Corresponding author: Carole C. Baldwin (
Academic editor: N. Bogutskaya
Collecting reef-fish specimens using a manned submersible diving to 300 m off Curaçao, southern Caribbean, is resulting in the discovery of numerous new fish species. The new
Baldwin CC, Robertson RD (2014) A new
Submersible diving to 300 m off Curaçao in the southern Caribbean as part of the Smithsonian Institution’s Deep Reef Observation Project (DROP) is expanding our knowledge of the deep-reef Caribbean fish fauna (
The manned submersible
Tissue samples for DNA Barcoding were stored in saturated salt-DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide) buffer (
The label for each entry on the neighbor-joining tree is an assigned DNA number, and we include that number in the designation of type specimens and in some figure captions. Abbreviations used in DNA numbers are as follows: –Bahamas –Belize –Curacao –Florida Straits –Florida Wildlife Research Institute –Moorea Biocode Project –Matthew Craig – –Moorea Deep Reef –Tobago
The neighbor-joining tree (
Neighbor-joining tree derived from COI sequences for western Atlantic
Average (and range) Kimura two–parameter distance summary for species of western Atlantic
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W. Atl. | W. Atl. | W. Atl. | Indo-Pacific | W. Atl. | W. Atl. | W. Atl. | W. Atl. | W. Atl. | W. Atl. | Indo-Pacific | W. Atl. | W. Atl. | |
(n=6) | (n=9) | (n=1) | (n=2) | (n=9) | (n=9) | (n=12) | (n=3) | (n=1) | (n=1) | (n=1) | (n=1) | (n=1) | |
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14.6 (14.2–15.2) |
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10.5 (10.2–10.8) | 15.1 (14.8–15.6) |
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14.8 (14.6–15.1) | 16.4 (16.1–16.9) | 14 (14.0–14.1) |
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12.2 (11.9–12.5) | 8.6 (8.2–9.1) | 13.5 (13.4–13.9) | 15.5 (15.3–15.8) |
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11.8 (11.5–12.1) | 13.6 (13.4–14.2) | 13 (12.8–13.1) | 14.7 (14.4–14.9) | 13.3 (13.0–13.7) |
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11.9 (11.5–12.4) | 10.5 (10.1–10.9) | 12.9 (12.8–13.3) | 15.8 (15.3–16) | 5.7 (5.3–6.0) | 12.5 (12.2–13.2) |
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16.2 (16.0–16.7) | 17.6 (17.1–18.4) | 15.2 (15.0–15.6) | 16.4 (16.0–16.9) | 15.5 (14.8–16.5) | 13.3 (13.0–13.5) | 16.4 (15.9–17.6) |
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16.1 (15.8–16.4) | 17.6 (17.1–18.4) | 15.2 (15.0–15.6) | 16.4 (16.0–16.9) | 13.9 (13.8–14.1) | 13.4 (13.4–13.5) | 13.8 (13.7–14.3) | 16.2 (15.9–16.9) |
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16.8 (16.5–17) | 15.4 (15.2–15.7) | 15.4 (-) | 16 (15.9–16.1) | 14.8 (14.6–14.9) | 15.2 (15.1–15.4) | 14.6 (14.5–14.8) | 16.4 (16.2–16.7) | 13.7 (-) |
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18.6 (18.3–18.8) | 17.9 (17.7–18.4) | 18 (-) | 17 (16.9–17.1) | 18.1 (18.0–18.5) | 18.9 (18.7–18.9) | 18 (17.8–18.3) | 20.8 (20.5–21.5) | 19.8 (-) | 15.9 (-) |
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17.3 (17.1–17.5) | 17.9 (17.9–18.1) | 14.8 (-) | 15.4 (15.4–15.5) | 16.8 (16.6–17) | 18.6 (18.4–18.6) | 17.4 (17.2–17.5) | 17.5 (17.5–17.6) | 18.9 (-) | 16.8 (-) | 13.2 (-) |
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21.4 (21.2–21.5) | 21.6 (21.4–22) | 20.9 (-) | 19.8 (19.7–19.8) | 19.7 (19.5–20.4) | 20.8 (20.8) | 20.3 (20.2–20.6) | 24.5 (24.4–24.8) | 19.2 (-) | 20.7 (-) | 19.5 (-) | 19.6 (-) |
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Curaçao, southern Caribbean
USNM 426811, 116 mm SL, DNA #CUR 13253,
A liopropomin serranid with the following combination of characters: dorsal fin VIII,13; anal fin III, 8; pectoral fin 15; total gill rakers on first arch (including rudiments) 20–21; lateral-line scales 47–48; length of first dorsal spine 2.9–4.2% SL; margin of spinous dorsal fin moderately indented posteriorly in adults (fourth spine 11–12% SL, fifth and sixth spines only slightly shorter than fourth—6.9–10% SL); depth at origin of dorsal fin 23–26% SL; least depth of caudal peduncle 11–13% SL; orbit diameter 9.4–12% SL; yellow-orange stripe externally on upper lip; series of approximately 13 white, chevron-shaped markings on ventral portion of trunk; reddish-black blotch on distal portion of lower caudal-fin lobe; inhabiting depths of 182–241 m.
