Puebla, Oscar ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9700-5841, Aguilar-Perera, Alfonso, Helmkampf, Martin ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1995-9062, Robertson, D. Ross, Estapé, Carlos J., Estapé, Allison Margan and Domínguez-Domínguez, Omar (2025) Hypoplectrus espinosai sp. nov. (Teleostei: Serranidae), a new hamlet on coral reefs in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico. Zootaxa, 5618 (4). pp. 509-524. DOI https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5618.4.3.

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Abstract

The hamlets (Hypoplectrus spp., Teleostei: Serranidae) are a group of small predatory reef-associated fishes endemic to the tropical northwestern Atlantic that are characterized by an exceptionally high diversification rate. Currently 18 species are recognized, with seven described or redescribed in the last 14 years. Here, we describe the Campeche Bank hamlet, Hypoplectrus espinosai sp. nov. As indicated by its common name, this species is distributed throughout the Campeche Bank in the southwest Gulf of Mexico. Hypoplectrus espinosai sp. nov. differs from two similar hamlets, the butter hamlet H. unicolor (Walbaum) and the Veracruz hamlet H. castroaguirrei Del Moral Flores, Tello-Musi & Martínez-Pérez in terms of geographic distribution and color pattern. Furthermore, phylogenetic and population genetic analyses based on whole-genome data from 68 individuals indicate that H. espinosai sp. nov. is genetically distinct from H. unicolor and H. castroaguirrei.

Document Type:	Article
Programme Area:	PA1
Research affiliation:	Ecology > Fish Ecology and Evolution
Refereed:	Yes
Open Access Journal?:	No
DOI:	https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5618.4.3
ISSN:	1175-5326
Date Deposited:	07 Apr 2025 08:43
Last Modified:	07 Apr 2025 08:43
URI:	http://cris.leibniz-zmt.de/id/eprint/5642

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