TERELABRUS RUBROVITTATUS, A NEW GENUS AND SPECIES OF LABRID FISH FROMNEW-CALEDONIA AND NEW-GUINEA

Terelabrus rubrovittatus is described as a new genus and species of la brid fish from a 87-mm male specimen collected in 100 m off New Caledo nia and a 32-mm juvenile from 92 m off eastern Papua New Guinea. This wrasse is distinct from all labrid fishes by the following set of char acters: body elongate, the depth 6.2-6.3 in SL; head and anterior body cylindrical; eye large, 3.55-4.2 in head length; interorbital space n early flat, 5.0-5.5 in head length; two pairs of large, well-spaced, r ecurved canine teeth anteriorly in each jaw; remaining conical teeth u niserial and small except for canine at corner of mouth; dorsal rays X ,11; lateral line continuous and smoothly curved, the pored scales 42- 43; and a distinctive red-striped color pattern.