Counts and measurements of holotype, if different from those of paratypes, are given in parentheses. Dorsal-fin rays VIII, 13; anal-fin rays III, 8; pectoral-fin rays (both sides) 15; pelvic-fin rays I, 5; principal caudal-fin rays 9+8=17; procurrent caudal-fin rays 9+9=18; pored lateral-line scales 48 (47), two additional pored scales present on base of caudal fin not included in total count; scales from lateral line to dorsal-fin origin 3 or 4 (3); gillrakers on first arch, including rudiments, 6+14-15 (6+14); upper limb with 3 rudiments + 3 rakers, lower limb with 11-13 rakers + 2-3 rudiments, total 20–21 (20); vertebrae 10 + 14.
Body proportions expressed as percentage of SL. Body depth at origin of dorsal fin 23–26 (26); body width just behind gill opening 11–14 (14); head length 37–39 (37); snout length 7.4–9.1 (9.1), relative length increasing with increasing SL; orbit diameter 9.4–12 (9.4) relative diameter decreasing with increasing SL; bony interorbital width 4.5–5.5 (5.5); upper-jaw length 16–18 (18); greatest depth of maxilla 5.0–6.1 (6.1); least caudal-peduncle depth 11–13 (13); caudal-peduncle length 22–24 (23); lengths of dorsal-fin spines: (I) 2.9–4.2 (4.2); (II) 11–12 (12); (III) 13–15 (14); (IV) 11–12 (11); (V) 6.9–10 (10); (VI) 6.9–8.2 (8.2); (VII) 5.0–7.5 (7.5); (VIII) 4.8–6.9 (6.9); longest dorsal soft ray the 11th, length 15–20 (20); length of 3rd anal-fin spine 6.9–9.3 (9.3); longest anal soft ray the 5th, length 15–17 (16); caudal-fin length 23–28 (23), relative length decreasing with increasing SL; pectoral-fin length 27–30 (27), fin reaching vertical between anus and origin of anal fin, falling short of anal fin in all specimens; pelvic-fin length 18–20 (19), fin reaching vertical through base of 6th dorsal-fin spine, well short of anus.
Interorbital region flat to slightly convex; mouth oblique, maxilla reaching vertical beyond posterior border of pupil; prominent bony projection on posteroventral corner of maxilla; lower jaw slightly projecting. Anterior nostril in thin, membranous tube, nostril situated just posterior to groove between tip of snout and premaxilla; posterior nostril a simple opening, nostril situated close to orbit (the distance approximately 1.5 nostril diameters). Lateral line strongly arched above pectoral fin, highest point below fourth and fifth dorsal-fin spines.
Trunk covered with ctenoid scales, scales becoming weakly ctenoid anteriorly and cycloid on head. Head fully scaled except over branchiostegal area. Holotype with short column of scales on dorsal-fin spines III and IV, scales on basal portion of membranes between spines VI and VIII, three rows of scales covering basal portion of soft dorsal fin, and some scales extending distally onto soft dorsal-fin membranes; paratypes with same squamation except no scales present on spinous dorsal fin, and 42.0-mm SL paratype having only basal scale rows on soft dorsal fin. In holotype and larger paratype, anal fin with two or three rows of scales basally and additional scales that extend distally onto fin membranes and cover most of fin. In smaller paratype, scales confined to basal portion of fin. Caudal fin completely scaled in holotype except for distal tips of rays; larger paratype with scales covering only proximal half of fin; smaller paratype with scales confined to basal portion of fin. Scales present on pectoral-fin base, and elongate scales present on proximal portion of fin. Scales present on pelvic-fin base and on proximal portion of fin; pelvic axillary scales present.
