Descriptions of two new species of bodianus (perciformes: Labridae) from australasian waters

Abstract

Two new species of the labrid genus Bodianus are described from deep shelf and upper slope waters of eastern Australia, New Zealand, and the submarine ridges south-east and south-west of New Caledonia. Bodianus flavipinnis sp. nov., living in shelf waters of eastern Australia and New Zealand, is most similar to B. unimaculatus and other species of the B. oxycephalus complex, differing from them most noticeably in lacking prominent broken red stripes in both adult stages. Bodianus flavifrons sp. nov., found on slopes of submarine ridges, is closely related to B. frenchii of southern Australian waters. It differs from that species in having distinctive broad yellow bands on the head. The new species and their close relatives constitute the subgenus Bodianus (Verreo), with a subtropical to warm temperate distribution. A key to the species of the subgenus is provided. © 2001 The Royal Society of New Zealand.