Canthigaster caeruleolineata, a new species of toby (Teleostei: Tetraodontidae) from La Réunion, southwestern Indian Ocean

Fricke R., Wickel J., Pinault M., Nicet J.B., Delrieu-Trottin E.

Published date: December 2021
Volume: 45
Number: 4
Pagination: 257-264
doi: https://doi.org/10.26028/cybium/2021-454-001
Notes:

Corresponding author: Ronald Fricke, ronfricke@web.deronald.fricke@smns-bw.de

How to cite: Fricke, R., Wickel, J., Pinault, M., Nicet, J.-B., & Delrieu-Trottin, E. (2021). Canthigaster caeruleolineata, a new species of toby (Teleostei: Tetraodontidae) from La Réunion, southwestern Indian Ocean. Cybium, 45(4): 257-264. https://doi.org/10.26028/CYBIUM/2021-454-001

Abstract

The Blue-lined toby Canthigaster caeruleolineata n. sp. is described from the southeast coast of La Réunion, southwestern Indian Ocean, based on a single specimen that may have originated from a deep reef habitat. The species is distinguished within the genus by the few short, oblique blue streaks on the dorsal half of the body, and is characterised as follows: dorsal-fin rays 8; anal-fin rays ca. 7; pectoral-fin rays 15; caudal-fin rays (i) 10 (1); vertebrae 9 + 7 = 16 [damaged]; dorsal-fin origin anterior to anal-fin origin; dorsal half of body greyish brown with relatively few short, oblique blue streaks which are also present in the region between the occiput and the dorsal-fin base, lower part of caudal peduncle with yellow spots; eye yellow; dorsal and anal fins yellow; pectoral fins translucent; caudal fin yellowish grey, with 7 irregular, vertical, wavy blue lines. A molecular analysis revealed that the new species is closely related to C. aziz from deep reefs of the Red Sea.

Keywords: Blue-lined toby - distribution - New species - Pufferfishes
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