IWAMOTO: NEW HEMEROCOETINE TRICHONOTIDAE FROM THE PHILIPPINES 253 
Figure 2. Pteropsawn dabfar sp. nov. Holotype (CAS 236400) after preservation in aleohol. (Photograph by Alan E. 
Leviton.) 
rays (last split to base), all but first and last ray 
branched; no elongated rays, height of fin less 
than that of second dorsal fin. Pectoral fin 
broad based, rounded; rays 19 (left) and 17 
(right) (17 for all fins in paratypes). Pelvic fin 
thoracic, origin about under preopercle, well 
anterior to that of pectoral fin, a short fleshy 
spine and 5 segmented rays, first 4 rays 
branched, 4^^ ray longest, its tip extending to 
between 3^^ and 4* anal rays. Caudal fin with 
8 branched rays, posterior margin somewhat 
emarginate, upper rays longer, first branched 
ray of dorsal lobe filamentous (13 mm long). 
Dentition'. Small conical teeth in 2 or 3 
rows in both jaws; inner row of dentary teeth larger than those of outer row(s), retrose anteriorly, 
highly recumbent and directed inwardly along lateral and posterior parts of jaw. Small patch of 
teeth on each side of vomer, the two patches broadly separated mesially. 
Color in life'. Body pale olive with margins of scale pockets on dorsal half irregularly and thin¬ 
ly outlined in black. Small black spots scattered on snout and interorbital and parts of head and dor¬ 
sal body surfaces. Side of body just below midlateral line with six bright metallic-yellow oval 
spots, each spot somewhat larger than eye pupil with bright blue streaks or dashes above and below 
spots. Sides of head marked with bright spots and short dashes of metallic yellow and a dash of 
bright blue under posterior half of orbit and smaller, fainter spots on preopercle. Elongated first 
spinous dorsal ray dull chartreuse near base, becoming black along middle of ray, then bright 
orange distally to tip. Inter-radial membranes of first dorsal fm black. Anal fin more or less char¬ 
treuse anteriorly, becoming orange along posterior two-thirds, with tips of rays dark reddish-orange 
and chartreuse near posterior end of fin. Pectoral fin clear. Second dorsal fin chartreuse on inter- 
radial membranes, but rays themselves blackish. Caudal fm chartreuse at base of fm, dorsal lobe 
blackish, distal tip of uppermost branched rays and filamentous tip black; ventral lobe chartreuse 
at base blending to orange, with distal tips reddish. 
Etymology.— The new species is named for the research vessel MW DA-BFAR of the 
Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Department of Agriculture. 
Remarks and comparisons. — The generic placement of this beautiftil little fish is problem¬ 
atic and symptomatic of the confused state of the generic classification within this hemerocoetine 
group. The genus Hemerocoetes Valenciennes, 1837 has been well characterized by Nelson (1979) 
and can be eliminated as closely related to the new species based on Hemerocoetes lacking a spin¬ 
ous dorsal fm, and having a flap or cirri on the anterior nostril and more rays in the second dorsal 
and anal fins. The genus Acanthaphritis, revised by Suzuki and Nakabo (1996), agrees relatively 
Figure 3. Pteropsawn dabfar sp. nov. Holotype (CAS 
236400) ventrolateral view of snout region to show barbel 
(barb), anterior nostril (a.n.), and maxillary spine (r.s.). 
