeus. Eigenmann and Hughes, 1887, p. 73 (in part) ; Jordan and Fesler, 1893, p. 525 (in part); Jordan and Evermann, 1898, p. 1363 (in part) — all three of these reports on Goode's (1876, 1877) references to Sargus variegatus, a synonym of D. sargus; Barbour, 1905, p. 124 (in part); Linton, 1907, p. 87; Jordan, Evermann and Clark, 1930, p. 338 (in part); Fowler, 1936, p. 839 (in part). Diplodus argenteus, non Valenciennes. Bean, 1906, p. 59; Meek and Hildebrand, 1925, p. 580 (in part); Fowler, 1930a, p. 148; Fowler, 1930b, p. 644; Beebe and Tee-Van, 1933a, p. 161 (in part); Beebe and Tee- Van, 1933b, p. 148 (in part) ; LaMonte, 1952, p. 120 (in part); Briggs, 1958, p. 282 (in part); Duarte- Bello, 1959, p. 92 (in part). Diplodus holbrooki, non Bean. Fowler, 1930b, p. 644. Misidentification corrected to typical Bermuda Diplodus by Beebe and Tee-Van (1933b, p. 148). Fowler (1930b, p. 644) also recorded D. argenteus, non Valenciennes. Diagnosis. — A species of Diplodus Rafinesque (1810) with a very- reduced body depth (measuring 2.5 to 3.5 in S. L. in specimens up to 50 mm. S. L.; 2.4 to 2.9 in S. L. in specimens 51 to 70 mm. S. L.; and 2.3 to 2.5 in S. L. in specimens 71 mm. S. L. and larger, except for one with a depth of 2.2) ; a high lateral-line scale count (61 to 67, holotype 63) ; and a large dark caudal blotch as the only prominent and persisting pigmentation on the body. CALDWELL: A NEW SPARID FISH FROM BERMUDA 219 Description. — Dorsal fin-ray formula XII, 13 (XI to XIII, 12 to 16, usually XII, 13 to 15). » Anal fin-ray formula III, 13 (III, 11 to 15, usually III, 13 or 14). Pectoral fin-ray formula, all elements, 16-16 (15 to 17, usually 16 or 17). Gill rakers 7+1+9 (7+1+9 or 10) on first gill arch. Selected body proportions, included in Table 1, are part of the description. Table 1. — Selected body proportions of typical Diplodus bermudensis, new species, expressed in percentage of standard length. Despite variation in each proportion, only four showed any regular progression of relative change with increase in S. L. These characters were: (1) body depth, increas- ing; (2) head length, decreasing; (3) eye diameter, decreasing; (4) pec- toral fin length, increasing. RANGE OF 11 HOLOTYPE SELECTED PARATYPES CHARACTER 168.6 mm. S. L. 35.6 - 175.8 mm. S. L. Body depth 44 37-46 Head length 30 28-33 Horizontal eye diameter 8 7-13 Tip of snout to dorsal fin origin 47 41-46 Tip of snout to anal fin origin 68 65-71 Tip of snout to dorsal fin insertion 88 86-89 Tip of snout to anal fin insertion 86 85-89 Tip of snout to pectoral fin origin 32 31-35 Tip of snout to pelvic fin origin 38 36-41 Dorsal fin origin to base of caudal fin ... 69 66-72 Anal fin origin to base of caudal fin 39 37-42 Pectoral fin origin to base of caudal fin . . 69 68 - 72 Pelvic fin origin to base of caudal fin 67 62-69 Length of dorsal fin base 55 50-58 Length of anal fin base 23 21-26 Length of pectoral fin base 7 6-7 Length of pectoral fin 38 28-38 Length of pelvic fin 26 19-24 Length of pelvic fin spine 18 13-17 Dorsal fin insertion to base of caudal fin 15 13-17 Anal fin insertion to base of caudal fin . . 16 14 - 16 Least depth caudal peduncle 10 10-11 Body completely scaled; scales ctenoid. Predorsal scales extend- ing to a point above about center of eye. Cheeks scaled. Snout scaleless. A long ventral axillary scale. Inter-ray membranes of dorsal, anal, pelvic and pectoral fins scaleless. Small scales extend- ing about two-thirds the way out from base of caudal fin. Lateral line a smooth shallow convex curve from its origin to just beyond end 1 The first figure in each case is the value for the holotype, followed in paren- theses by the range of values for selected paratypes. 220 FIELDIANA: ZOOLOGY, VOLUME 44 of dorsal fin, thence nearly straight to fold formed when tail is bent upward. Several scales (usually two to four), in a line angling up- ward, extending onto basal portion of caudal fin. Eight scales above lateral line to origin of dorsal fin, 14 below to origin of anal fin, and seven above highest curve of lateral line to base of dorsal fin. Dorsal outline a regular curve from tip of snout to end (insertion) of dorsal fin, with only a slight concavity above eye and a slight con- vexity in front of eye. Snout rather pointed, especially in smaller specimens. Ventral outline slightly convex (nearly straight) from tip of snout to pelvic fin origin, thence nearly straight to anal fin origin, and