The Pacific Species of the Clinid Fish Genus Paraclinus

Abstract

The New World genus Paraclinus contains 19 known species, 11 in the Pacific and 8 in the Atlantic. Four new Pacific species are named here. P. tanygnathus n. sp., P. magdalenae n. sp., P. stephensi n. sp., and P. ditrichus n. sp. can be distinguished on the basis of meristics, color pattern, and details of squamation. Several of the species of Paraclinus are partially isolated by differential bathymetric ranges. Most notable in this regard are P. altivelis and P. magdalenae, which are known only from moderate depths (25-100 ft). Four species of Paraclinus, P. altivelis, P. magdalenae, P. ditrichus, and P. walkeri have restricted ranges, being known from one or a few localities. At the other extreme, P. mexicanus is taken throughout the Panamic faunal province. Ten species are known to occur in the northern part of the Panamic province and three in the southern; part of the disparity may be due to lack of collecting in Central America and northern South America. P. integripinnis zacae and P. mexicanus cleophensis are regarded as synonymous with the respective nominate subspecies. Although certain species groups of Paraclinus may be discerned, none merit subgeneric rank, and relationships between groups are unclear.