Scolopsislacrima, a new species of monocle bream (Teleostei, Perciformes, Nemipteridae) from New Caledonia

Abstract. The new monocle bream Scolopsislacrimasp. nov. is described from a single specimen (213.6 mm standard length) collected from Grande-Terre Island, New Caledonia. The new species closely resembles S.meridiana, both species having the upper part of the pectoral-fin base with reddish blotch when fresh, two bands across the top of the snout, a dorsal scaled area on the head reaching anteriorly to between the anterior margin of the eye and anterior nostril, a similar number of lateral-line scales, and absence of a small antrorse spine below the eye. However, S.lacrimasp. nov. is distinguished from S.meridiana by having diagonal lines on the body absent (vs. 18–20 diagonal lines in the latter), a dark longitudinal band below the lateral line (vs. longitudinal lines absent), the caudal fin central area not patterned (vs. with several dark horizontal lines), a narrower body and shallower caudal peduncle.