Review of the Chrysiptera oxycephala complex of damselishes
(Pomacentridae) with descriptions of three new species
from the East Indian Archipelago
GERALD R. ALLEN
Department of Aquatic Zoology, Western Australian Museum,
Locked Bag 49, Welshpool DC, Perth, Western Australia 6986
E-mail: gerry.tropicalreef@gmail.com
MARK V. ERDMANN
Conservation International Indonesia Marine Program,
Jl. Dr. Muwardi No. 17, Renon, Denpasar 80235 Indonesia
California Academy of Sciences, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CA 94118, USA
Email: mverdmann@gmail.com
N. K. DITA CAHYANI
Indonesia Biodiversity Research Centre, Udayana University, Denpasar 80226, Indonesia
E-mail: don_biu@yahoo.com
Abstract
The nominal species Chrysiptera oxycephala has been considered a widespread species in the East Indian
Archipelago, but genetic analyses and a closer examination of populations throughout the region now show it to
be another example of a species complex of closely related parapatric cryptic species and genovariant populations.
Three DNA lineages correlate with different color patterns and are described here as new species, including
Chrysiptera ellenae (Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia), Chrysiptera maurineae (Cenderawasih Bay, West
Papua, Indonesia), and Chrysiptera papuensis (northeastern Papua New Guinea). The original C. oxycephala has
the widest distribution, including central Indonesia, Sabah, Philippines, and Palau, as well as a local population
in Sulawesi with a divergent mtDNA lineage, but no apparent phenotypic difference (Lembeh genovariant). An
additional previously described species, C. sinclairi, is restricted to oceanic insular areas of northeastern Papua
New Guinea. The ive members of the species complex share most meristic and morphometric features, although
some differences are evident in the modes and range of in-ray counts and the number of scales (combined) on the
preorbital and suborbital bones. Nevertheless, color patterns, especially those of small juveniles, distinguish the
56
ive species, i.e. small juveniles entirely light blue (not persisting into adulthood) in C. ellenae; blue with a dark
streak on each scale (and pattern persisting into adulthood) in C. sinclairi; light blue anterodorsally and yellow
posteroventrally with a blue streak on upper caudal peduncle in C. maurineae; and light blue anterodorsally and
yellow posteroventrally but no blue streak on upper edge of caudal peduncle in C. papuensis and C. oxycephala, but
the former has the bicolor pattern with a bright yellow tail persisting into adulthood. The geographic distribution
corresponds directly with color-pattern differences and mitochondrial-DNA lineages. The divergence in the
control-region mtDNA sequence between the ive species in the complex ranges from 2.9–10.9%, with the closest
relationship between the species pair of C. maurineae and C. sinclairi, who nevertheless have very different color
patterns and also differ in meristics. The two mtDNA lineages within C. oxycephala diverge by 3%, greater than
the difference between C. maurineae and C. sinclairi. These results indicate that genotypic divergence does not
necessarily correlate well with phenotypic divergence within cryptic-species complexes of reef ishes.
Key words: coral reef ishes, taxonomy, systematics, Indo-Paciic Ocean, cryptic species, mitochondrial DNA
sequence, genovariant.
Introduction
Damselishes of the family Pomacentridae are among the most common inhabitants of coral reefs, with a few
species also inhabiting temperate seas and fresh water. The vast majority of the nearly 400 valid species (Eschmeyer
& Fricke 2015) occur in the Indo-Paciic region. Similar to other common reef ish families, damselishes are
particularly well represented in the East Indian Archipelago, where at least 187 species are known (Allen &
Erdmann 2012). Despite this impressive total, the discovery of additional new species is commonplace. Some
members of the family tend to develop complexes of cryptic species that are only minimally different in appearance,
but show signiicant divergence in DNA sequence from related species (Victor 2015). The development of
cryptic speciation, especially geographic complexes of parapatric lineages, appears to be correlated with reduced
dispersal, either by benthic eggs in conjunction with a short larval stage or extreme distances between populations
(Victor 2015). Damselishes are one of the few reef ish families that brood benthic eggs and they also tend to
have relatively short pelagic larval durations: for example, a range of 14–24 days in samples of seven species of
the genus Chrysiptera, with a mean of 21.5 days for the subject of this study, Chrysiptera oxycephala (Bleeker
1877), from Palau (Wellington & Victor 1989).
With the increasingly common application of mitochondrial DNA sequencing as part of routine taxonomic
procedure, new cryptic species have now been documented in a variety of pomacentrid genera. Typically, a
pomacentrid species that was formerly considered to be widely distributed, either broadly across the Indo-Paciic
region or in a more localized region, such as the East Indian Archipelago, is found to consist of two or more
closely related species as a result of genetic analyses and a closer examination of morphology, meristics, or
coloration (Allen et al. 2008, Drew et al. 2008, Drew & Barber 2009, Allen & Drew 2012, Liu et al. 2012, Liu et
al. 2014, Allen et al. 2015, Victor 2015).
Allen et al. (2015) described a cryptic-species complex in the pomacentrid genus Chrysiptera Swainson
1839, dividing nominal Chrysiptera rex (Snyder 1909) of the western Paciic Ocean into three cryptic species. We
ind a similar, but more complex, scenario in a common East Indian nominal species, Chrysiptera oxycephala,
which is divisible into ive parapatric cryptic species (Fig. 1), including three species described herein as new.
We also ind a divergent local mtDNA lineage that has no apparent phenotypic difference from the widespread C.
oxycephala, and we consider the lineage a genovariant population of the widespread species (sensu Victor 2015).
The members of this complex share most meristic and morphometric features. However, color pattern, especially
that of juveniles, is diagnostic for species. With the exception of the mainly blue Chrysiptera sinclairi Allen 1987,
the general color pattern of adults ranges from yellow to greyish green or yellowish green with numerous small
bluish to whitish spots. The habitats of the various species consist of highly sheltered reefs of coastal bays and
atoll lagoons at depths of about 3–20 m. These ishes generally occur in loose aggregations and are frequently
associated with branching formations of live coral, usually hovering a short distance above the coral and feeding
on zooplankton.
57
Figure 1. Map of the eastern portion of the East Indian Archipelago with distributions of the C. oxycephala-species complex
(? = possible new species from the Solomon Islands).
Materials and Methods
58
Lengths of specimens are given as standard length (SL) measured from the anterior end of the upper lip to the
base of the caudal in (posterior edge of hypural plate); head length (HL) is measured from the same anterior point
to the posterior edge of the opercle lap; body depth is the maximum depth taken vertically between the belly and
base of the dorsal-in spines; body width is the maximum width just posterior to the gill opening; snout length is
measured from the anterior end of the upper lip to the anterior edge of the eye; orbit diameter is the horizontal
leshy diameter, and interorbital width the least leshy width; depth of the preopercle-suborbital is the greatest
depth measured at the “bulge” near the level of the posterior extent of the maxilla; upper-jaw length is taken from
the front of the upper lip to the posterior end of the maxilla; caudal-peduncle depth is the least depth, and caudalpeduncle length is the horizontal distance between verticals at the rear base of the anal in and the caudal-in base;
lengths of in spines and rays are measured to their extreme bases (i.e. not from the point where the ray or spine
emerges from the basal scaly sheath); caudal-in length is the horizontal length from the posterior edge of the
hypural plate to a vertical at the tip of the longest ray; caudal concavity is the horizontal distance between verticals
at the tips of the shortest and longest rays; pectoral-in length is the length of the longest ray; pelvic-in length
is measured from the base of the pelvic-in spine to the ilamentous tip of the longest soft ray; pectoral-in ray
counts include the small, splint-like, uppermost rudimentary ray; only the tube-bearing anterior lateral-line scales
are counted, a separate count is given for the deeply pitted scales occurring in a continuous series midlaterally
on the caudal peduncle; the decimal igure “.5” appearing in the scale row count above the lateral line refers to a
small truncated scale at the base of the dorsal in; preorbital+suborbital scales include all scales on the combined
preorbital and suborbital bones (Fig. 2), these are frequently embedded and dificult to discern without probing
with a dissecting needle; circumpeduncular scales were counted in a vertical “zigzag” row around the caudal
peduncle, immediately anterior to the caudal in base; gill-raker counts include all rudiments and are presented as
separate counts for the upper and lower limbs, as well as a combined count; the last in-ray element of the dorsal
and anal ins is usually branched near the base and is counted as a single ray.
Counts and proportions appearing in parentheses apply to the paratypes when different from the holotype.
Proportional measurements for the new taxa, expressed as percentages of the standard length, are provided in
Tables 1, 3 & 4. A summary of in-ray and scale counts for the species complex is presented in Table 5.
Type specimens are deposited at the Museum Zoologicum Bogoriense, Cibinong, Java, Indonesia (MZB);
United States National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C. (USNM); and the Western Australian
Museum, Perth (WAM). Non-types and additional comparative material are housed at the Australian Museum,
Sydney (AMS); Bishop Museum, Honolulu (BPBM); British Museum (Natural History), London (BMNH);
Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, Paris (MNHN); Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden, Netherlands
(RMNH); and Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto (ROM).
We DNA-sequenced 47 individuals of putative Chrysiptera oxycephala from the following geographic regions:
Indonesia (Cenderawasih Bay, Raja Ampat, Bali and North Sulawesi), Philippines (Apulit, Palawan), Palau, and
Papua New Guinea (Tui and Milne Bay). Comparison sequences were obtained from three specimens of C.
sinclairi and four outgroup sequences were obtained from congeners, i.e. C. rollandi, C. giti, and C. hemicyanea.
The specimens were ixed in 95% EtOH and stored at room temperature until tissues were processed for DNA
extraction. Mitochondrial DNA was extracted using a 10% Chelex solution (Walsh et al. 1991). A portion of the
control region was ampliied via PCR using the primers CRA [5’-TTCCA CCTCT AACTC CCAAA GCTAG-3’],
CRK [5’-AGCTC AGCGC CAGAG CGCCG GTCTT GTAAA-3’], and CRE [5’-CCTGA AGTAG GAACC
AGATG-3’](Lee et al. 1995). The PCR reaction was carried out in 25 µL volumes, using 1 µL of template. Each
reaction included 4 µL 10x PCR buffer (Applied Biosystems), 2.5 µL 10 mM dNTPs, 1.25 µL of each primer at
10 mM, 2 µL 25 mM MgCl2 solution, 0.125 µL AmplyTaq Gold™ (Applied Biosystems), and 14.5 µL ddH2O.
