I got a mail from Gerry or Jerry (Dr. Gerald R.) Allen.
I sent several specimens in formalin of two probably new species of Cirrhilabrus to Gerry these two past years. He examined my specimens at the Western Australian Museum, and compared them with other similar spp. I believed that at least one of them would be new to science, but his reply disappointed me.
1. Cirrhilabrus rubriventralis from Kenya vs Maldives.
The species ranges the Red Sea (type locality), Oman, the Maldive Islands and Sri Lanka. I have kept more than twenty males and females until now, and those from Kenya were apparently differing in coloration (see photos).
The male from Kenya has a brownish tail that turns golden while it is displaying. The body is not intense red but reddish brown, and there is a narrow and longer filament from each base of pelvic fin. I sent several specimens to Gerry and I received an email that these were considered to be C. rubriventralis, but it needs DNA study to confirm. It may be differentiated in the future, but now we had better follow him. Thoese from South Africa also appear to be identical to C. rubriventralis but no spcimens are available from there.
2. Cirrhilabrus brunneus vs C. lunatus.
C. brunneus on the top (1) was described by Allen from northern Indonesia (very limited) that is entirely black in male form (female is similar to that of lunatus, by Allen).
I have kept several similarly colored males (2-4) that have been shipped from Cebu and Sulawesi. I often observed the pale color on body turn completely black except some parts (2&2'), and I suspected that it was very close to brunneus and lunatus. The fish 3 was measured 75mm, the largest I ever saw, and it almost kept the black coloration. It became brownish only when disturbed. These fishes (2-4) possess some bluish areas on body and fins that are distinct from brunneus. I waited for his reply and he finally informed me that these were just variants of lunatus. I kept also entirely orange, and entirely brown males until now, but specimens from southern Japan are yet to be available.
Was I disappointed ? Surely, but I have more interest in these variants now, and I really hope to obtain true brunneus someday.
I sent several specimens in formalin of two probably new species of Cirrhilabrus to Gerry these two past years. He examined my specimens at the Western Australian Museum, and compared them with other similar spp. I believed that at least one of them would be new to science, but his reply disappointed me.
1. Cirrhilabrus rubriventralis from Kenya vs Maldives.
The species ranges the Red Sea (type locality), Oman, the Maldive Islands and Sri Lanka. I have kept more than twenty males and females until now, and those from Kenya were apparently differing in coloration (see photos).
The male from Kenya has a brownish tail that turns golden while it is displaying. The body is not intense red but reddish brown, and there is a narrow and longer filament from each base of pelvic fin. I sent several specimens to Gerry and I received an email that these were considered to be C. rubriventralis, but it needs DNA study to confirm. It may be differentiated in the future, but now we had better follow him. Thoese from South Africa also appear to be identical to C. rubriventralis but no spcimens are available from there.
2. Cirrhilabrus brunneus vs C. lunatus.
C. brunneus on the top (1) was described by Allen from northern Indonesia (very limited) that is entirely black in male form (female is similar to that of lunatus, by Allen).
I have kept several similarly colored males (2-4) that have been shipped from Cebu and Sulawesi. I often observed the pale color on body turn completely black except some parts (2&2'), and I suspected that it was very close to brunneus and lunatus. The fish 3 was measured 75mm, the largest I ever saw, and it almost kept the black coloration. It became brownish only when disturbed. These fishes (2-4) possess some bluish areas on body and fins that are distinct from brunneus. I waited for his reply and he finally informed me that these were just variants of lunatus. I kept also entirely orange, and entirely brown males until now, but specimens from southern Japan are yet to be available.
Was I disappointed ? Surely, but I have more interest in these variants now, and I really hope to obtain true brunneus someday.
