Description of a New Lutianid Fish from the Ryukyu Islands

抄録

Three species of lutianid fishes of the genus Paracaesio, namely, P. caeruleus (KATAYAMA), P. kusakarii ABE and P. tumidus (TANAKA), are important food-fishes in Japan and Ryukyu Islands. In addition to these species, there occurs another congener in Ryukyu, and, though not commonly met with, it is known as “ Hingashitchu^* ” among a few experienced fish-dealers in the island of Okinawa, one of the Ryukyus. In 1960, the junior author suggested without giving it a new scientific name that the “ Hinga-shitchu ” might represent a new species, and since passed on the specimens of this fish to the senior author who has access in Tokyo to thousands (of caeruleus) or hundreds (of kusakarii and tumidus) of individuals of the three congeners mentioned above in a year. As these members of Paracaesio are subject to considerable individual variation in the shape of the body, coloration, size and arrangement of teeth, etc. (probably correlated with the sexes at least partly), and as the number of the specimens of the “ Hinga-shitchu ” available is so small, it took some time before the present authors have been led to the conclusion that a new scientific name should be given to the “ Hinga-shichu ” and that it is very closely related to Apsilus fuscus^** KLUNZINGER (not of VALENCLENES, 1830) known from Red Sea and Paracaesio xanthurus (BLEEKER) from the East Indies.