A new species of Damselfish 
285 
rows in paratypes), rear margin narrowly naked; 
dorsal and anal fins with a basal scaly sheath; 
proximal two-thirds of caudal fin covered by 
scales; paired fins covered by scales only at base; 
axillary scale of pelvic fins about two-thirds length 
of pelvic spine. 
Tubed lateral-line scales ending below posterior 
spines of dorsal fin; pits or pores present on 4 (4-6) 
scales immeditely posterior to last tubed; a series 
of 9 (8) pored or pitted scales mid-laterally on 
caudal peduncle to caudal base. 
Origin of dorsal fin at level of second tubed scale 
of lateral line; spines of dorsal fin gradually 
increasing in length to about sixth spine, remaining 
spines slightly decreasing in length; membrane 
between spines slightly incised; first dorsal spine 
1.7 (1.9-2.0) in second dorsal spine; second dorsal 
spine 1.5 (1.2-1.6) in sixth dorsal spine; sixth dorsal 
spine 1.9 (2.0-2.3) in head; longest soft dorsal ray 
1.4 (1.4-1.8) in head; length of dorsal fin base 1.5 
(1.5-1.8) in standard length; first anal spine 2.5 
(2.1-2.4) in second anal spine; second anal spine 
2.1 (2.1-2.3) in head; longest soft anal ray 1.3 (1.2- 
1.5) in head; base of anal fin 2.2 (2.2-2.3) in base of 
dorsal fin; caudal fin emarginate with rounded 
lobes, its length 1.1 (1.0-1.2) in head length; 
pectoral fin relatively short, just reaching a vertical 
through origin of anal fin, the longest ray 1.1 (1.1- 
1.3) in head length; filamentous tips of pelvic fins 
reaching well beyond origin of anal fin, the longest 
ray 0.9 in head length. 
Colour of holotype in alcohol: overall white to 
yellow white with three broad black bars as 
follows: one on head passing through eye, its 
maximum width 1.7 (1.9) in head length; one at 
level of spinous dorsal fin, tapered ventrally; one 
extending to belly, but not encircling body, its 
maximum width 1.2 (1.4—1.6) in head length; one 
just anterior to caudal peduncle covering most of 
soft dorsal fin and extending onto rear portion of 
anal fin, its maximum width 1.5 (1.4) in head 
length; dorsal and anal fins translucent to whitish, 
except where interrupted by black bars; remaining 
fins translucent to whitish except inner portion of 
pelvics slightly dusky. The paratypes have a 
similar coloration. 
Colour in life: overall white with three black bars 
as described above. 
Remarks 
This species is closely related to C. tricincta (Allen 
and Randall 1974), which has an apparent anti- 
tropical distribution in the western Pacific Ocean; 
it occurs from Samoa to the Coral Sea in the South 
Pacific and from Taiwan to southern Japan in the 
North Pacific. Although C. kuiteri is presently 
known only from Sri Lanka and Bali, further 
collecting in the eastern Indian Ocean will probably 
reveal a more widespread distribution. Its presence 
at Bali is not unexpected, as many Indian Ocean 
"vagrants" have been sighted there (Allen and 
Kuiter personal observations between 1986-1993). 
Colour pattern differences are the main means of 
separation for these two species. The three black 
bars of C. kuiteri are consistently wider than those 
of C. tricincta. This discrepancy is particularly 
evident when comparing the pair of bars on the 
body. The maximum width of the first body bar 
(below spinous dorsal fin) of C. kuiteri is wider 
than the maximum width of the white interspace 
between the two body bars, at least dorsally. 
Conversely, in C. tricincta the maximum width of 
the white interspace is considerably wider than the 
first body bar. Similarly, the last bar of C. kuiteri is 
much broader than the white area of the caudal 
peduncle. This bar on C. tricincta is about equal in 
Figure 2 Underwater photograph of C. tricincta, approximately 38 mm SL, Coral Sea. 