Jaw teeth small and depressible; upper and lower jaws with bands of villiform teeth, bands widest anteriorly, largest teeth in innermost row. Vomer with a chevron-shaped patch of small teeth. Palatines with several rows of small teeth in a long, narrow band. Opercle with three flattened spines, only the middle one conspicuous. Margin of upper limb of preopercle and angle with small serrations, lower limb smooth.
Prior to preservation (
In alcohol (see
Known only from Curaçao, southern Caribbean.
Off Curaçao,
In-situ photograph of
The specific name honors Roger Sant, who participated in the
“Spot-tail golden bass” is in reference to the dark spot on the lower lobe of the caudal fin, which, along with other characters, distinguishes
Counts and measurements of the three western Atlantic “golden basses” collected off Curaçao,
Comparison of the three species of “golden basses” off Curaçao and
Selected counts and measurements for the type series of
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Museum Catalog Numbers | USNM 426811 Holotype | USNM 426813 Paratype | USNM 414824 Paratype | See |
See |
SL (mm) | 116 | 76.2 | 42.0 | 53.2-84.3 | 64.8-116 |
Dorsal Fin | VIII, 13 | VIII, 13 | VIII, 13 | IX, 11 | VIII, 12 |
Pectoral Fin | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14-15 | 14 |
Gill Rakers on First Arch | 6+14=20 | 6+14=20 | 6+15=21 | 5-6+12-13=17-19 | 5-6+11-13=17-18 |
Orbit diameter | 9.4 | 10 | 12 | 7.8–9.4 | 7.4–8.7 |
Body depth at dorsal-fin origin | 26 | 25 | 23 | 20–24 | 27–29 |
Least depth of caudal peduncle | 13 | 13 | 11 | 13–15 | 16–17 |
Length of dorsal-fin spine IV | 11 | 11 | 12 | 9.7–12 | 8.1–9.7 |
Length of dorsal-fin spine V | 9.5 | 10 | 6.9 | 8.3–9.3 | 3.7–5.6 |
Length of dorsal-fin spine VI | 8.2 | 7.9 | 6.9 | 7.3–8.9 | 3.6–5.6 |
Summary of differences in morphology and depth ranges among the three golden-colored
Character |
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Relative body depth | Shallow (23–26% SL) | Shallow (20–24% SL) | Deeper (27–29% SL) |
Dorsal fin indentation | Moderate (6th spine 7–8% SL) | Weak (6th spine 7–9% SL) | Strong (6th spine 4–6% SL) |
Dorsal-fin rays | VIII, 13 | IX, 11 | VIII, 12 |
Gill rakers on first arch | 20–21 | 17–19 | 17–18 |
Orbit diameter (% SL) | 9.4–12 | 7.8–9.4 | 7.4–8.7 |
White flank chevrons | yes | no | no |
Body ground colors | yellow over white | yellow over white | yellow over orange |
Yellow stripe through eye | no | yes | yes |
Yellow-orange upper lip | yes | no | no |
Yellow spots on body | no | adult & juvenile | juvenile only |
Dark spot on lower caudal-fin lobe | yes | no | no |
Depth range (m) | 181–241 | 133–193 | 98–149 |
Curaçao and Bahamas
Dorsal-fin counts of western Atlantic
SPINES | SOFT RAYS | ||||||
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VIII | IX | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | |
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1 As noted by
Counts of
Comparison of
A combination of morphological and genetic differences supports the recognition of
Depth distributions of western Atlantic
The strict consensus of a maximum parsimony analysis of the COI region among western Atlantic
The COI data provide excellent support for the monophyly of species of western Atlantic
Conversely, the sister species
The phylogeny (
Of the three western Atlantic species of
Specimens, color images, or both, were examined of all western Atlantic liopropomin material listed in the
For contributing in various ways to this project, we thank the following (in alphabetical order): Bruce Brandt, Barry Brown, Cristina Castillo, Patrick Colin, Matthew Craig, Tico Christiaan, Dave Johnson, Rob Loendersloot, Dan Mulcahy, Diane Pitassy, Sandra Raredon, Rob Robins, Laureen Schenk, Adriaan Schrier, Ian Silver-Gorges, Raymond Simpson, Jennifer Strotman, Laura Tancredi, Barbara van Bebber, Lee Weigt. Victor Springer provided helpful comments on a draft of the manuscript. Funding for the Smithsonian Institution’s
Links between DNA voucher specimens, GenBank accession numbers, and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) sequences of
Catalog Number/DNA Number | GenBank No. | GenSeq Designation |
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USNM 426811, CUR 13253, Holotype |
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Geneseq-1 COI |
USNM 426813, CUR 13280, Paratype |
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genseq-2 COI |
USNM 414824, CUR 12314, Paratype |
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genseq-2 COI |
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USNM 426805, CUR 13200, Holotype |
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genseq-1 COI |
USNM 406130, CUR 11130, Paratype |
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genseq-2 COI |
USNM 414828, CUR 12060, Paratype |
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genseq-2 COI |
USNM 426808, CUR 13225, Paratype |
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genseq-2 COI |
USNM 426809, CUR 13227, Paratype |
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genseq-2 COI |
USNM 426810, CUR 13244, Paratype |
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genseq-2 COI |
