Revision of the Indo-Pacific Genus Centrogenys Richardson, 1842 (Centrogenyidae) with Descriptions of Two New Species from Australia

A taxonomic revision of the genus Centrogenys (family: Centrogenyidae), having previously been regarded as monotypic (also monotypic family) represented by Centrogenys vaigiensis, resulted in the recognition of three species, including two new species from Australia, Centrogenys algrahami, new species, and Centrogenys pogonoskii, new species. The two other nominal species of the genus, Centropristes scorpenoides and Sebastes stoliczkae, were regarded as junior synonyms of C. vaigiensis. Centrogenys vaigiensis is readily distinguished from the two new species by lacking scale patches on the membranes between dorsal-fin spines (a small patch of scales present on each interspinous membrane of the third to last dorsal-fin spines in the two new species). Centrogenys algrahami, new species, is characterized by having fewer body scales, including 31–36 pored lateral-line scales (vs. 37–44 in C. vaigiensis and 39–46 in C. pogonoskii, new species) and 31–36 scale rows in longitudinal series (vs. 36–43 and 39–47), and a slightly greater number of pectoral-fin rays 14–16 (modally 15; vs. 12–15 [modally 14] in C. vaigiensis and C. pogonoskii, new species). Moreover, C. pogonoskii, new species, is distinguished from the two congeners by the presence of squamation on the lateral side of the snout (in specimens >34 mm SL), whereas it is naked in the congeners. The status of the three species resulting from the morphological analysis was also strongly supported by molecular evidence of a partial sequence of the COI gene. Centrogenys vaigiensis is widely distributed in the Indo-West Pacific, ranging from Mauritius east to Indonesia and north to southern Japan. In contrast, Centrogenys algrahami, new species, and Centrogenys pogonoskii, new species, are restricted to Australia.