RESEARCH ARTICLE

Siphamia arnazae, a new species of cardinalfish (Teleostei: Apogonidae) from Papua New Guinea

Gerald R. Allen & Mark V. Erdmann

Abstract

A new species of cardinalfish, Siphamia arnazae, is described from 18 specimens, 15.6-21.4 mm SL, collected in 8-12 m depth at Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea. The new species belongs to the Siphamia tubulata species group, characterized by light-organ pigmentation consisting of dark dots. It is most similar to S. cyanophthalma of the Philippines, eastern Indonesia, Palau, and offshore reefs of northwestern Australia, but differs from all congeners by having a distinctive cats eye black bar through the eye, covering more than the pupil at center, and flanked by white crescents covering the remaining iris. In life, the new species is translucent pale pink to reddish orange with a dense covering of variable-sized orange spots on the head and anterior body.