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

Abstract

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