Materials for a Revision of Serranus and Related Fish Genera

Résumé du livre

Western Atlantic serranid fishes, usually placed in several genera, among them Serranus, Serranellus, Paracentropristis, Mentiperca and especially Prionodes, are placed in the single genus Serranus. Comparable descriptions, based on fresh material are given for each species and for cabrilla, scriba and hepatus, three Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean species each of which is a generic type. Serranus is diagnosed and two subgenera, Serranus and Paracentropristis, are provisionally admitted. A synonymy (non bibliographic) and a statement of range is given for each American species and life colors, habits and habitat are discussed wherever data are available. Two new species of Serranus are described from the Western Atlantic. Prionodes nigropunctatus Hildebrand is synonymized with S. annularis (Günther). S. subligarius is maintained separately from S. flaviventris; the latter includes Centropristis brasiliensis de Barneville and C. dispilurus Günther. S. flavescens is placed as a synonym of S. tabacarius. Paracentropristis pomospilus is considered as a northern population of S. atrobranchus and the geographic variation of this species is discussed. Centropristes (sic) fusculus Poey is retained in Centropristis. Paracentropristis heterurus Cadenat is placed with S. sanctaehelenae Boulenger. Prionodes sanctiandrewsi Fowler is not referable to Serranus but its placement elsewhere is not attempted. Serranus beta is a senior synonym of Schultzea campechanus Woods and Schultzea is removed from the Emmelichthyidae to the Serranidae. A new Western Atlantic species of Plectranthias, a genus previously known from one species from the Arafura and Celebes Sea, is described. Pelontrus Smith, a monotypic genus from South Africa is synonymized with Plectranthias. Numerous extensions of known range are included.