TWO NEW SPECIES OF PSEUDOPLESIOPS 
LIVE COLORATION. (Based on colour photographs of the holotype 
from the Great Barrier Reef, and of paratypes and other specimens 
from the Great Barrier Reef, Loyalty Islands, Solomon Islands, 
Vanuatu, Christmas Island and Taiwan) 
Head and body pinkish or yellowish brown to olive or bright 
green, sometimes becoming pinkish to orangish brown on snout, lips 
and intermandibular flap; iris pale yellow to green or brown, some- 
times with reddish grey to pink area around pupil; dorsal and anal 
fins yellowish, pinkish or orangish brown to olive or bright green, 
becoming paler distally, with bluish grey to bright blue distal 
margin, sometimes with broad pale orange to yellow stripe 
submarginally; bluish grey to pale blue spot or streak at base of 
alternate dorsal- and anal-fin rays; caudal fin yellowish or pinkish 
brown to olive or bright green; pectoral fins pinkish, greenish or 
yellowish hyaline; pelvic fins pale pink or olive to bright green, 
usually bluish grey to pale blue anteriorly and distally. 
PRESERVED COLORATION 
Head and body pale brown, slightly darker on dorsal part of head and 
body, and on lips and intermandibular flap; fins pale brown to 
brownish hyaline; bluish grey to blue spots and distal margins of 
dorsal and anal fins described above become greyish brown. 
HABITAT AND DISTRIBUTION 
This species is distributed from the Maldive Islands, east and south 
to Vanuatu, and north to Taiwan. It has been collected from a variety 
of reef habitats, from shallow patch reefs to reef walls at depths 
ranging to at least 20 m (with some collections perhaps from as deep 
as 40 m). 
COMPARISONS WITH OTHER SPECIES 
Pseudoplesiops immaculatus has been confused with P. revellei 
Schultz, a Pacific Plate endemic (sensu Springer, 1982). The two 
species closely resemble each other in morphometric and meristic 
values, and both possess a prominent intermandibular flap (Fig. 2), 
although this may be weakly developed or absent in small specimens 
(smaller than about 18 mm SL). A low intermandibular ridge or 
weak flap may be present in certain other pseudochromid species 
(e.g., Chlidichthys cacatuoides, see Gill & Randall, 1994; 
Pseudoplesiops occidentalis, Fig. 4), but only in P. immaculatus and 
23 
P. revellei is it well-developed. On the basis of this synapomorphy, 
we suggest that the two species are sister taxa. They are distin- 
guished from each other by a single coloration character: P. revellei 
has a large, dark brown to black spot on the operculum, which is 
absent in P. immaculatus. 
REMARKS 
Colour photographs of the species have been published by Allen & 
Steene (1988; as P. revellei), and Randall et al., (1990, 1997 - as P. 
sp.). 
ETYMOLOGY 
The specific epithet is from the Latin, meaning without a spot, and 
alludes to the sole character distinguishing P. immaculatus from its 
sister species. 
Pseudoplesiops occidentalis sp. nov. 
Maldives Dottyback 
Figures 3, 4 
Clinus sp.; Regan, 1902: 276 (description; Haddumati, Maldive 
Islands). 
Pseudoplesiops sp.; Randall & Anderson, 1993: 15, pl. 3e (Maldive 
Islands; col. fig.). 
Pseudoplesiops sp. 1; Kuiter, 1998: 77 (habitat notes; colour photo). 
HOLOTYPE. BPBM 32926, 24.9 mm SL, Maldive Islands, South 
Malé Atoll, Maaniyafushi Island, reef, 25-30 m, J.E. Randall, C. 
Anderson and M.S. Adam, 17 March 1988. 
PARATYPES. AMS 1.41004-001, 1: 21.3 mm SL (subsequently 
cleared and stained), collected with holotype; BMNH 1901.12.31.77, 
1: 26.2 mm SL, Maldive Islands, Haddummati Atoll (= Haddumati), 
72 m, J.S. Gardiner; BPBM 32871, 2: 16.7—26.5 mm SL, Maldive 
Islands, Ari Atoll, E side of reef N of Bathala Island, rubble bottom, 
35 m, J.E. Randall and M.S. Adam, 6 March 1988. 
DIAGNOSIS 
Pseudoplesiops occidentalis is distinguished from all other pseudo- 
plesiopines in having the following combination of characters: 
dorsal-fin rays II,23; scales in lateral series 26—28; and scales with 
distinct centres and radii in all fields. 

Fig. 3 Pseudoplesiops occidentalis, BPBM 32926, 24.9 mm SL, holotype, South Malé Atoll, Maldive Islands. (Photo by P. Crabb.) 