USNM 426815, CUR 13290, Paratype |
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genseq-2 COI |
USNM 422698, CUR13106, Paratype |
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genseq-2 COI |
USNM 426868, FLST 5001, Paratype (larva) |
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USNM 406001, CUR 11001 |
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genseq-4 COI |
USNM 406025, CUR 11025 |
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genseq-4 COI |
USNM 426806, CUR 13218 |
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genseq-4 COI |
USNM 426807, CUR 13226 |
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genseq-4 COI |
USNM 426814, CUR 13259 |
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genseq-4 COI |
USNM 426812, CUR 13260 |
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genseq-4 COI |
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USNM 406374, CUR 11374 |
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genseq-4 COI |
USNM 414825, CUR 12032 |
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genseq-4 COI |
USNM 414826, CUR 12070 |
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genseq-4 COI |
USNM 414827, CUR 12071 |
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genseq-4 COI |
USNM 413959, CUR 13084 |
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genseq-4 COI |
USNM 413960, CUR 13085 |
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genseq-4 COI |
USNM 413961, CUR 13086 |
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genseq-4 COI |
USNM 422694, CUR 13099 |
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genseq-4 COI |
USNM 422687, CUR 13108 |
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genseq-4 COI |
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SIO 01-11, MCgroup 3333 |
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genseq-4 COI |
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USNM 420350, BLZ 5325 |
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genseq-4 COI |
USNM 420349, BLZ 5326 |
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genseq-4 COI |
BLZ 7720 (photo voucher only) |
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genseq-5 COI |
USNM 406015, CUR 11015 |
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genseq-4 COI |
USNM 406131, CUR 11131 |
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genseq-4 COI |
USNM 406386, CUR 11386 |
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genseq-4 COI |
USNM 414815, CUR 12315 |
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genseq-4 COI |
USNM 422684, CUR 13101 |
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genseq-4 COI |
USNM 422675, CUR 13103 |
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genseq-4 COI |
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USNM 414697, BAH 9032 |
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genseq-4 COI |
USNM 419340, BLZ 5117 |
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genseq-4 COI |
USNM 416331, BLZ 6236 |
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genseq-4 COI |
USNM 416379, BLZ 6377 |
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genseq-4 COI |
USNM 416009, BLZ 7806 |
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genseq-4 COI |
USNM 415207, BLZ 8050 |
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genseq-4 COI |
USNM 415226, BLZ 8095 |
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genseq-4 COI |
USNM 415180, BLZ 8153 |
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genseq-4 COI |
USNM 415181, BLZ 8154 |
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genseq-4 COI |
USNM 415244, BLZ 8167 |
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genseq-4 COI |
USNM 414498, CUR 8332 |
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genseq-4 COI |
USNM 414499, CUR 8333 |
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genseq-4 COI |
MBIO 1710 (no photo or specimen voucher) |
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no classification |
MNHN 2008-1023, MBIO 1472 |
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genseq-4 COI |
USNM 425632, MOOP37 |
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genseq-4 COI |
USNM 425630, MOOP38 |
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genseq-4 COI |
MNHN 2009-0793, MBIO 961 |
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genseq-4 COI |
MNHN 2009-0794, MBIO 962 |
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genseq-4 COI |
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FWRI 20709 (DNA number same) |
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genseq-4 COI |
USNM 407791, MOC 11791 |
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genseq-4 COI |
Outgroup Taxa | ||
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MNHN 2008-1105, MBIO 1671 |
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genseq-4 COI |
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USNM 401296, TOB 9102 |
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genseq-4 COI |
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USNM 406401, CUR 11401 |
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genseq-4 COI |