442 
G.R. Allen and Susan M. Morrison 
raker counts (8-9 developed rakers), fin shapes 
(relatively low dorsal and anal with slightly 
rounded caudal), and preopercle serration 
(moderate serrae on margin and smooth ridge). 
Furthermore, they both possess a silvery abdomen 
and a similar pattern of three dark lines radiating 
from the eye. They differ markedly, however, in 
overall colour pattern. Afuscomaculatus has large 
dark spots on the side of the body compared to 
about 10 narrow bars on the side of A. striatus. 
Apogon melanopus (Weber 1911) of north-western 
Australia and the Aru Islands and A. 
fuscomaculatus exhibit similar patterns of large 
spots on the side of the body, but the former 
species differs in having a dark bar below the first 
dorsal fin, intensely black pelvic fins, serrae on the 
preopercular ridge, at least 14 developed gill rakers 
on the first arch, and an emarginate caudal fin. 
Apogon fusovatus Allen (1985) is a junior synonym 
of A. melanopus. 
The species is named fuscomaculatus (Latin: 
"dusky-spotted") in reference to the dominant 
colour pattern feature. 
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 
We thank Helen Larson and Rex Williams of 
NTM for informing us of the existence of this 
species and providing loan material. 
REFERENCES 
Fraser, T.H. (1972). Comparative osteology of the 
shallow water cardinal fishes (Perciformes: 
Apogonidae) with reference to the systematics and 
evolution of the family. Ichthyological Bulletin of the 
J.L.B. Smith Institute of Ichthyology 34: 1-105. 
Radcliffe, L. (1912). Descriptions of fifteen new fishes of 
the family Cheilodipteridae, from the Philippine 
Islands and contiguous waters. Proceedings of the 
United States National Museum 41: 431-446. 
Randall, J.E., Fraser, T.H. and Lachner, E.A. (1990). On 
the validity of the Indo-Pacific cardinalfishes Apogon 
aureus (Lacepede) and A. fleurieu (Lacepede), with 
description of a related new species from the Red 
Sea. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 
103: 39-62. 
Weber, M. (1911) Die Fische der Aru- und Kei- Inseln. 
Ein Beitrag zur Zoogeographie dieser Inseln. 
Abhandlungen der Senckenbergischen Naturforschenden 
Gesellschaft. Frankfurt 34: 1-49. 
Manuscript received 29 May 1995; accepted 18 December 
1995. 
