22 
PROCEEDINGS OF THE CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 
Series 4, Volume 65, 28 Sept. 2018, No. 1 
PW’s surprising find of two specimens of an undescribed species in the collection of the Zoolo- 
gische Staatssammlung, when looking at comparative material for the description of Serranus 
pulcher. 
Remarks and comparisons.— PW initially examined the two Angolan specimens of this 
species and noted the slight shape differences between them and specimens of S. heterurus. 
However, almost all other morphological, meristic, and pigmentation characters appeared to fall 
within the range of variation we found in S. heterurus, lending doubt as to the distinctness of the 
two specimens. Poll’s (1954: 72-73, fig. 20) description and accurate illustration of his single spec¬ 
imen from Gabon, which he called Paracentropristis heterurus, appeared to be exactly the same as 
the Angolan specimens, adding to the confusion. Ultimately, we are confident that Poll’s specimen 
and our two Angolan specimens are the same undescribed species. Examination of many other 
specimens that agreed closely with Cadenat’s (1937) original description and illustration of 
S. heterurus brought to light several key features that distinguish S. inexpectatus from S. heteru¬ 
rus. Most notable are the counts of pectoral-fin rays, gill rakers, and scale rows below the origin of 
dorsal fin (see Table 2). A one-ray difference in the count of pectoral-fin rays may seem rather 
insignificant, but the count of 17 rays (including the splintlike uppermost ray) in S. inexpectatus is 
consistent in the type specimens and not found in any of the 12 specimens of S. heterurus we exam¬ 
ined. Meisler (1987: fig. 3) did record a count of 17 rays in 4 fin s (of 22 fins total) in 11 specimens 
of S. heterurus he examined (see Table 2). We were not able to examine his material. Some 
proportional measurements (Table 3) appear to show differences between the two species, but with 
data from only three specimens of the new species, the significance of these differences must be 
substantiated with measurements of many more specimens. A distinct black blotch between the 
anteriormost three or four dorsal-fm spines in S. inexpectatus contrasts with the lack of such blotch 
in S. heterurus (although the distal margin of the spines may be blackish in some individuals of that 
species). In S. inexpectatus the broad band below the last four or five spines falls well behind the 
base of the pectoral fin and leaves a broad pale (or white) band or gap between the fin base and the 
dark band. In contrast, in S. heterurus the dark band below the middle of the spinous dorsal falls 
immediately behind the pelvic-fin base without a pale gap. 
Type specimens.— Angola. Holotype: ZSM 45041 (75 mm SL) and paratype: ZSM 32516 
(79 mm SL); 10°49'S, 13°43'E; 35-36 m; R/V Dr Fridtjof Nansen sta. 30147; 9 March 2003; coll. 
Reinhold Hanel. Gabon. Paratype: RBINS 9534 (73.8 mm TL), 30 miles NW of Mayumba, 
3°11'S, 10°14'E; 25-30 m; Expedition Oceanographique Beige sta. 164; collected with a small 
trawl over rocky bottom (catch included skates); 17 March 1940. 
Serranus ( Paracentropristis ) pulcher Wirtz and Iwamoto, 2016 
Figures 18-21 
Serranus sp. Kuiter, 2004:162 figs. A-D (Sao Tome Comber; photographs taken by Peter Wirtz in Sao Tome) 
Serranus pulcher Wirtz and Iwamoto, 2016:192-199, figs. 1-15 (Sao Tome e Principe; 1-30 m). 
Diagnosis.— D X,12; P 15, rarely 14 or 16; A III,7; gill rakers 6-9+12-14 (19-23 total); pored 
lateral-line scales 42^49; circumpeduncular scales 22-24; scales below origin of first dorsal fin 
5-6. Caudal fin truncate, the upper lobe slightly produced, lower lobe rounded. Dorsal, anal, and 
pectoral fins scaly near base. Anterior nostril tubelike, rim low anteriorly but rising to a high 
narrow flap posteriorly, with 4-6 long cirri at distal tip; posterior nostril a simple opening lacking 
a raised rim. Seven or eight transverse bands on body; lips red with dark bands; a short moustache¬ 
like red streak behind end of maxillary, running across hind margin of dentary and almost meeting 
opposite streak at midventral line and enclosing ivory-white of mandibular rami; another red diag- 
