A New Species of Pentapodus (Teleostei: Nemipteridae) from the Western Pacific

Abstract

Pentapodus aureofasciatus is described as a new species of whiptail bream (family Nemipteridae) based on specimens collected from the Ryukyu Is, Taiwan, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, north-eastern Australia, New Caledonia, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa. The species is similar to other congeners in general appearance, but is characterised by having scales on top of the head not reaching forward to a line between the posterior nostrils; lower limb of preopercle with 2 or 3 scale rows; lateral-line scales 42 to 48 (usually 46 or 47); caudal fin forked, lobes more or less equal in length, and lacking filamentous extensions; and by having a distinctive broad pale yellow band along the body from behind eye to caudal peduncle. A key to the species of Pentapodus is provided.