The thermocycling proile included an initial denaturation of 94°C for 3 min, 35 cycles of 94° C for 30 s, 53° C
for 30 s, and 72° C for 60 s, with a inal extension of 72° C for 2 min. The PCR reactions were checked on 1%
agarose gels stained with ethidium bromide. The PCR product was sequenced at the UC Berkeley sequencing
facility. Forward and reverse sequences were proofread using MEGA5 (Tamura et al. 2011) and then aligned using
MUSCLE with subsequent alignment by eye. Neighbor-Joining analyses were conducted in MEGA5 following
the Kimura-2-Parameter model determined using 1000 bootstrap replicates to assess clade support. Analyses of
polymorphic sites was conducted by DNAsp (Librado & Rozas 2009).
Figure 2. Chrysiptera ellenae, showing preorbital-suborbital scalation (arrows). Unlike this species, most members of the
C. oxycephala species complex possess only a few scattered scales in this region (G.R. Allen).
59
Figure 3. Chrysiptera ellenae, preserved holotype, MZB 22771, male, 50.8 mm SL, Wayag Lagoon, Indonesia (G.R. Allen).
Chrysiptera ellenae, n. sp.
Ellen’s Damselish
Figures 2–4; Tables 1, 2 & 5.
Chrysiptera oxycephala [non Bleeker] Allen & Erdmann 2012: 593 (Raja Ampat Islands, West Papua, Indonesia,
lower right photograph only).
Holotype. MZB 22771, male, 50.8 mm SL, Wayag Lagoon, 00° 00.058’ N, 130° 01.149’ E, Raja Ampat
Islands, West Papua Province, Indonesia, 4–12 m, spear & clove oil, G.R. Allen & M.V. Erdmann, Oct. 15, 2014.
Paratypes. MZB 22772, 16 specimens, 42.3–53.0 mm SL, collected with holotype; USNM 432465, 6
specimens, 43.4–54.7 mm SL, collected with holotype; WAM P.33947-001, 2 specimens, 47.4–50.6 mm SL, Cape
Kri Lagoon, 00° 33.328’ N, 130° 41.149’ E, Kri Island, Raja Ampat Islands, West Papua Province, Indonesia,
10–15 m, clove oil, M.V. Erdmann, Aug. 18, 2013; WAM P.34336-001, 13 specimens, 35.4–53.9 mm SL, near
Abidon village jetty, 00° 30.107’ N, 131° 07.886’ E, lagoon at Ayau Besar Atoll, Raja Ampat Islands, West Papua
Province, Indonesia, 4–10 m, spear, G.R. Allen, Feb. 16, 2015.
Diagnosis. A species of the pomacentrid genus Chrysiptera with the following combination of characters:
dorsal-in rays XIII, 10–12 (rarely 10 or 12); anal-in rays II, 11–12 (rarely 11); pectoral-in rays 15; gill rakers
on irst branchial arch 9–10 + 19–22 (usually 10 + 20–22), total gill rakers 29–32; tubed lateral-line scales 12–16
(usually 13–14); preorbital+suborbital scales 0–14 (mean 5.5, rarely 0); color of small juveniles in life mainly
light blue, gradually becoming pale greenish with increased growth; adults greenish yellow and covered with
small turquoise spots, extending onto head and base of median ins (Fig. 4).
60
Description. Dorsal-in rays XIII, 11 (10–12); anal-in rays II, 12 (one paratype with 11); pectoral-in rays 15;
gill rakers on irst branchial arch 10 + 20 (9–10 + 19–22), total gill rakers 30 (29–32); tubed lateral-line scales 15
(12–16); scales in lateral series from upper rear margin of opercle to base of caudal in 27; scales above lateral line
to base of middle dorsal-in spines 1.5; scales below lateral line to anus 9; preorbital+suborbital scales 6 (0–14,
mean 5.5).
Body depth 1.9 (1.8–2.1) in SL; maximum body width 2.6 (2.6–3.1) in depth; HL contained 3.1 (3.0–3.4)
in SL; snout 4.1 (3.5–4.3), eye 2.9 (2.8–3.3), interorbital width 3.6 (3.2–3.8), least depth of caudal peduncle 1.9
(1.8–2.0), length of caudal peduncle 2.3 (1.8–2.5), all in HL.
Mouth terminal, oblique, jaws forming an angle of about 40–45° to horizontal axis of head and body; maxillary
reaching to vertical through anterior edge of eye; teeth of jaws biserial, those of outer row incisiform with lattened
tips, upper jaw with about 40 (36–48) teeth and lower jaw with about 40 (40–48) teeth in outer rows, largest
about one-third diameter of pupil in height; secondary row of slender buttress teeth behind those of outer row, in
the spaces between them; single nasal opening on each side of snout, nostril with low leshy rim; preorbital and
suborbital relatively narrow, greatest depth of suborbital about 34.0% (25.2–36.5%) eye diameter, ventral margin
smooth; margin of preopercle smooth, without any denticulations; margin of opercular series smooth except for
blunt, lattened spine on upper portion near angle.
Scales of head and body inely ctenoid; snout tip, lips, chin, and isthmus naked; pair of primary transverse scale
rows on cheek with row of smaller scales along lower margin; preorbital and suborbital usually with embedded
scales (Fig. 2), only 2 of 32 specimens with none; dorsal and anal ins with a basal scaly sheath; basal half of
caudal in covered by scales; pectoral ins covered by scales only at base; axillary-scale cluster between base of
pelvic ins about 60% length of pelvic-in spine.
Tubed lateral-line scales ending below posterior spines of dorsal in; pits or pores present on 3 (3–5) scales
immediately posterior to last tubed scale; continuous series of 7 (6–9) pored or pitted scales mid-laterally on
caudal peduncle to caudal-in base.
Origin of dorsal in at level of third tubed scale of lateral line; spines of dorsal in gradually increasing in
Figure 4. Chrysiptera ellenae, underwater photographs, Ayau Atoll, Raja Ampat Islands, West Papua Province, Indonesia:
A. juvenile, approximately 15 mm SL; B. juvenile, approximately 25 mm SL; C. subadult, approximately 35 mm SL; D.
adult, approximately 50 mm SL (G.R. Allen).
61
TABLE 1
Proportional measurements of selected type specimens of Chrysiptera ellenae, n. sp.
as percentages of the standard length
holotype
MZB
22771
62
paratypes
WAM P WAM P WAM P WAM P
P.34336 P.34336 P.34336 P.34336
MZB
22772
MZB
22772
WAM P
P.34336
Standard length (mm)
50.8
53.9
51.4
49.3
47.2
46.9
45.0
43.7
Body depth
51.5
47.0
49.3
48.8
51.2
52.1
50.9
48.5
Body width
19.8
18.2
18.5
17.2
17.7
19.1
18.4
17.3
Head length
31.8
31.7
30.2
31.2
32.2
31.4
32.3
31.9
Snout length
7.8
8.6
8.1
8.4
8.9
7.6
7.4
8.8
Orbit diameter
11.1
9.7
9.8
9.8
10.4
10.4
11.2
10.3
Interorbital width
8.9
9.7
9.3
9.3
9.5
9.8
9.7
9.9
Caudal-peduncle depth
16.6
16.3
15.3
16.6
16.7
15.9
16.0
17.4
Caudal-peduncle length
14.1
15.3
14.9
14.4
17.0
16.2
15.2
13.3
Upper jaw length
10.5
10.2
10.6
10.4
11.0
9.4
10.0
10.6
Predorsal length
36.8
38.4
36.8
37.4
37.8
38.8
33.7
38.0
Preanal length
64.4
67.0
62.9
65.8
65.5
66.2
68.2
64.8
Prepelvic length
37.1
38.2
38.8
36.6
37.9
40.0
40.0
38.7
Length dorsal-in base
62.4
61.3
62.2
60.8
63.3
60.2
60.9
60.2
Length anal-in base
28.7
27.1
30.1
27.2
29.3
26.9
27.1
28.2
Length pectoral in
26.9
29.6
26.7
30.2
30.7
32.1
28.6
27.3
Length pelvic in
31.7
33.2
30.4
35.5
33.3
38.3
36.4
35.5
Length pelvic-in spine
17.0
16.4
16.3
18.0
19.5
18.8
18.1
19.5
Length irst dorsal spine
8.4
7.8
7.8
8.3
8.3
8.2
6.8
8.6
Length second dorsal spine
16.9
17.5
17.2
17.6
18.4
16.1
17.1
18.4
Length seventh dorsal spine
17.9
17.8
18.1
16.9
18.0
17.0
16.9
16.3
Length longest dorsal ray
26.1
26.8
25.7
27.2
29.0
25.5
27.9
27.8
Length irst anal spine
9.0
9.2
8.9
9.0
10.9
8.7
8.3
9.4
Length second anal spine
19.3
18.6
18.5
18.7
20.2
19.6
20.1
19.5
Length longest anal ray
26.7
26.1
27.1
28.3
26.5
27.1
27.9
30.9
Length caudal in
28.4
30.5
31.2
33.2
33.4
31.9
30.8
31.6
Caudal concavity
6.1
5.5
6.8
7.8
5.9
7.0
8.7
6.7
length to sixth or seventh spine, remaining spines slightly decreasing in length; membranes between spines deeply
incised; irst dorsal-in spine 3.8 (3.4–4.7), seventh dorsal-in spine 1.9 (1.7–2.0), last dorsal-in spine 1.8 (1.7–
1.9), longest dorsal-in soft ray 1.2 (1.0–1.3), all in HL; length of dorsal-in base 1.6 (1.6–1.7) in SL; irst anal-in
spine 3.5 (2.9–4.0), second anal-in spine 1.7 (1.5–1.8), longest anal-in soft ray 1.2 (0.9–1.2), all in HL; base of
anal in 2.2 (2.1–2.3) in base of dorsal in; caudal in emarginate with rounded lobes, its length 3.5 (2.9–3.4) in SL;
pectoral in reaching vertical through anal opening, longest ray 3.7 (3.1–3.7) in SL; ilamentous tips of pelvic ins
reaching base of irst or second anal-in soft ray when undamaged (tips broken off in some specimens), longest
ray 3.2 (2.6–3.3) in SL.