after angling upward at an angle of about 45°, nearly straight to end (insertion) of anal fin. Dorsal and anal fins low. Pectoral fin long, reaching nearly to or past origin of anal fin, and increasing in relative length with increase in body length. Caudal fin deeply forked. Mouth small, maxillary reaching just past ante- rior margin of orbit in small specimens and not to this point in large examples. Anterior nostril round; posterior nostril an elongate oval, the opening slit-like. For pigmentation of body in alcohol refer to Figure 1 which is part of the description. In life, the fish is said to be silvery with dark pigmentation shown in Figure 1 being shades of gray and black. Posterior edge of opercle dark. A dark pectoral axillary spot. Pec- toral fins immaculate. Inter-spine and inter-ray membranes of dorsal, anal, and caudal fins tinged with dark pigment which is more intense toward bases of fins. Anterior inter-ray membranes of pelvic fins dark, more so than those of dorsal, anal, and caudal fins. Posterior inter-ray membranes of pelvic fins immaculate. A single outer row of incisor teeth, four on each side both upper and lower, and none notched ; upper portion of each tooth essentially rectangular in outline above a narrowed base bearing a posterior buttress on inner surface; teeth protrude and are rather strongly in- curved toward cutting edge; anterior corner of each lateral tooth elevated. A mosaic of small molariform teeth in anterior part of mouth immediately behind incisor teeth; behind these, in lateral posterior part of mouth, there are three rows of larger molariform teeth above, two rows below. Vertebrae: 10 precaudal plus 13 caudal plus one hypural, equal- ling 10 plus 14 as usually recorded. Three predorsal bones. Two dorsal spines borne on first pterygiophore, thereafter one spine borne by each pterygiophore (a count of 0-0-0-2 as discussed by Smith and Bailey, 1961). CALDWELL: A NEW SPARID FISH FROM BERMUDA 221 Holotype. — Chicago Natural History Museum no. 72520 (origi- nally part of CNHM 48120), 168.6 mm. in standard length, from shore station 3, Bermuda Oceanographic Expedition, 1948; rocky promontory at entrance to Whalebone Bay, St. George's Island, Bermuda; 22 June 1948. Paraty pes. —AW from Bermuda. CNHM 4976, 1 (176 mm.); CNHM 4978, 1 (146 mm.) ; CNHM 4979, 1 (125 mm.) ; CNHM 4980, 1 (88.5 mm.); CNHM 4981, 1 (73.5 mm.); CNHM 48327, 3 (60.3- 72.4 mm.); CNHM 4977, 8 (31.8-62.2 mm.); CNHM 48108, 7 (31.4- 156 mm.); CNHM 48120, 2 (29.0-130 mm.), collected with the holo- type; CNHM 48291, 9 (28.1-93.2 mm.); CNHM 48092, 6 (25.3- 42.5 mm.); CNHM 48199, 118 (22.2-102 mm.); CNHM 48160, 22 (19.7-82.3 mm.); USNM 178524, 1 (60.9 mm.); USNM 178505, 1 (60.3 mm.); USNM 178656, 1 (55.2 mm.); USNM 178593, 56 (41.5- 78.8 mm.) ; USNM 177982, 6 (34.3-66.1 mm.) ; LACM 3337 (origi- nally part of CNHM 48199), 5 (40.8-98.0 mm.); ANSP 101207, 1 (155 mm.); ANSP 101208, 1 (147 mm.); ANSP 101209, 4 (29.8- 64.1 mm.); ANSP 101210, 31 (22.1-77.9 mm.); UMMZ 172336, 1 (143 mm.); UMMZ 172364, 1 (130 mm.). Referred material. — Because of their condition or very small size the following Bermudian specimens are not included as paratypes. However, they clearly are D. bermudensis, and those collected by Goode probably are the specimens upon which he (1876, 1877) first listed Diplodus from Bermuda. Referred specimens are: CNHM 61771, 1 (27.3 mm.); USNM 21385, 1 (263 mm.), "Goode, 1877"; USNM 10337, 1 (184 mm.), "Goode"; USNM 21892, 1 (170 mm.), "Goode, 1876-77"; USNM 23603, 1 (106 mm.), "Goode, 1877"; USNM 23601, 1 (97.4 mm.), "Goode, 1877"; USNM 178331, 3 (small); USNM 178337, 1 (small); USNM 178338, 1 (small); USNM 178549, 17 (small); USNM 178586, 27 (small); USNM 178550, 4 (small) . Questionable records. — There is a specimen (USNM 178506) labeled D. argenteus and cataloged as having been collected by William Beebe at Somerset, Jamaica which, obviously, is an example of D. bermuden- sis. Somerset, Jamaica is an inland mountain village, but Somerset, Bermuda, is a locality from which many bermudensis have come. Although I have seen no Diplodus listed as having been collected by Beebe at Somerset, Bermuda, he collected many examples else- where in Bermuda and the listing of Jamaica undoubtedly is in error. Furthermore, despite many efforts to find this genus in my studies on the fishes of Jamaica over the past seven years, I have failed to 222 FIELDIANA: ZOOLOGY, VOLUME 44 