Chromis howsoni is a newly described species of damselfish from that factory of new species in Papua New Guinea called Milne Bay. The golden-brown colored Chromis howsoni is very closely related to Chromis ambionensis differing primarily in coloration and habitat selection.
Chromis howsoni is yellowish brown in body color with yellow pelvic and anal fins, with a blue eye and a golden yellow area in the center of the caudal fin. Meanwhile Chromis amboinensis is silvery blue in color overall with only a yellow spot at the base of the pectoral fins, with whitish clear pelvic and anal fins.
24 specimens of C. howsoni were collected at relatively shallow depth of 17 to 20m (56-65 feet) around Milne Bay and Oro Provinces of Papua New Guinea. Both Chromis howsoni and C. amboinensis occur in PNG but the golden C. howsoni is the only species seen in sheltered coastal inlets whereas on exposed reefs C. amboinensis is the dominant species.
The new species of golden damselfish from Milne Bay is described by Gerald Allen and Mark Erdmann in the Journal of the Ocean Science Foundation.
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