Color of adult in life. (Fig. 4D) Generally pale greenish to yellowish green, greyish-brown on dorsal surface
of snout and interorbital region (close inspection of body scales reveal a yellow reticulum and numerous turquoise
spots, giving overall pale greenish impression); turquoise spots, extending onto head (where smaller) and base
of median ins; faint greyish stripe from eye to snout tip; iris yellow-orange with a pair of turquoise stripes,
one on each side of pupil; spinous dorsal in olive-grey with medial band consisting of yellow and turquoise
vertical streaks; soft dorsal in mainly translucent except olive-grey basally with turquoise spots; anal in pale
greenish with blue spots, translucent posteriorly; caudal in mainly translucent except yellowish brown basally
with turquoise spots; pelvic ins pale greenish with ine turquoise anterior margin; pectoral ins translucent.
Color of juvenile in life. (Figs. 4A–C) Smallest individuals (< about 25 mm SL) almost entirely light blue with
mainly translucent ins and greyish stripe from anterior edge of eye to snout tip. Larger juveniles and subadults (to
about 35–40 mm SL) gradually assume adult pattern, but blue coloration on subadults generally persists on dorsal
aspect, especially on nape and head.
Color in alcohol. (Fig. 3) Generally brown, paler and slightly yellowish on ventral regions of body including
thorax and abdomen; ins semi–translucent grey; urogenital papilla blackish.
Distribution. The new species is only found in the Raja Ampat Islands of West Papua, Indonesia (Fig. 1). It is
common in sheltered waters around the main islands and also in the lagoon at Ayau Atoll, about 45 km northeast
of the archipelago.
Etymology. The species is named in honor of Ellen Gritz of Houston, Texas, USA, in recognition of her
valued friendship, illustrious career in cancer prevention research, and generous support of our East Indian reef
ish investigations.
Comparisons. Chrysiptera ellenae is distinguished from other members of the C. oxycephala species complex
by its almost entirely blue juvenile coloration (Table 2). Juveniles of C. sinclairi are also entirely blue, but the blue
is darker and there are prominent dark bars on each scale. Furthermore, C. sinclairi differ in retaining the blue into
adulthood (except for some brown on the upper head and nape). Meristics also separate C. sinclairi; they have
one fewer modal dorsal and anal-in rays and usually lack preorbital+suborbital scales, while C. ellenae rarely
lack those scales (2 of 32 specimens), and most have at least ive scales in this area and can have as many as 14
scales (see Fig. 2 and Table 5).
TABLE 2
Color features of the Chrysiptera oxycephala species complex
Species
Adult ground color
Juvenile
Special features
C. ellenae
pale greenish-yellow
entirely light blue
juvenile entirely light blue
C. maurineae
bright yellow
blue and yellow
juvenile: blue streak on dorsal caudal peduncle
C. oxycephala
greenish yellow
blue and yellow
adult: bright yellow only thorax & abdomen
C. papuensis
brown and bright yellow
blue and yellow
adult: brown anterodorsally, bright yellow
posteroventrally
C. sinclairi
blue with brown forehead
entirely blue
absence of yellow in all stages,
vertical bars prominent on scales
63
Figure 5. Chrysiptera maurineae, preserved holotype, MZB 22773, male, 48.8 mm SL, Cenderawasih Bay, Indonesia (G.R.
Allen).
Chrysiptera maurineae, n. sp.
Maurine’s Damselish
Figures 5 & 6; Tables 2, 3 & 5.
Chrysiptera oxycephala [non Bleeker] Allen & Erdmann 2012: 593 (Cenderawasih Bay, West Papua, Indonesia,
upper right photograph only).
Holotype. MZB 22773, male, 48.8 mm SL, Pulau Nurage, 03° 01.807’ S, 134° 50.058’ E, Cenderawasih Bay,
West Papua Province, Indonesia, 5–12 m, hand net and clove oil, G.R. Allen & M.V. Erdmann, Nov. 10, 2008.
Paratypes. MZB 22774, 5 specimens, 37.9–49.8 mm SL & WAM P.33046–009, 5 specimens, 40.2–47.8 mm
SL, collected with holotype.
Diagnosis. A species of the pomacentrid genus Chrysiptera with the following combination of characters:
dorsal-in rays XIII, 10–12 (usually 11); anal-in rays II, 12–13 (rarely 13); pectoral-in rays 14–15 (rarely 14);
gill rakers on irst branchial arch 9–10 + 19–22, total gill rakers 30–33; tubed lateral-line scales 12–15 (usually
15); preorbital+suborbital scales 0–6 (mean 2.7); color of small juveniles in life light blue on head, anterodorsal
body, and in a streak on upper edge of caudal peduncle, bright yellow on remainder of body; adults mainly bright
yellow with numerous small turquoise spots on head and body (Fig. 6).
64
Description. Dorsal-in rays XIII, 11 (10–12); anal-in rays II, 12 (one paratype with 13); pectoral-in rays
14 (15); gill rakers on irst branchial arch 9 + 21 (9–10 + 20–22), total gill rakers 30 (30–33); tubed lateral-line
scales 12 (all paratypes with 15, except one 14); scales in lateral series from upper rear margin of opercle to base
of caudal in 27; scales above lateral line to base of middle dorsal-in spines 1.5; scales below lateral line to anus
9; preorbital+suborbital scales 0 (0–6, mean 2.7).
Body depth 2.0 (2.0–2.1) in SL; maximum body width 2.6 (2.5–2.9) in depth; HL contained 3.1 (3.0–3.2)
in SL; snout 3.3 (3.3–3.7), eye 3.4 (2.8–3.2), interorbital width 3.5 (3.3–3.6), least depth of caudal peduncle 2.0
(1.9–2.1), length of caudal peduncle 1.9 (1.9–2.6), all in HL.
Mouth terminal, oblique, jaws forming an angle of about 40–45° to horizontal axis of head and body; maxillary
reaching to vertical through anterior edge of eye; teeth of jaws biserial, those of outer row incisiform with lattened
tips, upper jaw with about 48 (38–50) teeth and lower jaw with about 36 ( 36–44) teeth in outer rows, largest
about one-third diameter of pupil in height; secondary row of slender buttress teeth behind those of outer row
in the spaces between them; single nasal opening on each side of snout, nostril with low leshy rim; preorbital
and suborbital relatively narrow, greatest depth of suborbital 34.8% (26.1–36.0%) eye diameter, ventral margin
smooth; margin of preopercle smooth, without any denticulations; margin of opercular series smooth except for
blunt, lattened spine on upper portion near angle.
Scales of head and body inely ctenoid; snout tip, lips, chin, and isthmus naked; pair of primary transverse
scale rows on cheek with row of smaller scales along lower margin; preorbital and suborbital scales absent in
holotype, but few scattered embedded scales usually present; dorsal and anal ins with a basal scaly sheath; basal
half of caudal in covered by scales; pectoral ins covered by scales only at base; axillary-scale cluster between
base of pelvic ins about 55% length of pelvic-in spine.
Figure 6. Chrysiptera maurineae, underwater photographs, Cenderawasih Bay, West Papua Province, Indonesia: A.
juvenile, approximately 15 mm SL; B. juvenile, approximately 25 mm SL; C. subadult, approximately 35 mm SL; D. adult,
approximately 48 mm SL (G.R. Allen).
65
TABLE 3
Proportional measurements of selected type specimens of Chrysiptera maurineae, n. sp.
as percentages of the standard length
holotype
66
paratypes
MZB
22773
MZB
22774
WAM P WAM P WAM P
P.33046 P.33046 P.33046
MZB
22774
WAM P
P.33046
MZB
22774
Standard length (mm)
48.8
49.8
47.8
45.1
44.6
43.3
40.5
37.9
Body depth
50.3
48.0
49.7
50.0
50.3
49.5
51.1
50.3
Body width
19.1
19.4
18.7
17.6
18.9
17.9
19.4
17.4
Head length
32.0
31.2
32.3
32.1
33.6
32.4
8.9
32.7
Snout length
9.8
8.8
9.7
8.6
9.5
8.9
11.3
9.9
Orbit diameter
9.4
10.0
10.1
10.0
10.8
10.8
9.7
11.5
Interorbital width
9.3
9.3
9.5
9.5
9.3
9.4
9.7
9.3
Caudal-peduncle depth
16.4
16.3
16.0
16.4
16.4
16.1
16.1
15.5
Caudal-peduncle length
17.3
16.2
13.9
15.0
14.1
14.8
16.1
15.7
Upper jaw length
10.3
10.0
10.6
10.5
11.1
10.9
10.8
11.1
Predorsal length
41.0
36.5
39.2
39.3
39.7
37.8
37.6
40.1
Preanal length
64.5
64.4
67.2
64.6
64.9
66.5
65.9
65.7
Prepelvic length
39.7
38.0
39.8
40.1
39.1
40.3
38.5
39.8
Length dorsal-in base
57.6
61.5
59.6
61.0
62.0
60.3
60.4
60.0
Length anal-in base
27.2
28.6
27.2
27.5
28.3
27.9
27.0
26.1
Length pectoral in
28.1
28.8
31.2
29.2
31.1
33.5
30.0
31.7
Length pelvic in
32.0
29.8
30.0
33.5
34.4
34.8
34.5
33.4
Length pelvic-in spine
16.8
17.3
17.5
17.6
18.1
18.7
18.6
18.6
Length irst dorsal spine
9.0
7.3
7.5
8.6
9.4
8.8
7.4
8.0
Length second dorsal spine
16.0
17.6
17.5
18.1
17.7
18.1
17.1
17.9
Length seventh dorsal spine
15.6
17.0
16.6
18.1
17.6
18.0
17.9
16.0
Length longest dorsal ray
22.9
24.3
24.7
27.2
27.4
27.4
24.5
26.5
Length irst anal spine
9.0
9.1
9.9
10.3
9.3
10.7
9.2
9.6
Length second anal spine
19.1
19.1
17.8
19.9
18.8
20.7
20.7
19.8
Length longest anal ray
26.2
24.2
24.9
27.5
27.8
27.3
22.4
23.9
Length caudal in
28.2
29.7
33.1
32.9
32.5
33.1
30.6
33.6
Caudal concavity
6.6
7.0
6.0
6.9
8.1
8.7
7.0
5.6
Tubed lateral-line scales ending below posterior spines of dorsal in; pits or pores present on 4 (2–5) scales
immediately posterior to last tubed scale; continuous series of 8 (5–8) pored or pitted scales mid-laterally on
caudal peduncle to caudal-in base.
