RESEARCH ARTICLE

Three new records of coastal fishes in the Hawaiian Islands

Erik C. Franklin, Andrew E. Gray & Bruce C. Mundy

Abstract

We document three new records of coastal fish species for the Hawaiian Islands: the Orange-lined Triggerfish Balistapus undulatus (Balistidae), the Masked Bannerfish Heniochus monoceros (Chaetodontidae), and the Spotted Sand Bass Paralabrax maculatofasciatus (Serranidae). The record of B. undulatus could be a biogeographic waif from the northern Line Islands or an aquarium fish release. Heniochus monoceros is a common ornamental species and, as it has not been observed at Johnston Atoll or the northern Line Islands, was probably an aquarium fish release. We suggest that P. maculatofasciatus may have been introduced via maritime shipping from southern California through either ballast water or a sea chest. There is no evidence that these species have established populations in the Hawaiian Islands; thus, they should not be considered part of the resident coastal fish fauna at this time.