Four new species of the anthiine fish genus Pseudanthias are described from islands of the South Pacific: P. carlsoni from Fiji in 37-46 m (with nontype specimens identified from Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Loyalty Islands) is characterised by 16 dorsal soft rays; 17 or 18 pectoral rays; 41-45 lateral-line scales; 10-11 + 24-26 gill rakers; body depth 2.7-3.1 in SL; third dorsal spine of males elongate, 1.6-1.85 in head length; males with a narrow red bar on side of body below eighth dorsal spines and a large bright red spot in dorsal fin between sixth and seventh or eighth spines. P. j7.avicauda from Fiji in 30-61 m, has 16 dorsal soft rays; 17-18 pectoral rays; 45-49 lateral-line scales; 10-11 + 24-26 gill rakers; body depth 3.1-3.3 in SL; third dorsal spine of males elongate, 1.5-1.95 in head length; body of males magenta with a large predominately yellow area on back; fins of both sexes mainly yellow, that of caudal fin brightest. P. hiva from the Marquesas, one of a complex that includes P. cooperi, has 17 or 18 dorsal rays; 19-21 pectoral rays; 45-48 lateral-line scales; 11-13 + 25-27 gill rakers; body depth 3.0-3.2 in SL; both sexes orange to red dorsally, shading to lavender ventrally, the scales on side and ventrally with yellow centers; a narrow orange-red bar on side below eighth and ninth dorsal spines; females with redtipped caudal lobes; caudal fin of males red with pink margins and lobe filaments. P. privitera from Rarotonga in 116 m has 15 dorsal soft rays; 18 pectoral rays; 47-52 lateral-line scales; 8-10 + 24-27 gill rakers; 2 supraneural bones; an elongate body, the depth 3.9-4.7 in SL; a fleshy protuberance at front of upper lip of males, third dorsal spine of males elongate, about 1.4 in head length; body yellow dorsally, pink ventrally, with irregular yellow stripes on side; a broad orange band at and below base ofsoft portion of dorsal fin, bordered ventrally by pale blue; dorsal fin yellow with some small pink spots; anal fin greenish yellow with a magenta reticulum

Depth range
37- 61 m

Mesophotic “mentions”
1 x (total of 14107 words)

Classification
* Presents original data
* Reports new species
* Focused on 'mesophotic' depth range
* Focused on 'mesophotic coral ecosystem'

Fields
Taxonomy

Focusgroups
Fishes

Locations
Fiji

Platforms
SCUBA (open-circuit or unspecified)