Origin of dorsal in at level of fourth tubed scale of lateral line; spines of dorsal in gradually increasing in
length to sixth or seventh spine, remaining spines slightly decreasing in length; membranes between spines deeply
incised; irst dorsal-in spine 3.6 (3.6–4.3), seventh dorsal-in spine 2.0 (1.7–1.9), last dorsal-in spine 2.0 (1.7–
2.0), longest dorsal-in soft ray 1.4 (1.2–1.4), all in HL; length of dorsal-in base 1.7 (1.6–1.7) in SL; irst anal-in
spine 3.5 (3.0–3.7), second anal-in spine 1.7 (1.5–1.8), longest anal-in soft ray 1.2 (1.2–1.4), all in HL; base of
anal in 2.1 (2.1–2.3) in base of dorsal in; caudal in emarginate with rounded lobes, its length 3.5 (3.0–3.4) in
SL; pectoral in reaching vertical through anal opening, longest ray 3.6 (3.0–3.5) in SL; ilamentous tips of pelvic
ins reaching to about base of irst anal-in soft ray when undamaged (tips broken off in some specimens), longest
ray 3.1 (2.8–3.4) in SL.
Color of adult in life. (Fig. 6D) Generally bright yellow with 1–3 small turquoise spots on each scale of
body, cheek, and opercle, except dorsal portion of head and adjacent anterodorsal body (area between lateral line
and most of spinous dorsal) greyish brown; faint grey-brown stripe from eye to snout tip; iris yellow with pair of
turquoise stripes, one on each side of pupil; median ins and pelvic ins yellow on basal portion, translucent bluish
distally; dorsal and anal ins with 2–3 rows of turquoise spots (sometimes horizontally elongate on dorsal in);
pectoral ins translucent.
Color of juvenile in life. (Figs. 6A–C) Smallest individuals (< about 15–20 mm SL) light blue on most of
head, anterodorsal portion of body (above diagonal line from upper pectoral-in base to base of last few dorsal-in
rays), and in a streak along dorsal surface of caudal peduncle, remainder of body yellow except small blue spots
present on some scales; dark grey to blackish stripe across middle of blue iris, joining dark grey stripe from front
of eye to snout tip; spinous part of dorsal in light blue, soft portion yellow to translucent; anal in mainly yellow
except translucent posteriorly; caudal in mainly translucent except yellow at base; pelvic ins yellow; pectoral
ins translucent. Larger juveniles and subadults (to about 35 mm SL) gradually assume adult pattern, but blue
coloration on nape and streak on dorsal margin of caudal peduncle generally persist to some degree on subadults.
Color in alcohol. (Fig. 5) Head and body generally tan, except brownish on dorsal portion of head and
adjacent anterodorsal body (darkest in area between anterior lateral line and anterior base of spinous dorsal in);
dorsal and anal ins tan basally with translucent central portion and mostly dark grey outer margin; caudal in
translucent greyish; pelvic ins tan basally and dusky grey on outer portion; pectoral ins translucent; urogenital
papilla blackish.
Distribution. The new species is known only from the western portion of Cenderawasih Bay in West Papua,
Indonesia (Fig. 1). This location is a hotspot for endemism among ishes and invertebrates due to its past isolation
as a result of both tectonic movements and eustatic luctuations (Wallace et al. 2011, Allen & Erdmann 2012; see
discussion below).
Etymology. The species is named in honor of Maurine Shimlock, our dear friend of many years, who has
zealously promoted marine conservation of Cenderawasih Bay and the surrounding Bird’s Head region by means
of her excellent journalism and photography.
Comparisons. Chrysiptera maurineae is distinctive in both juvenile and adult color pattern (Table 2); the
juvenile shares the bicolor blue and yellow pattern with C. oxycephala and C. papuensis, however it is unique
in having a streak of blue along the dorsal caudal peduncle. As an adult, C. maurineae, is bright yellow over
much of the body vs. the predominantly greenish yellow or greenish color of the adults of C. oxycephala and C.
ellenae, with bright yellow only on the thorax and abdomen, at most. In addition, there are a few slight meristic
differences: C. maurineae has one more tubed lateral line scale on average than the other species, a mode of 15
(shared only with the Lembeh genovariant population of C. oxycephala). Compared to C. ellenae, the new species
has relatively few preorbital+suborbital scales, the holotype has none and the average number of scales is less
than three, vs. an average of six and rarely none in C. ellenae.
67
Chrysiptera oxycephala (Bleeker 1877)
Bluespot Damselish
Figures 7–9; Tables 2 & 5.
Paraglyphidodon oxycephalus Bleeker 1877: 387 (Buro Island and Timor Island, Indonesia).
Abudefduf azurepunctatus Fowler & Bean 1928: 149 (Romblon Harbor, Philippines).
Chrysiptera melanomaculata Aoyagi 1941: 180 (Palau).
Chrysiptera oxycephala Allen 1991: 96, 2 igs. (Indonesia, Philippines, Palau, and New Guinea); Myers 1999:
182, pl. 100 E & F (Palau in Micronesia); Allen & Erdmann 2012: 593 (Indonesia, Philippines, New Guinea,
and Solomon Islands [upper left photograph of adult from Solomon Islands; lower left photograph of juvenile
from Palau]).
Material examined. BPBM 9355, 13 specimens, 32.0–46.0 mm SL, Palau Islands; USNM 89963, 2 specimens,
48.0–50.3 mm SL (cotypes of Abudefduf azurepunctatus), Romblon Harbour, 12° 34.807’ N, 122° 15.942’ E,
Romblon Island, Philippines; RMNH 6506 (holotype of Paraglyphidodon oxycephalus), 43.9 mm SL, Buru or
Timor, Indonesia; WAM P.29713-007, 13 specimens, 28.2–46.6 mm SL, Pulau Besar, 08° 29.020’ S, 122° 25.077’
E, Maumere Bay, Flores, Lesser Sunda Islands, Indonesia; WAM P.33766-002, 2 specimens, Teluk Banyumandi,
08° 08.215’ S, 114° 33.510’ E, Bali, Lesser Sunda Islands, Indonesia.
Lembeh Population: MZB 22939, 6 specimens, 39.7–51.9 mm SL, Batu Angus Lagoon, 01° 30.441’ N, 125°
14.764’ E, Lembeh Strait, North Sulawesi Province, Indonesia, 3–15 m, clove oil, G.R. Allen, June 23, 2015;
USNM 432466, 3 specimens, 42.7–49.5 mm SL, collected with MZB 22939; WAM P.33763–001, 31.7 mm SL,
Figure 7. Chrysiptera oxycephala, underwater photographs: A. juvenile, approximately 20 mm SL, Bali, Indonesia;
B. juvenile, approximately 30 mm SL, Bali, Indonesia; C. adult, approximately 40 mm SL, Bali, Indonesia; D. adult,
approximately 50 mm SL, El Nido, Palawan, Philippines (G.R. Allen).
68
Batu Angus Lagoon, 01° 30.441’ N, 125° 14.764’ E, Lembeh Strait, North Sulawesi Province, Indonesia, 3–4 m,
clove oil, G.R. Allen, Sep. 11, 2012; WAM P.34403–001, 5 specimens, 37.8–52.6 mm SL, collected with MZB
22939.
Diagnosis. A species of the pomacentrid genus Chrysiptera with the following combination of characters:
dorsal-in rays XIII,10–12 (usually 11); anal-in rays II,11–13 (usually 12) ; pectoral-in rays 13–15 (usually 15);
gill rakers on irst branchial arch 9–10 + 19–21, total gill rakers 29–31; tubed lateral-line scales 12–15 (usually
14); scales in lateral series from upper rear margin of opercle to base of caudal in 27; scales above lateral line to
base of middle dorsal-in spines 1.5; scales below lateral line to anus 9; preorbital+suborbital scales 0–8 (mean
2.5, n = 30). Body depth 1.9–2.1 in SL; maximum body width 2.6–3.0 in depth; HL contained 3.0–3.1 in SL;
snout 3.6–3.9, eye 2.8–3.3, interorbital width 2.9–3.6, least depth of caudal peduncle 1.9–2.1, length of caudal
peduncle 2.2–2.5; irst dorsal-in spine 3.4–4.2, seventh dorsal-in spine 1.7–2.2, last dorsal-in spine 1.9–2.4, longest dorsal-in soft ray 1.1–1.4, length of dorsal-in base 1.6–1.9 in SL, irst anal-in spine 3.4–4.5, second anal-in
spine 1.6–1.9, longest anal-in soft ray 1.1–1.3, all in HL; base of anal in 2.1–2.5 in base of dorsal in; caudal-in
length 2.5–3.3 in SL; pectoral-in length 3.1–3.5 in SL; pelvic-in length 2.8–3.1 in SL; color of small juveniles
in life light blue on head and anterodorsal body, yellow on posteroventral body with scattered small blue spots on
scales; adults greenish yellow with numerous small turquoise spots on head and body, at most some bright yellow
on thorax and abdomen of adults (Figs. 7 & 8).
The Lembeh population has essentially the same meristics and morphometrics, but they are listed here
separately for comparison: dorsal-in rays XIII, 11–12 (rarely 12); anal-in rays II, 12; pectoral-in rays 14–15
(usually 15); gill rakers on irst branchial arch 9–10 + 19–21, total gill rakers 28–31; tubed lateral-line scales
14–16 (usually 15); scales in lateral series from upper rear margin of opercle to base of caudal in 27; scales above
lateral line to base of middle dorsal-in spines 1.5; scales below lateral line to anus 9; preorbital+suborbital scales
2–10 (mean 5.5, n = 15). Body depth 1.8–2.1 in SL; maximum body width 2.6–3.1 in depth; HL contained 2.9–3.3
Figure 8. Chrysiptera oxycephala (Lembeh), underwater photographs, Lembeh Strait, North Sulawesi, Indonesia: A.
juvenile, approximately 15 mm SL; B. juvenile, approximately 25 mm SL; C. adult, approximately 45 mm SL; D. adult,
approximately 50 mm SL (G.R. Allen).
