eatbreakfast
New member
It seems that upon doing research on Halichoeres vrolikii and Halichoeres chrysotaenia there is some confusion on which name is correct or valid in use for aquarium specimens.
Some individuals have relied on fishbase.org for clarification, and while a wonderful and useful resource, by their own admission may not always be 100% accurate, despite their best intentions.
Recently, they have added to the page of Halichoeres vrolikii, http://www.fishbase.org/summary/Halichoeres-vrolikii.html
that the page will be removed.
The reason being is that H. chrysotaenia was considered a junior synonym for H. melanurus, when, in actuality, if you looked at the type locality it was synonymous with H. vrolikii. Chrysotaenia and vrolikii's type locality is Java, which is further west than the range of melanurus.
Also, the references failed to mention the publications of Gerald Allen, one of the foremost experts on wrasses, who has long considered vrolikii to be a junior synonym of chrysotaenia.
I know that this may be super boring to most, but I really geek out on classification, especialy of wrasses and thought that maybe others would be interested as well.
Some individuals have relied on fishbase.org for clarification, and while a wonderful and useful resource, by their own admission may not always be 100% accurate, despite their best intentions.
Recently, they have added to the page of Halichoeres vrolikii, http://www.fishbase.org/summary/Halichoeres-vrolikii.html
that the page will be removed.
The reason being is that H. chrysotaenia was considered a junior synonym for H. melanurus, when, in actuality, if you looked at the type locality it was synonymous with H. vrolikii. Chrysotaenia and vrolikii's type locality is Java, which is further west than the range of melanurus.
Also, the references failed to mention the publications of Gerald Allen, one of the foremost experts on wrasses, who has long considered vrolikii to be a junior synonym of chrysotaenia.
I know that this may be super boring to most, but I really geek out on classification, especialy of wrasses and thought that maybe others would be interested as well.
