Halichoeres zulu, a new labrid fish from South Africa

Halichoeres zulu is described as a new species of labrid fish from inshore on rocky bottom or shallow reefs of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa from four specimens, 79-135 mm standard length. Formerly misidentified as the similar H. nebulosus, a common sympatric species that ranges to the western Pacific...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inSmithiana. Bulletin no. 11; pp. 17 - 23
Main Authors Randall, JE, King, DR
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published 05.02.2010
Subjects
Halichoeres
Marine
PSW, South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal
ISW, Indian Ocean
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Summary:Halichoeres zulu is described as a new species of labrid fish from inshore on rocky bottom or shallow reefs of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa from four specimens, 79-135 mm standard length. Formerly misidentified as the similar H. nebulosus, a common sympatric species that ranges to the western Pacific (here extended to Palau), it differs in colour and in attaining a larger size. It is also a close relative of H. margaritaceus, a widely distributed Pacific and eastern Indian Ocean species. Although sharing a unique colour pattern on the cheek, it differs from H. margaritaceus in body colouration, a strongly modal count of 14 compared to 13 pectoral rays, and in reaching larger size.
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ISSN:1684-4130