Scarus maculipinna, a new species of parrotfish (Perciformes, Scaridae) from the eastern Indian Ocean

Abstract

The parrotfish Scarus maculipinna is described from 14 specimens from the eastern Indian Ocean, including the Andaman Sea and Mentawai Islands, Sumatra. This species is distinct in having the following combination of characters: 14 pectoral rays, 4 median predorsal scales, and 3 rows of scales on the cheek, the lower row with 1 or 2 scales. In addition, the following features of color pattern are diagnostic: initial phase with body dark dorsally, pale ventrally with 3 narrow white stripes; snout and iris of eye and pectoral fin base yellowish; three distinctive black spots, one on the anterior dorsal fin, one on the anterior anal fin from the third anal spine to the second anal ray, and a small one at the base of the anterior pectoral fin ray; terminal-male phase complexly colored in blue-green, pink, and yellow with dark saddle extending from postorbital region to 4th dorsal spine and slanting anteroventrally to just behind pectoral fin base; head with a broad blue-green stripe on snout that divides to form a branch through upper eye, continuing a short distance beyond, and a branch through lower eye, extending onto opercle; chin and suborbital region pinkish yellow with a short transverse blue-green chin strap; an irregular blue-green zone ventrally on head that continues broadly onto side of chest and anterior abdomen; body blue dorsally posterior to dark saddle, a midlateral blue-green stripe on caudal peduncle that joins a large blue-green crescent in caudal fin. This species is similar to Scarus flavipectoralis and Scarus hypselopterus in features of color pattern, meristics and distribution.