TAXONOMIC REVIEW OF THE INDO-PACIFIC KYPHOSID FISH, KYPHOSUS-VAIGIENSIS (QUOY AND GAIMARD)

The taxonomy of the Indo-Pacific fish, Kyphosus vaigiensis (Quoy and G aimard) is reviewed and the species redescribed on the basis of 129 sp ecimens, including the lectotype which is newly designated. Kyphosus v oigiensis is characterized by 14 (rarely 13 or 15) dorsal and 13 (rare ly 12) anal fin soft-rays, 21-24 (usually 22 or 23) gill-rakers on the lower limb of the first gill-arch, 56-64 longitudinal scale rows and 11-14 (usually 12 or 13) scales above the lateral line. Kyphosus lembu s (Cuvier), Kyphosus bleekeri Fowler, Kyphosus gibsoni Ogilby, Pimelep terus ternatensis Bleeker and Pimelepterus marciac Cuvier are recogniz ed as junior synonyms of K. vaigiensis.