Rabaulichthys suzukii, a new anthiine fish from Japan

Rabaulichthys suzukii is described as a new species of anthiine fish, famil y Serranidae, from three specimens collected in 5-15m off the Izu Peninsula , Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan in February 1999 and February 2000. It represe nts the third species of the genus, the most characteristic feature of whic h is the very high dorsal fin of the male. R. suzukii is most closely relat ed to R. altipinnis Alien from New Britain, differing in its larger size (t o 64.2mm SL, compared to 45.5mm for R. altipinnis); higher dorsal fin (29.3 % SL, compared to 26.2% for R. altipinnis), lack of a filament on the cauda l fin lobes, 19 pectoral rays (modally 20 in R. altipinnis), 9-10 + 23 gill rakers (8-9 + 21-22 in R. altipinnis), and in color. Because the Izu Penin sula collection sites have been heavily dived for many years, the recent ap pearance of R. suzukii is believed to the result of transport of postlarvae from a population to the south.