Meiacanthus (Meiacanthus) crinitus Smith-Vaniz

Meiacanthus (Meiacanthus) crinitus Smith-Vaniz

Originally described from 11 specimens (Smith-Vaniz 1987) from two localities in West Irian (now West Papua Province, Indonesia), the following additional collections are now available, the Solomon Is. one representing a significant range extension: WAM P.31442-003 (34.5 mm SL), Raja Ampat Islands, Kri I., 0°33'S, 130°41'E, 5– 10 m.; WAM P. 31443-004 (34.2 mm SL), Raja Ampat Islands, Wai I., 0°41'S, 130°43'E, 1– 3 m.; WAM P.32538-001 (2, 36.4–41.9 mm SL) and USNM 396703 (2, 41.7–42.0 mm SL), Solomon Is., Santa Ysabel I., 7°24'S, 158°8'E, 2– 4 m. The second author has also photographed M. crinitus at Halmahera, Buli Bay (0°47.378'N, 128°21.568'E) and at Lembeh Strait, North Sulawesi (1°27.014'N, 125°12.358'E). These photographs and specimens agree well with the original description, especially in the pattern of the lateral stripes on the caudal peduncle or caudal-fin base which terminate as narrow lines, the lower stripe typically ending in a small separated spot, Fig. 21.