Parapercis colemani, a new pinguipedid fish from Norfolk Island, south‐western Pacific Ocean

Abstract

Parapercis colemani is described as a new species of pinguipedid fish from a single female collected at 1.5 m depth in the lagoon of Norfolk Island. It belongs to a group of species of the genus which lack palatine teeth, and have three canine teeth on each side at the front of the lower jaw, five dorsal spines with the fourth longest, and the last interspinous membrane joining the first dorsal soft ray above the base of the first ray. In addition to its colour pattern, P. colemani differs from other species in this group in having 57–58 lateral‐line scales, 6 scales above the lateral line, 3 + 11 gill rakers, penultimate dorsal and anal rays the longest, pelvic fins not reaching anus, and caudal fin with a rounded lower half and emarginate upper half with a short prolonged upper lobe.

Keywords:

• new species
• Pinguipedidae
• Parapercis
• Mugiloididae
• Norfolk Island