69
in SL; snout 2.9–3.9, eye 2.7–3.5, interorbital width 2.8–3.3, least depth of caudal peduncle 1.8–2.1, length of
caudal peduncle 2.0–2.5; irst dorsal-in spine 3.4–5.4, seventh dorsal-in spine 1.7–2.0, last dorsal-in spine
1.8–2.1, longest dorsal-in soft ray 1.1–1.2, length of dorsal-in base 1.6–1.8 in SL, irst anal-in spine 2.7–4.4,
second anal-in spine 1.5–1.8, longest anal-in soft ray 1.0–1.3, all in HL; base of anal in 1.9–2.3 in base of dorsal
in; caudal-in length 2.4–3.6 in SL; pectoral-in length 3.1–3.6 in SL; pelvic-in length 2.5–3.4 in SL.
Color of adult in life. (Figs. 7 & 8, C & D both) Generally greenish-yellow, brown to greenish grey on upper
half of head (including forehead and side of nape); most scales of cheek, opercle, and body with 1–3 small,
vertically aligned turquoise spots; thorax, abdomen, and base of anal in usually bright yellow, scales of these
areas usually with small turquoise to whitish spots; frequently with faint grey “ear” spot (about one-fourth pupil
size or smaller) on upper opercle, just below level of lateral-line origin; grey stripe from eye to snout tip; iris
dusky orange to grey with pair of turquoise stripes, one on each side of pupil; spinous dorsal in greenish yellow,
protruding spine tips turquoise and soft portion of in mainly translucent bluish; anterior half and base of anal in
yellow with small turquoise or whitish spots, posterior half of in mainly translucent bluish; caudal in greenish
yellow basally with small turquoise to whitish spots and translucent bluish outer portion; pelvic ins yellow with
narrow blue anterior margin; pectoral ins translucent.
Color of juvenile in life. (Figs. 7 & 8, A & B both) Smallest individuals (about 15–20 mm SL) light blue on
most of head, anterodorsal portion of body (above diagonal line from upper pectoral-in base to base of irst few
soft dorsal-in rays), remainder of body and adjacent ins pale yellow; blackish stripe across middle of blue iris,
joining black stripe from front of eye to snout tip; lips charcoal grey; spinous part of dorsal in bluish with bright
blue spine tips, soft portion of in translucent pale yellow; anal and pelvic ins yellow with narrow blue anterior
margin; caudal in pale yellow basally, remainder of in translucent; pectoral ins translucent.
Color in alcohol. Generally brown to yellowish tan, frequently darker on head, nape, and back, grading to
light tan on ventral parts of body; faint grey “ear” spot (about one-fourth pupil size or smaller) sometimes present
on upper opercle, just below level of lateral-line origin; urogenital papilla blackish.
Distribution. The species is found in a wide area of the East Indies, i.e. central Indonesia including the
Java Sea (Karimunjawa), Bali, Komodo, Flores, Timor, Molucca Islands (Buru), Sulawesi (Kabaena and Tobea
Islands, and a distinct population in the Lembeh Straits), and northeastern Kalimantan (Berau region), ranging
north to Sabah (Semporna region), as well as the Philippines (Palawan and Visayas Group), and Palau (Fig. 1).
The population of Chrysiptera oxycephala reported from the Solomon Islands by Allen & Erdmann (2012)
most likely represents an undescribed species based on the unique juvenile and adult color patterns (see Fig.
9). Unfortunately we were unable to obtain tissue samples for DNA analysis and have examined only a single
juvenile specimen (WAM P.25136–001, 28.8 mm SL) from this location. Future collecting efforts in the Solomon
Islands should determine if this population represents an additional species in the C. oxycephala complex.
Etymology. The name oxycephala was derived from Greek and means “pointed head”.
Comparisons. Chrysiptera oxycephala is distinguished by the combination of juvenile and adult coloration
(Table 2). Juveniles have the bicolor blue and yellow color pattern shared only with C. papuensis and C. maurineae;
notably juveniles of the latter are separated by having a blue streak on the upper caudal peduncle. Adults of C.
papuensis differ by having a brown anterodorsal area and a bright yellow posteroventral area extending over
the tail vs. the greenish yellow body of C. oxycephala. The other two species in the complex, C. ellenae and C.
sinclairi, have entirely blue juveniles.
The Lembeh population of C. oxycephala shows no consistent differences in color patterns or morphometrics,
and only a slight meristic difference of one additional lateral-line scale on average (Table 5). These differences
are not suficient to justify a species or subspecies-level designation. The population does diverge in mtDNA
sequence (discussed below).
Remarks. Bleeker’s (1877) original description of this species mentions a total of four specimens from the
Indonesian islands of Buro (now Buru) and Timor. However, ive specimens were present in the jar at RMNH
containing the types, of which only the smallest, 43.9 mm SL, was identiied as C. oxycephala and it agrees well
with the illustrated type in the Bleeker Atlas. The other four specimens were identiied as Hemiglyphidodon
plagiometopon (and subsequently assigned a new number, RMNH 38315). Therefore the single specimen, RMNH
6506, is considered the holotype, but the precise geographic origin (Buru or Timor) remains uncertain.
70
Figure 9. Chrysiptera cf. oxycephala from the Solomon Islands: A. live adult, approximately 50 mm SL; B. fresh juvenile,
28.8 mm SL (WAM P.25136–001); C. live juvenile, approximately 20 mm SL (G.R. Allen).
71
Figure 10. Chrysiptera papuensis, preserved holotype, WAM P.34426-001, male, 44.5 mm SL, Waga Waga, Papua New
Guinea (G.R. Allen).
Chrysiptera papuensis, n. sp.
Papuan Damselish
Figures 10 & 11; Tables 2, 4 & 5.
Holotype. WAM P.34426-001, male, 44.5 mm SL, deck of Muscoota, a World War II shipwreck, 10° 24.429’
S, 150° 24.650’ E, Waga Waga, Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea, 25–10 m, clove oil and hand net, G.R.
Allen, Aug. 28, 2015.
Paratypes. USNM 432446, 4 specimens, 30.0–41.9 mm SL, collected with holotype; WAM P.34320-001, 6
specimens, 30.2–38.6 mm SL, same data as holotype except collected Dec. 14, 2014.
Non-type specimens. AMS I.16687-004, 9 specimens, 31.2–50.8 mm SL, Kranket Lagoon, 05° 11.550’ S,
145° 49.440’ E, Madang, Papua New Guinea, 3–10 m, spear, G.R. Allen & W. Starck, April 3, 1972; AMS
I.17083-007, 17 specimens, 20.5–52.7 mm SL, Kranket Lagoon, 05° 11.550’ S, 145° 49.440’ E, Madang, Papua
New Guinea, 3 m, rotenone, B. Collette, May 23, 1970; AMS I.17088-015, 39 specimens, 21.6–51.3 mm SL, Pig
Island, 05° 10.152’ S, 145° 50.410’ E, Madang, Papua New Guinea, 5–14 m, explosives, B. Collette, May 29, 1970.
72
Diagnosis. A species of the pomacentrid genus Chrysiptera with the following combination of characters:
dorsal-in rays XIII, 10–11 (uncommon 10); anal-in rays II,12–13 (rare 13); pectoral-in rays 14–15 (usually
15); gill rakers on irst branchial arch 9–10 + 19–21, total gill rakers 29–31; tubed lateral-line scales 13–16
(usually 14); preorbital+suborbital scales 0–10 (mean 4.4); color of small juveniles in life light blue on head and
anterodorsal body, bright yellow on remainder of body and adjacent ins; adults greyish brown on head, nape, and
anterodorsal body, bright yellow with numerous small turquoise to whitish spots on posteroventral body (Fig. 11).
Description. Dorsal-in rays XIII, 10 (10–11, uncommon 10); anal-in rays II, 12 (rare 13); pectoral-in rays
15 (14–15); gill rakers on irst branchial arch 9 + 21 (9–10 + 9–21), total gill rakers 30 (29–31); tubed lateral-line
scales 14 (13–15, rare 16); scales in lateral series from upper rear margin of opercle to base of caudal in 27; scales
above lateral line to base of middle dorsal-in spines 1.5; scales below lateral line to anus 9; preorbital+suborbital
scales 3 (0–10, mean 4.4).
Figure 11. Chrysiptera papuensis, underwater photographs, Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea: A. juvenile,
approximately 20 mm SL; B. subadult, approximately 30 mm SL; C. adult holotype, 44.5 mm SL (G.R. Allen).
