20 
= total. Caudal vertebrae are defined as those with a haemal spine, 
and include the terminal urostylar complex (which was counted as a 
single vertebra). The pattern of insertion of supraneural (predorsal) 
bones and anterior dorsal-fin pterygiophores within interneural 
spaces is given as an ‘anterior dorsal-fin pterygiophore formula’ 
modified from the “predorsal formula’ of Ahlstrom et al. (1976). 
Each supraneural is represented by an ‘S,’ neural spines are repres- 
ented by slashes, and pterygiophores are represented by °3’ 
(indicating a pterygiophore that bears two supernumerary rays and 
a serially associated ray), ‘2’ (indicating a pterygiophore that bears 
a supernumerary ray and a serially associated ray) or “1” (indicating 
a pterygiophore that bears only a serially associated ray). An 
‘anterior anal-fin pterygiophore formula’ is also presented, and is 
similar to the anterior dorsal-fin pterygiophore formula, except that 
the slashes represent haemal spines. Osteological features were 
determined from x-radiographs and from cleared-and-stained speci- 
mens, which were prepared following the methods of Taylor & Van 
Dyke (1985). 
Counts and measurements are given as values or value ranges for 
all type specimens, followed, where different, by values for the 
holotype in parentheses. Where counts were recorded bilaterally, 
both counts are presented for the holotype, separated by a slash; the 
first count given is the left count. 
Pseudoplesiops immaculatus sp. nov. 
Bearded Dottyback 
Figures 1, 2 
Pseudoplesiops typus [non Bleeker, 1858]; Bleeker, 1875: 31 (in 
part, specimen from Amboina). 
Chilidichthys [sic] sp. 1; Allen & Steene, 1979: 26 (Christmas Island 
and Cocos Keeling Atoll, Indian Ocean). 
Pseudoplesiops revellei [non Schultz, 1953]; Kailola, 1987: 244 
(Papua New Guinea); Allen & Steene, 1988: 180, fig. 145 (Christ- 
mas Island, Indian Ocean); Paxton et al., 1989: 521 (list; Great 
Barrier Reef). 
Pseudoplesiops sp.; Gill in Randall et al., 1990: 131 (description; 
distribution; col. fig.); Randall & Anderson, 1993: 15 (Maldive 
A.C. GILL AND A.J. EDWARDS 
Islands); Gill in Randall et al., 1997: 131 (description; distri- 
bution; col. fig.); Kulbicki & Williams, 1997: 14 (Ouvéa Atoll, 
New Caledonia). 
Pseudoplesiops n. sp.; Allen & Smith-Vaniz, 1994: 10 (Cocos 
(Keeling) Islands). 
Pseudoplesiops sp. 1.; Gill & Edwards, 1999: 144 (list of osteologi- 
cal materials); Gill, 2000: 2560 (key). 
HOLOTYPE. AMS I.20757-069, 29.8 mm SL, Great Barrier Reef, 
W end of Raine Island (11°36'S 144°O1'E), coral gutter, 2-20 m, 
AMS and Australian Institute of Marine Science team, 13 February 
1979. 
PARATYPES. AMS I.17090-043, 1: 26.5 mm SL, Papua New 
Guinea, Madang Harbour, S edge of Massas Island, coral reef, 1.5— 
14 m, B.B. Collette et al., 31 May 1970; AMS I.17094-013, 1: 28.5 
mm SL, Papua New Guinea, Trobriand Islands, N end of Kiriwinna 
Island, 0-5 m, B.B. Collette and B. Goldman, 7 June 1970; AMS 
I.17094-014, 1: 30.4 mm SL, collected with AMS I.17094-013; 
AMS 1I.17096-008, 1: 27.8 mm SL, Papua New Guinea, Trobriand 
Islands, Kiriwinna Island, off N coast of Tawai Point, coral with 
sand patches, 7.5 m, B.B. Collette, 8 June 1970; AMS 1.20756-014, 
1: 25.7 mm SL (subsequently cleared and stained), Great Barrier 
Reef, Great Detached Reef, over coral and sand, 2-8 m, AMS and 
Australian Institute of Marine Science team, 11 February 1979; 
AMS 1I.20756-124, 2: 15-30 mm SL, collected with AMS I.20756- 
014; AMS 1.20757-039, 1: 29.4 mm SL, collected with holotype; 
AMS 1.20757-091, 3: 27.6-30.5 mm SL, collected with holotype; 
AMS 1.20784-040, 2: 17.0-21.9 mm SL, Great Barrier Reef, Yonge 
Reef, 1 mile N of platform, back reef knoll, 1-15 m, D.F. Hoese et 
al., | December 1978; AMS I.21972-004, 1: 31.2 mm SL, Solomon 
Islands, Guadalcanal, 12 km W of Honiara, over wreck, J.E. Randall, 
12 July 1975; AMS 1.22616-044, 1: 20.9 mm SL, Great Barrier 
Reef, Escape Reef, coral reef, 5-18 m, J.R. Paxton et al., 2 Nov- 
ember 1981; AMS I.22619-025, 1: 26.0 mm SL, Great Barrier Reef, 
Escape Reef North (15°49'S 45°50'E), sand slope, coral and sand in 
cave under bommie, 19-22 m, J. Paxton et al., 3 November 1981; 
ANSP 131727, 2: 27.2-27.5 mm SL, Cocos Keeling Islands, West 
Island, off N end outside breakers (12°07'50"S 96°48'55"E), 

Fig. 1 Pseudoplesiops immaculatus, AMS 1.20757-069, 29.8 mm SL, holotype, Raine Island, Great Barrier Reef. (Photo by P. Crabb.) 
