Description of a new perchlet, Chelidoperca formosa, from southwestern Taiwan (Peciformes: Serranidae)

A new perchlet species is described on the basis of four specimens collected from southwestern Taiwan. It is similar to congeners with relatively few lateral-line scales (35-38) and can be distinguished by having third to sixth dorsal-fin spines notably long; eighth and ninth dorsal-fin spines notably short; developed gill rakers 1 + 7-8; scale rows between lateral line and sixth dorsal-fin spine 4 (the dorsalmost half-sized); tip of upper corner of caudal fin reddish; four reddish bands midlaterally on body with groups of melanophores in these bands. DNA barcoding analysis reveals the new species is a distinct lineage and closest to Chelidoperca microdon. The average interspecific genetic distance calculated by the K2P model is 15.4%, whereas the mean distance from the new species to C. microdon is 18.3%. The inferred phylogenetic tree supports monophyly of Chelidoperca. Including the new species, six nominal species of Chelidoperca are recognized in Taiwanese waters.