73
TABLE 4
Proportional measurements of selected type specimens of Chrysiptera papuensis, n. sp.
as percentages of the standard length
holotype
74
paratypes
WAM P
P.34426
USNM
432446
WAM P WAM P WAM P WAM P WAM P WAM P
P.34320 P.34320 P.34320 P.34320 P.34320 P.34320
Standard length (mm)
44.5
41.9
38.6
37.9
34.8
34.7
30.2
30.5
Body depth
52.3
48.6
52.2
50.4
46.2
53.1
49.9
50.7
Body width
19.5
19.5
17.6
17.6
18.1
18.0
16.4
16.9
Head length
32.4
31.9
33.0
31.8
33.1
33.7
33.0
33.9
Snout length
8.4
8.2
7.8
8.2
8.6
7.8
8.2
10.1
Orbit diameter
11.1
11.8
11.3
12.1
12.5
11.9
12.1
12.1
Interorbital width
9.4
9.1
9.0
9.1
9.2
8.8
9.3
9.6
Caudal-peduncle depth
15.5
15.2
15.7
16.4
15.2
15.7
15.8
16.2
Caudal-peduncle length
13.2
14.2
12.7
15.5
14.0
13.9
13.5
12.0
Upper jaw length
9.9
10.6
10.2
10.2
10.5
10.1
10.2
10.7
Predorsal length
37.4
39.3
37.6
37.1
38.5
39.0
38.2
41.3
Preanal length
66.4
64.2
69.3
65.9
65.7
66.2
65.3
67.6
Prepelvic length
38.7
39.1
40.1
37.7
38.8
38.9
37.6
39.8
Length dorsal-in base
60.4
58.2
57.6
60.8
60.1
55.1
57.9
57.0
Length anal-in base
26.9
25.6
27.0
26.8
25.6
27.3
26.5
28.6
Length pectoral in
30.4
28.9
33.0
30.2
29.6
31.2
32.7
31.1
Length pelvic in
35.1
35.3
37.6
39.7
37.8
36.6
38.8
41.2
Length pelvic-in spine
17.3
17.9
18.8
19.6
19.6
19.2
20.5
20.8
Length irst dorsal spine
9.0
7.2
7.1
7.8
7.9
6.7
8.9
9.5
Length second dorsal spine
16.9
15.7
17.3
18.2
17.1
17.0
18.2
17.5
Length seventh dorsal spine
15.7
15.1
16.7
17.5
16.9
16.6
18.2
16.4
Length longest dorsal ray
24.1
23.6
21.6
31.9
23.8
26.0
26.1
31.4
Length irst anal spine
8.6
7.8
8.9
10.0
9.8
8.5
9.6
8.8
Length second anal spine
18.8
18.8
20.3
18.8
20.0
21.3
21.5
20.2
Length longest anal ray
24.6
23.2
28.3
29.8
27.4
27.8
29.2
32.8
Length caudal in
32.6
29.6
35.2
38.0
36.0
34.5
35.8
39.5
Caudal concavity
6.1
7.0
8.9
8.6
10.2
10.0
7.0
12.8
Body depth 1.9 (2.0–2.1) in SL; maximum body width 2.7 (2.5–2.9) in depth; HL contained 3.1 (3.0–3.2)
in SL; snout 3.9 (3.3–4.3), eye 2.9 (2.6–2.8), interorbital width 3.4 (3.1–3.8), least depth of caudal peduncle 2.1
(1.9–2.2), length of caudal peduncle 2.5 (2.0–2.8), all in HL.
Mouth terminal, oblique, jaws forming an angle of about 40–45° to horizontal axis of head and body;
maxillary reaching to vertical through anterior edge of eye; teeth of jaws biserial, those of outer row incisiform
with lattened tips, upper jaw with about 44 (42–48) teeth and lower jaw with about 44 (36–46) teeth in outer
rows, largest about one-third diameter of pupil in height; secondary row of slender buttress teeth behind those
of outer row in the spaces between them; single nasal opening on each side of snout, nostril with low leshy rim;
preorbital and suborbital relatively narrow, greatest depth of suborbital 29.2% (19.2–28.5%) eye diameter, ventral
margin smooth; margin of preopercle smooth, without any denticulations; margin of opercular series smooth
except for blunt, lattened spine on upper portion near angle. Scales of head and body inely ctenoid; snout tip,
lips, chin, and isthmus naked; pair of primary transverse scale rows on cheek with row of smaller scales along
lower margin; preorbital and suborbital usually with a few scattered, embedded scales; dorsal and anal ins with a
basal scaly sheath; basal half of caudal in covered by scales; pectoral ins covered by scales only at base; axillary
scale cluster between base of pelvic ins about 52% length of pelvic-in spine.
Tubed lateral-line scales ending below posterior spines of dorsal in; pits or pores present on 4 (3–5) scales
immediately posterior to last tubed scale; continuous series of 8 (7–8) pored or pitted scales mid-laterally on
caudal peduncle to caudal base.
Origin of dorsal in at level of third tubed scale of lateral line; spines of dorsal in gradually increasing in
length to sixth or seventh spine, remaining spines slightly decreasing in length; membrane between spines deeply
incised; irst dorsal-in spine 3.6 (3.4–5.0), seventh dorsal-in spine 1.9 (1.7–2.0), last dorsal-in spine 2.1 (1.8–
2.1), longest dorsal-in soft ray 1.3 (1.0–1.5), all in HL; length of dorsal-in base 1.7 (1.6–1.8) in SL; irst anal-in
spine 3.8 (3.1–4.0), second anal-in spine 1.7 (1.5–1.7), longest anal-in soft ray 1.3 (1.0–1.4), all in HL; base of
anal in 2.2 (2.0–2.3) in base of dorsal in; caudal in emarginate with rounded lobes, its length 3.1 (2.5–3.4) in
SL; pectoral in reaching vertical through anal opening, longest ray 3.3 (3.0–3.5) in SL; ilamentous tips of pelvic
ins reaching base of irst to third anal-in soft ray when undamaged (tips broken off in most specimens), longest
ray 2.8 (2.4–2.8) in SL.
Color of adult in life. (Fig. 11C) Greyish brown over head and adjacent anterodorsal part of body (above
diagonal from lower operculum to last few dorsal-in rays), remainder of body bright yellow; 1–3 small pale blue
to turquoise spots on each scale of body, cheek, and opercle, except dorsal portion of head and nape (and often
area between lateral line and most of spinous dorsal-in base); faint grey-brown stripe from eye to snout tip; iris
yellow-orange with a pair of turquoise stripes, one on each side of pupil; spinous dorsal in yellowish basally with
numerous turquoise spots and elongate narrow bands of same color, protruding spine tips turquoise to yellow, soft
portion of in yellowish basally and translucent bluish on outer portion; anal in yellow basally with small whitish
to turquoise spots with bluish streaks on membranes and narrow, blue anterior margin; caudal in yellow basally
with small whitish to turquoise spots and translucent bluish outer portion; pelvic ins yellow with narrow blue
anterior margin; pectoral ins translucent.
Color of juvenile in life. (Figs. 11A & B) Smallest individuals (< about 15–20 mm SL) light blue on most
of head and anterodorsal portion of body (above diagonal line from upper pectoral-in base to base of irst few
soft dorsal-in rays), remainder of body and adjacent ins bright yellow; blackish stripe across middle of blue iris,
joining brown stripe from front of eye to snout tip; lips charcoal grey and blue; spinous part of dorsal in blue and
pectoral ins translucent. Larger juveniles and subadults (to about 35 mm SL) gradually assume adult pattern with
less blue on head and body and more small blue or turquoise spots on the yellow parts.
Color in alcohol. (Fig. 10) Generally brown, darker on head, nape, and back, grading to light tan or yellowish
on ventral parts of body; most scales of cheek, opercle, and side of body with 1–3 small dark brown spots; ins
semi-translucent grey, median ins brown to tan basally; urogenital papilla blackish.
Distribution. The new species is restricted to the northeastern section of Papua New Guinea (Fig. 1). We
have examined specimens from the vicinity of Alotau (Milne Bay Province) and Madang (Madang Province).
Underwater observations were also made throughout the Louisiade Archipelago and D’Entrecasteaux Islands
(both in Milne Bay Province), Tui in Northern Province, and Kimbe Bay in West New Britain Province. Field
75
observations by the irst author indicate C. papuensis is absent from the outer island groups of New Ireland and
Manus provinces (e.g. New Ireland, New Hanover, Manus, Hermit Islands, and Ninigo Islands), where it is
replaced by C. sinclairi.
Etymology. The species is named for its geographic distribution, which is conined to Papua New Guinea.
Comparisons. Chrysiptera papuensis is distinguished from the other members of the C. oxycephala species
complex by a combination of juvenile and adult coloration (Table 2). Juveniles have the bicolor blue and yellow
color pattern shared only with C. oxycephala and C. maurineae; note that juveniles of the latter species can be
distinguished by having a blue streak on the upper caudal peduncle. Adults of C. oxycephala differ by having a
greenish yellow body with bright yellow limited to the thorax and abdomen vs. a more brownish anterodorsal area
and a more extensive bright yellow posteroventral area, including the caudal peduncle and anal and caudal-in
bases, in C. papuensis. The remaining two species in the complex, C. ellenae and C. sinclairi, have entirely blue
juveniles and C. sinclairi has a blue adult as well, along with a set of meristic differences in in-ray counts and
scale characters.
TABLE 5
Frequency distribution of soft dorsal-in, anal-in, and pectoral-in-ray counts and
selected scale counts for members of the Chrysiptera oxycephala species complex
Species
Soft dorsal-in rays
10
11
12
11
12
C. ellenae
2
28
2
1
31
C. maurineae
2
8
1
C. oxycephala
1
26
3
14
1
C. oxycephala (L)
C. papuensis
5
28
C. sinclairi
11
9
1
13
13
14
32
0–6
2.7
11
28
1
0-8
2.5
30
2-10
5.5
15
0–10
4.1
33
0–1
0.2
24
1
7
Pectoral-in rays
12
5.5
1
15
13
0–14
10
32
Species
Lateral-line scales
12
13
14
15
16
32
1
9
15
5
2
1
10
1
1
9
4
24
1
20
5
C. oxycephala (Lembeh)
3
12
3
11
1
C. papuensis
6
27
5
21
6
1
9
9
6
5
4
C. ellenae
C. maurineae
2
C. oxycephala
C. sinclairi
76
Preorbital+suborbital
scales
range
mean
n
Soft anal-in rays
1
1
15
11
1
4
4
Chrysiptera sinclairi Allen 1987
Sinclair’s Damselish
Figure 12; Tables 2 & 5.
Chrysiptera sinclairi Allen 1987: 107 (Manus Island, Papua New Guinea); Allen 1991: 99, 1 ig. (Bismarck
Archipelago, Melanesia).
Material examined. WAM P.27827-056 (holotype), 42.5 mm SL, Manus Island, 02° 03.483’ S, 147° 25.643’
E; all paratypes (same location as holotype): BPBM 30926, 4 specimens, 21.3–33.2 mm SL; BMNH 1986.5.7:
1–4, 4 specimens, 27.6–33.6 mm SL; MNHN 1986-40, 4 specimens, 24.5–30.3 mm SL; USNM 278055, 3 specimens, 27.2–37.4 mm SL; WAM P.27827-010, 14 specimens, 14.9–49.0 mm SL; WAM P.27825-042, 5 specimens,
15.0–31.0 mm SL; WAM P.27828-002, 5 specimens, 18.0–32.0 mm SL.
