title: Validity of a blue stripe snapper, Lutjanus octolineatus (Cuvier 1828) and a related species, L. bengalensis (Bloch 1790) with a new species (Pisces; Lutjanidae) from the Arabian Sea.
abstract: Lutjanus octolineatus (Cuvier 1828), previously considered a junior synonym of Lutjanus bengalensis (Bloch 1790), is shown to be a valid species and lectotypes are designated. Both species are redescribed. The two species have overlapping distributions in the Indian Ocean, but are clearly separable by different dorsal-fin spine counts, blue-striped pattern on the body and the presence or absence of a subocular extension of cheek scales. Lutjanus octovittata (Valenciennes 1830), formerly assigned to synonymy of L. bengalensis, is considered a junior synonym of L. octolineatus based on examination of the holotype. Lutjanus sapphirolineatus n. sp., a species formerly misidentified as L. bengalensis, is described based on 10 specimens from Oman and Somalia. The new species differs from the three species above by a combination of different characters. Analysis of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (CO1, 603 bp) genetic marker, also strongly supports the validity of each species of the blue-striped snapper complex as distinct.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Fisheries Sciences, Department of Marine Biology & Environmental Sciences, University of Miyazaki, 1-1 Gakuen-kibanadai-nishi, Miyazaki 889-2192, Japan.; Email: yuk@cc.miyazaki-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Yukio
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Iwatsuki
authors.affiliation: Marine Science & Fisheries Centre, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries Wealth, P.O. Box 427, 100 Muscat, Sultanate of Oman.; Email: drjumabar@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Juma M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Al-Mamry
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Fisheries Sciences, Department of Marine Biology & Environmental Sciences, University of Miyazaki, 1-1 Gakuen-kibanadai-nishi, Miyazaki 889-2192, Japan. The South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, Private Bag 1015, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa; Email: unknown.
authors.forename: Phillip C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Heemstra
mesh_terms: D063147:Animal Distribution; D000825:Animal Structures / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development; D000818:Animals; D049628:Body Size; D005260:Female; D019156:Indian Ocean; D008297:Male; D009850:Oman; D009929:Organ Size; D010473:Perciformes / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D010802:Phylogeny; D012998:Somalia