find it myself and I have failed to find any record of it in the litera- ture or specimens in museums. There is an old specimen (USNM 16827) in very poor condition labeled D. argenteus and listed as having been collected by G. Black- ford at the New York market. The specimen best fits D. bermuden- sis, but as no other specimens referable to bermudensis have been reported reliably from anywhere other than Bermuda, it is likely that this specimen, if correctly identified as this species, was imported from Bermuda possibly as an exotic or is mislabeled as to locality. Relationships. — Although apparently a very common form in Ber- muda (Goode, 1876, p. 52; Barbour, 1905, p. 124; Beebe and Tee- Van, 1933a, p. 162; and as evidenced by large numbers of specimens in collections) and, thus, theoretically subject to closer scrutiny than apparently has been given it, there has been much confusion as to the proper assignment of a specific name to the Bermuda form of Diplodus. As noted by Barbour (1905, p. 124) and Beebe and Tee- Van (1933b, p. 148), Goode (1876, p. 52), in first reporting it from Bermuda, for some reason even confused it with the kyphosid Kyph- osus sectatrix (Linnaeus). With the exception of Fowler's (1930b, p. 644) direct misidentifi- cation of a single specimen, the confusion has been whether to ally the Bermudian form of Diplodus with the American species argenteus (including caudimacula by most authors, a species I consider distinct) or with the European species sargus. With the exception of the mis- identification of Fowler, the other names applied to bermudensis are now recognized as synonyms of sargus. The confusion of bermudensis with argenteus and sargus probably lay in the similar high lateral-line scale counts for these three species (61 to 67 in bermudensis; 62 to 67 in argenteus; 61 to 66 in sargus). D. bermudensis can be distinguished from both of these species; it can, in fact, be distinguished from all other described species of the genus Diplodus, with the exception of noct and prayensis, by its re- duced body depth. From noct, an Indian Ocean form, bermudensis can best be sep- arated on mean lateral-line scale count (61 to 67 in bermudensis, with a mean of 64; 57 to 64 in noct, with a mean of about 61) and a greatly reduced caudal pigment blotch in noct (see illustration of noct in Day, 1878-88, pi. 32, or Blegvad, 1944, p. 143, as compared to the illustra- tion of bermudensis herein). From prayensis, from the Cape Verde Islands, bermudensis can best be separated on mean lateral-line scale count (61-67 in bermudensis, CALDWELL: A NEW SPARID FISH FROM BERMUDA 223 with a mean of 64; 57-59 in prayensis, fide Cadenat, 1964, p. 966) and the presence of a dark bar across the nape in prayensis (fide Cadenat, 1964, p. 966, fig. 8) which is lacking in bermudensis. Further more, the black caudal blotch apparently is more extensive in ber- mudensis (fig. 1) than in prayensis (fide Cadenat, 1964, fig. 8). Remarks. — Collette (1962, p. 438) commented that at least three Bermuda endemic fishes have a lesser body depth than do the spe- cies from which they apparently were derived. I believe that ber- mudensis was derived from one of the other American species of the genus and thus Collette's comment seems to hold in this instance as well. Acknowledgments. — It was intended originally that Dr. James E. Bohlke be co-author of this new form inasmuch as he recognized its validity at about the same time that I did. However, other duties prevented him from joining me in naming it, and he generously sug- gested that I proceed alone. I am grateful to Mr. Arden H. Brame, Jr., of the University of Southern California and the Los Angeles Museum (LACM), for his careful execution of much of the drudgery in making many of the counts and measurements on the large number of paratypes. I am also grateful for the opportunity to examine specimens of Bermudian Diplodus in the following museums: Chicago Natural History Museum (CNHM), through Loren P. Woods; United States National Museum (USNM), through Leonard P. Schultz; Univer- sity of Michigan Museum of Zoology (UMMZ), through Robert R. Miller; and Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia (ANSP), through Dr. Bohlke. REFERENCES Barbour, Thomas 1905. Notes on Bermudian fishes. Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., Harvard, 46, pp. 109-134, pis. 1-4. 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