Diagnosis. A species of the pomacentrid genus Chrysiptera with the following combination of characters:
dorsal-in rays XIII, 10–11; anal-in rays II, 11–12 ; pectoral-in rays 12–15 (usually 14–15); gill rakers on irst
branchial arch 9–10 + 19–24, total gill rakers 31–34; tubed lateral-line scales 11–15 (usually 13–14); scales
in lateral series from upper rear margin of opercle to base of caudal in 27; scales above lateral line to base of
middle dorsal-in spines 1.5; scales below lateral line to anus 9; preorbital-suborbital scale series usually absent,
occasionally with a single scale.
Figure 12. Chrysiptera sinclairi, underwater photographs, Papua New Guinea: A. juvenile, approximately 15 mm SL,
Manus Island; B. juvenile, approximately 25 mm SL, Hermit Islands; C. adult, approximately 40 mm SL, Manus Island; D.
adult, approximately 50 mm SL, Hermit Islands (G.R. Allen).
77
Body depth 2.0–2.1 in SL; maximum body width 2.6–2.7 in depth; HL contained 3.0–3.1 in SL; snout 3.5–4.0,
eye 2.3–3.0, interorbital width 3.3– 3.6, least depth of caudal peduncle 2.2–2.3, length of caudal peduncle 2.3–3.1,
all in HL; irst dorsal-in spine 4.0–5.6, seventh dorsal-in spine 1.8–2.2, last dorsal-in spine 1.8–2.2, longest
dorsal-in soft ray 1.2–1.5 all in HL; length of dorsal-in base 1.7–1.8 in SL; irst anal-in spine 3.2–4.7, second
anal-in spine 1.8–2.3, longest anal-in soft ray 1.1–1.3, all in HL; base of anal in 2.1–2.3 in base of dorsal in;
caudal-in length 2.5–2.3 in SL; pectoral-in length 3.1–3.4 in SL; pelvic-in length 2.8–3.3 in SL. Color of small
juveniles entirely blue; adults mostly blue with brownish anterodorsal area (Fig. 12).
Color of adult in life. (Fig. 12 C & D) Head and nape brownish to greyish-green, side of head covered with
bright blue spots or irregular lines from front edge of eye to snout tip; most of body scales with vertical, charcoalcolored streak in center and bright blue margin, imparting overall dusky blue appearance; thorax and abdomen
light blue to greyish; ins mainly blue except outer half of spinous dorsal in grey; pectoral ins, posterior portions
of dorsal and anal ins, and outer half of caudal in translucent.
Color of juvenile in life. (Fig. 12 A & B) Smallest individuals (< about 15–20 mm SL) entirely blue with
greyish vertical streak on most body scales and blue spots on cheek and opercle; blackish stripe across middle of
blue iris, joining black stripe from front of eye to snout tip; lips charcoal-grey with blue sections; spinous part of
dorsal in bluish with turquoise spine tips, soft portion of in translucent grey; anal and pelvic ins mainly blue;
caudal in translucent grey with blue spots basally; pectoral ins translucent.
Color in alcohol. Head and body generally brown to greyish, darker dorsally; median ins brownish basally,
dusky grey to translucent on outer portions; pelvic ins whitish or dusky tan; pectoral ins translucent.
Distribution. Known only from oceanic insular areas of northeastern Papua New Guinea, including the
Hermit Islands, Manus, New Britain, New Ireland, and New Hanover (Fig. 1).
Etymology. The species is named in memory of the late Nick Sinclair, friend and loyal workmate of the irst
author, and a technical oficer at the Western Australian Museum.
Comparisons. Chrysiptera sinclairi differs from all members of the C. oxycephala species complex in having
blue juveniles and adults, clearly lacking yellow in all stages (Table 2). It also differs in having the urogenital
papilla not marked differently from the remaining body vs. dark colored in the other related species. The only
other member of the species complex sharing an entirely blue juvenile is C. ellenae, but those juveniles do not
have the prominent dark vertical streaks on the body scales. Adults of C. ellenae develop a different adult color
pattern entirely, with a greenish yellow background covered with small turquoise spots. Unlike the other members
of the species complex, C. sinclairi exhibits some different meristics, i.e. one fewer modal soft-dorsal and anal-in
rays, fewer pectoral-in rays and fewer lateral-line scales on average, and usually lacking preorbital+suborbital
scales (occasionally a single scale present)(see Table 5).
Genetic Analysis
We resolved relationships within the C. oxycephala complex using a 384-base-pair segment of the mtDNA
control region, of which 104 bases were parsimony informative. The neighbor-joining phenetic tree calculated
following the Kimura-2-parameter model using 1000 bootstrap replicates (Fig. 13) shows a set of distinct
monophyletic lineages representing a complex of ive closely-related species in the C. oxycephala species complex
and three outgroup species.
Not all populations with divergent mitochondrial lineages show phenotypic differences that justify species or
subspecies status (Victor 2015). In this set of lineages, the Lembeh population of C. oxycephala is an example
of this phenomenon: the population could be considered a genovariant population within the same species.
In comparison, the two lineages representing C. maurineae and C. sinclairi diverge to a similar degree to the
genovariant lineages within C. oxycephala, yet have marked phenotypic differences, including both color and
meristic differences that clearly justify different species. Interestingly, the two species are the least similar in
appearance among the species complex, emphasizing the inding that the degree of genotypic and phenotypic
divergence within cryptic species complex is typically not well-correlated (Victor 2015). Indeed, the largest
genetic divergence within the complex is between C. papuensis and C. oxycephala, the two species with the most
similar color patterns and meristics.
78
Figure 13. Neighbor Joining (NJ) topology generated from 384-bp of mtDNA control-region sequence data from Chrysiptera
species. Numbers above the major nodes indicate bootstrap support for 1000 replicates using neighbor-joining, maximum
likelihood, and Bayesian posterior probability, respectively. GenBank accession numbers and collection location are listed
for each individual. Papua New Guinea is abbreviated as PNG.
79
TABLE 6
Average interspeciic pairwise genetic distance matrix for sequences of the mtDNA control region
for the Chrysiptera oxycephala species complex and some congeners
No.
Species
Location
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
C. papuensis
C. ellenae
C. sinclairi
C. maurineae
C. oxycephala (L)
C. oxycephala
C. giti
C. hemicyanea
C. rollandi
C. rollandi
Tui & Milne Bay
1
2
Raja Ampat
0.090
Manus, PNG
0.092 0.077
Cendrawasih Bay
Lembeh Strait
Bali, Palau, Philippines
FakFak, West Papua
Solor
Raja Ampat
Bali
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
0.072 0.072 0.029
0.100 0.095 0.086 0.089
0.109 0.106 0.093 0.094 0.030
0.185 0.181 0.183 0.175 0.197 0.195
0.192 0.183 0.194 0.192 0.210 0.209 0.102
0.226 0.225 0.208 0.215 0.215 0.227 0.259 0.262
0.207 0.219 0.204 0.206 0.212 0.217 0.265 0.258 0.044
Average pairwise genetic distances (Table 6) between species in the C. oxycephala complex range from 2.9%
between C. maurineae and C. sinclairi to 10.9% between C. papuensis and C. oxycephala. The two genovariant
lineages within C. oxycephala are relatively close, only 3.0% divergent. As expected, the outgroup species of
Chrysiptera fall outside the C. oxycephala clade and exhibit much greater genetic divergences than those species
within the complex.
Discussion
The evolution of the C. oxycephala species group appears to be strongly correlated with the zone of tectonic
activity along the boundary of the Paciic and Australian plates, a highly active area of subduction with associated
vulcanism and migrating island arcs (Hill & Hall 2003, Polhemus 2007). The paleogeographic reconstruction
of the southwestern Paciic region by Hall (2002) incorporates a wealth of data that provides a clear picture of
the complex tectonic processes that have shaped the region’s ecology over the past 55 million years. According
to this model (Fig. 14), an almost continuous chain of island-arc terranes extended from the Solomons Group to
North Sulawesi, therefore providing a conduit for dispersal and concomitant speciation possibilities. Although
more research is needed, particularly genetic investigations, there are at least 94 species (G.R. Allen, personal
data), which are endemic to portions of the “Solomons-North Sulawesi conduit”, although only two, Meiacanthus
crinitus Smith-Vaniz 1987 (Blenniidae) and Chrysiptera arnazae Allen, Erdmann & Barber 2010 (Pomacentridae),
have distributions extending over most of the conduit area.
In the case of the C. oxycephala species complex, this conduit appears to have facilitated the wide dispersal
of the ancestral lineage, but localized isolation events have since fostered the evolution of localized species. The
best-studied example of one such event is Cenderawasih Bay, the large (approximately 59,000 km2), horseshoeshaped bay on the north coast of New Guinea that separates the Bird’s Head Peninsula and the main body of the
island. The bay was effectively isolated by a combination of 100 m+ luctuating sea levels and a migrating islandarc fragment (Tosem Block) that slid across the entrance about 2–5 million years ago (Hill & Hall 2003). Although
studies are still continuing, this remarkable hotspot of endemism is home to at least 15 ish species (including
Chrysiptera maurineae) and 18 corals that appear to be endemic (Allen & Erdmann 2012, Wallace et al. 2011).
In addition, genetic studies by Paul Barber (University of California at Los Angeles) and his students (Barber
80
Figure 14. Paleogeographical reconstructions of the southwestern Paciic showing “Solomons-North Sulawesi conduit”
(yellow line), adapted from Hall (2002): A. 29 million years ago (Mya); B. 10 Mya; C. 1 Mya.
81
et al. 2006, Crandall et al. 2008, DeBoer et al. 2008) have documented the presence of local DNA lineages in
Cenderawasih Bay for several molluscs, crustaceans, and echinoderms. In contrast to the apparent diversiication
that has occurred within the C. oxycephala complex along the Solomons-North Sulawesi dispersal conduit, true
C. oxycephala itself remains relatively widespread and is largely restricted to the more tectonically stable seas
of the Sunda Shelf or regions connected to it by contiguous island areas (e.g. the Philippines and Lesser Sunda
Islands). The Palau population is anomalous in this respect, given its geographic isolation from the Indonesian
and Philippine archipelagos, nevertheless there is apparently suficient gene low now or in the recent past to have
prevented any measurable divergence in mitochondrial DNA sequences.
