Liopropoma randalli, a new serranid (Teleostei: Perciformes) fish from the Indian Ocean

Abstract

A new serranid fish, Liopropoma randalli n. sp. is described from four specimens collected from the Indian Ocean off southwestern India and eastern Indonesia. It differs from all other species in the genus in its striking color pattern, a broad black band from behind the eye to the caudal peduncle, semicircular dark-brown to black spots that cover the pink to reddish body, and a combination of the following characters: 46 to 49 lateral line scales; 1–2 (4 as rudiments) + 12–13 (4–5 as rudiments) gill rakers on the first arch (total 17–19); longest dorsal soft ray 2.1–2.3 in head length; 1st anal-fin spine 10.4–12.2 in head length; 2nd anal-fin spine 4.4–4.9 in head length; pelvic fin relatively short, 5.1–5.7 in SL; and body depth 3.2–3.6 in SL.