A review of the anthiine fish genus Plectranthias (Perciformes: Serranidae) of the Western Indian Ocean, with description of a new species, and a key to the species.

Thirteen species of the serranid fish genus Plectranthias Bleeker (1873) are recognized in the Western Indian Ocean (including the Red Sea and Persian Gulf): Plectranthias bauchotae Randall 1980, P. gardineri (Regan 1908), P. inermis Randall 1980, P. intermedius (Kotthaus 1973), P. klausewitzi Zajonz 2006, P. longimanus (Weber 1913), P. maugei Randall 1980, P. morgansi (Smith 1961), P. nanus Randall 1980, P. pelicieri Randall & Shimizu 1994, P. vexillarius Randall 1980, P. winniensis Tyler 1966, and a new species, P. elaine sp. nov., from the east coast of South Africa is described. Diagnoses, distributions, illustrations and a key to the Western Indian Ocean species are given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]