<em>Protogrammus alboranensis</em> n. sp. (Teleostei: Callionymidae), a new species of dragonet from the Alboran Sea, western Mediterranean Sea

Abstract

Summary: Protogrammus alboranensis n. sp. is described on the basis of four specimens from the Alboran Sea, western Mediterranean Sea. It is characterized within the genus Protogrammus by a total of nine unbranched rays on the second dorsal fin, eight unbranched rays on the anal fin, a very small preopercular spine with an upcurved main tip and one point on the dorsal margin, which is lacking an antrorse spine at the base, the first and second spines of the first dorsal fin filamentous and much longer than the first ray of the second dorsal fin in males, the tip of the last ray of the second dorsal fin reaching beyond the caudal fin base in males, and the anal fin distally black in the males (translucent in females). A key to the species of Protogrammus is presented; the zoogeography of the species is discussed.

First record of the Alboran dragonet, Protogrammus alboranensis (Actinopterygii: Callionymiformes: Callionymidae), from the Balearic Islands (western Mediterranean)

“…In between, two other genera with complete ventrolateral folds of skin are distributed, Chalinops in the western Atlantic and Diplogrammus in the Indo-West Pacific. Both of the other genera live in shallow water, Chalinops at 2-27 m, Diplogrammus at 0-34 m, while Protogrammus is known from depths of 113-310 m. Reasons for this relict distribution in deeper water were discussed by Farias et al (2016). These authors suggested that the ancestors of Protogrammus have been in the area for a long time, and appeared in the region before the closure of the Tethys Sea.…”

“…Protogrammus alboranensis was first discovered and described by Fricke et al in Farias et al (2016: Longer than 1st D2 ray, filamentous…”

“…The standard length is abbreviated SL, Central European Standard Time is abbreviated CEST. the classification follows Eschmeyer et al (2017), references according to Fricke (2017), collection acronyms follow Fricke and Eschmeyer (2017 Fricke, Ordines, Farias et García-Ruiz, 2016 Figs. 2, 3, Table 1 Description.…”

“…Protogrammus alboranensis was supposed to be endemic to Alboran Island in the south-western Mediterranean, geographically separated from the north-eastern Atlantic species Protogrammus sousai (known only from Meteor Seamount, northwest of Madeira) (Fricke 1985, Fricke in Whitehead et al 1986, Fricke 2016; potential barriers to dispersal were discussed by Farias et al (2016). The depth and habitat where the species was found in the Balearic Islands share high similarity with the bottoms from where the species was originally described.…”

“…Fricke (2002), in a checklist of callionymid fishes, listed a worldwide total of 182 valid species in 10 genera. Subsequently, several additional species were described, including Protogrammus alboranensis Fricke, Ordines, Farias et García-Ruiz, 2016 from the Alboran Sea, southwestern Mediterranean (Farias et al 2016). Callionymus sanctaehelenae Fricke, 1983 was synonymized with Callionymus bairdi Jordan, 1888 by Fricke (2002).…”