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Malcolm P. Francis
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National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research Ltd
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Clinton A.J. Duffy
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Department of Conservation, Auckland War Memorial Museum
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Published
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16 October 2015
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Handle
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www.aucklandmuseum.com/research/pub/bulletin/20/21
Abstract
The Kermadec Islands coastal fish fauna is still incompletely known, and recent expeditions there have added new fish records, and improved our understanding of its diversity and composition. This study documents 18 new fish records, presents an updated checklist of coastal fishes, and analyses the species biodiversity and biogeography. The coastal fish fauna now consists of 175 species and is dominated by tropical (45%) and subtropical (43%) species having Indo-Pacific or south-west Pacific distributions. Eight coastal species (4.6%) are endemic, but some of these, viz. Girella fimbriata, Parma kermadecensis and Chrysiptera rapanui, stray to north-eastern New Zealand. The coastal fish fauna of the Kermadec Islands is not particularly diverse but the mix of fish species present, the abundance of subtropical species, the presence of endemic species, and the abundance of top predators, produce a unique and interesting fauna.
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Cite this article
Clinton A.J. Duffy and Graeme A. Taylor. New records, checklist and biogeography of Kermadec Islands’ coastal fishes. Auckland War Memorial Museum - Tāmaki Paenga Hira. Bulletin of the Auckland Museum 20: 481:496.