Acknowledgements
The specimens and photographs utilized in this study were accumulated over a long time period and we
therefore give thanks to many persons who assisted us in various capacities during the course of this study. We
are especially grateful to Conservation International (CI), the Indonesian Department of Nature Conservation
(PHKA), and the Walton Family Foundation for sponsoring much of our taxonomic work on ishes of the Bird’s
Head region of Indonesian New Guinea (West Papua Province). We also thank the Paine Family Trust for their
generous support of much of the Indonesian ield work involved in this study. Additionally, we thank owner Craig
Howson and the crew of True North, for their gracious hospitality during cruises to West Papua and Papua New
Guinea from 2012–2014. Rob Vanderloos, owner of Milne Bay Charters, and his staff provided the opportunity
for the irst author to collect and photograph the type series of C. papuensis aboard MV Chertan during December
2014 and August 2015. This work was capably assisted by Roger Steene, who also assisted G.R. Allen on many
earlier trips. We thank William M. Brooks of San Francisco, California for generously providing funding for a
Raja Ampat Islands cruise in February 2015. We also thank Ken and Josephine Wiedenhoeft and the crew of the
MV Putiraja for their support during this trip on which most of the type specimens of C. ellenae were collected.
Bruce Moore, owner of Black Sands Dive Resort at Bitung, Sulawesi, was an excellent host of our visits to that
region. We are also very thankful for the assistance of museum staff members, who provided specimen loans,
registration numbers, and curatorial assistance, including Renny Hadiaty (MZB), Loreen O’Hara and Arnold
Suzumoto (BPBM), Mark McGrouther (AMS), Glenn Moore and Sue Morrison (WAM), Jeff Clayton and Jeff
Williams (USNM), and Erling Holm, Herman Lopez-Fernandez, and Don Stacey (ROM). Information about the
Bleeker type specimens of C. oxycephala was provided by Ronald de Ruiter (RMNH). The staff of the Indonesian
Biodiversity Research Centre (IBRC) at Udayana University, Denpasar, Bali provided excellent support for
the genetic analysis. Financial support for the genetic analysis was provided by the United States Agency for
International Development’s “Supporting Universities to Partner across the Paciic” program (Cooperative
Agreement No. 497-A-00-10-00008-00). Finally, we thank the government and people of West Papua for their
continued enthusiastic support of our exploration of the ish fauna of this very rich center of biodiversity and
home of two of the new species described in this study. The manuscript was reviewed by David Greenield and
Helen A. Randall.
References
Allen, G.R. (1987) Chrysiptera sinclairi, a new species of damselish from the tropical western Paciic Ocean.
Revue française d’Aquariologie, 13 (4), 107–110.
Allen, G.R. (1999) Damselishes of the World. Mergus Press, Hong Kong, 271 pp.
Allen, G.R. & Drew, J.A. (2012) A new species of damselish (Pomacentridae) from Fiji and Tonga. Aqua, Journal
of Ichthyology and Aquatic Biology, 18 (3), 171–180.
Allen, G.R., Drew, J.A. & Kaufmann, L. (2012) Amphiprion barberi, a new species of anemoneish (Pomacentridae)
from Fiji, Tonga and Samoa. Aqua, Journal of Ichthyology and Aquatic Biology,14 (3), 105–114.
Allen, G.R. & Erdmann, M.V. (2012) Reef ishes of the East Indies. Volume II. Tropical Reef Research, Perth,
Australia, pp. 425–856.
82
Allen, G.R., Erdmann, M.V. & Barber, P.H. (2010) A new species of damselish (Chrysiptera: Pomacentridae)
from Papua New Guinea and eastern Indonesia. Aqua, International Journal of Ichthyology, 16 (2), 61–70.
Allen, G.R., Erdmann, M.V. & Kurniasih, E.M. (2015) Chrysiptera caesifrons, a new species of damselish
(Pomacentridae) from the south-western Paciic Ocean. Journal of the Ocean Science Foundation, 15, 16–32.
Aoyagi, H. 1941. One new species of the Pomacentridae, Pisces, from the Palau Islands. Zoological Magazine
Tokyo, 53 (3), 180–181.
Barber, P.B., Erdmann, M.V. & Palumbi, S.R. (2006) Comparative phylogeography of three codistributed
stomatopods: origins and timing of regional lineage diversiication in the Coral Triangle. Evolution, 60 (9),
1825–1839.
Bleeker, P. (1877) Description de quelques espèces inédites de Pomacentroïdes de l’Inde archipélagique. Verslagen
en Mededeelingen der Koninklijke Akademie van Wetenschappen. Afdeeling Natuurkunde (Ser. 2), 10, 384–
391.
Crandall, E.D., Jones, M.E., Munoz, M.M., Akinronbi, B., Erdmann, M.V. & Barber, P.H. (2008) Comparative
phylogeography of two seastars and their ectosymbionts within the Coral Triangle. Molecular Ecology, 17
(24), 5276–5290.
DeBoer, T.S., Subia, M.D., Ambariyanto, Erdmann, M.V., Kovitvongsa, K. & Barber, P.H. (2008) Phylogeography
and limited genetic connectivity in the endangered giant boring clam, Tridacna crocea, across the Coral
Triangle. Conservation Biology, 22 (5), 1255–1266.
Drew, J.A. & Barber, P.H. (2009) Sequential cladogenesis of Pomacentrus moluccensis (Bleeker, 1853) supports
the peripheral origin of marine biodiversity in the Indo-Australian Archipelago. Molecular Phylogenetics and
Evolution, 53, 335–339.
Drew, J.A., Allen, G.R., Kaufman, L. & Barber, P.H. (2008) Regional color and genetic differences demonstrate
endemism in ive putatively cosmopolitan reef ishes. Conservation Biology, 22, 965–975.
Eschmeyer, W.N. & Fricke, R. (Eds.) (2015) Catalog of Fishes (http://researcharchive.calacademy.org/research/
ichthyology/catalog/ishcatmain.asp). Electronic version accessed Dec. 5, 2015.
Fowler, H.W. & Bean, B.A. (1928) Contributions to the biology of the Philippine Archipelago and adjacent
regions. The ishes of the families Pomacentridae, Labridae, and Callyodontidae, collected by the United
States Bureau of Fisheries Steamer “Albatross” chiely in Philippine seas and adjacent waters. Bulletin of the
United States National Museum, 100 (7), 1–525.
Hall, R. (2002) Cenozoic geological and plate tectonic evolution of SE Asia and the SW Paciic: computer-based
reconstructions, model and animations. Journal of Asian Earth Sciences, 20 (4), 353–431.
Hill, K.C. & Hall, R. (2003) Mesozoic-Cenozoic evolution of Australia’s New Guinea margin in a west Paciic
context. In: Hillis, R.R. & Müller, R.D. (Eds.) Evolution and Dynamics of the Australian Plate. Geological
Society of Australia Special Publication 22 & Geological Society of America Special Paper 372, Boulder, CO,
USA, pp. 265–290.
Lee, W.J., Howell, W.H. & Kocher, T.D. (1995) Structure and evolution of teleost mitochondrial control regions.
Journal of Molecular Evolution, 41, 54–66.
Librado, P. & Rozas, J. (2009) DnaSP v5: A software for comprehensive analysis of DNA polymorphism data.
Bioinformatics, 25 (11): 1451–1452.
Liu, S.-Y.V., Dai, C.-F., Allen, G.R. & Erdmann, M.V. (2012) Phylogeography of the neon damselish Pomacentrus
coelestis indicates a cryptic species and different species origins in the West Paciic Ocean. Marine Ecology
Progress Series, 458, 155–167.
Liu, S.-Y. , Ho, H.-C. & Dai, C.-F. (2014) A new species of Pomacentrus (Actinopterygii: Pomacentridae) from
Micronesia, with comments on its phylogenetic relationships. Zoological Studies, 52 (6), 1–8.
Myers, R.F. (1999) Micronesian Reef Fishes. 3rd ed. Coral Graphics, Guam, 330 pp.
Polhemus, D.A. (2007) Tectonic geology of Papua In: Marshall A.J. & Beehler, B.M. (Eds.) The Ecology of
Papua. Part One. Periplus Editions (HK) Ltd., Singapore, pp. 137–164.
83
Smith-Vaniz, W.F. (1987) The saber-toothed blennies, tribe Nemophini (Pisces: Blenniidae): an update.
Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, 139, 1–52.
Snyder, J.O. (1909) Descriptions of new genera and species of ishes from Japan and the Riu Kiu Islands.
Proceedings of the United States National Museum, 36 (1688), 597–610.
Swainson, W. (1839) On the natural history and classiication of ishes, amphibians, & reptiles, or monocardian
animals. Spottiswoode & Co., London, 448 pp.
Tamura, K., Peterson, D., Peterson, N., Stecher, G., Nei, M. & Kumar, S. (2011) MEGA5: Molecular Evolutionary
Genetics Analysis using maximum likelihood, evolutionary distance, and maximum parsimony methods.
Molecular Biology & Evolution, 28, 2731–2739.
Victor, B.C. (2015) How many coral reef ish species are there? Cryptic diversity and the new molecular
taxonomy. In: Mora, C. (Ed.) Ecology of Fishes on Coral Reefs. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge,
United Kingdom, pp. 76–87.
Wallace, C.C., Turak, E. & DeVantier, L. (2011) Novel characters in a conservative coral genus: three new species
of Astreopora (Scleractinia: Acroporidae) from West Papua. Journal of Natural History, 45 (31–32), 1905–
1924.
Walsh, P.S., Metzger, D.A. & Higuchi, R. (1991) Chelex-100 as a medium for simple extraction of DNA for PCRbased typing from forensic material. BioTechniques, 10, 506–513.
Wellington, G.M. & Victor, B.C. (1989) Planktonic larval duration of one hundred species of Paciic and Atlantic
damselishes (Pomacentridae). Marine Biology, 101, 557–567.
84