Records of the anthiine fish Plectranthias sheni from Japan and proposal of a new standard Japanese name

Abstract

Ten specimens (87.8–126.5 mm standard length) of the anthiine fish Plectranthias sheni Chen and Shao, 2002, previously known from Taiwan, were collected off islands in Kagoshima Prefecture, southern Japan, the first reliable records of the species in Japanese waters. The species is characterized by the following combination of characters: X, 17–18 dorsal-fin rays; 13 pectoral-fin rays, uppermost unbranched; 32–33 pored lateral-line scales; 4.5 scale rows above lateral line; 5 oblique scale rows on cheek; 17–18 gill rakers; third dorsal-fin spine longest; caudal fin emarginate; body reddish-pink with upper and lower series of blotches on lateral surface, upper series of blotches (below dorsal-fin base) barely extending below lateral line, posterior portion of lower series usually forming a broad stripe. The new standard Japanese name ‘Kiobi-izuhanadai’’ is proposed for the species.