Description
Dorsal spines (total): 16-17 (usually: 17); Dorsal soft rays (total): 31-34 (usually: 33); Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 8; Pectoral fin rays: 13-14 (usually: 14), the upper two unbranched, the next 5-6 (usually: 6) branched, and the lower 5-6 (usually: 6) simple, thickened, and elongated beyond the fin membrane; Pelvic fin rays: I, 5; Principal caudal fin rays: 17, the uppermost and lowermost unbranched, branched rays: 8 + 7; Lateral line scales: 64-66 (usually: 64); Gill-rakers: 5-6 + 15-16 (usually: 5 + 15); Depth of body: 2.57-2.76 in SL; Head length: 3.48-3.65 in SL; Fourth dorsal spine highly pronounced: 0.83-1.61 in Head Length; Third dorsal spine: 2.98-6.31 in fourth dorsal spine; Pectoral fins: 2.94-3.57 in SL; Pelvic fins reaching but not extending beyond anus (not reaching, reaching, or extending beyond anus): 4.55-5.81 in SL; Prominent bony knobs present anteriorly on maxilla and prefrontal. Mouth small, somewhat ventral on head, the upper lip projecting, the maxilla reaching a vertical through posterior nostril (or between posterior nostril and centre of orbit); Lips thick, fleshy, and smooth; Small slender villiform teeth in bands in jaws; Pair of bony knobs anterior to orbit, one above each posterior nostril, and a second shorter pair, anteriorly on snout just above upper lip; Opercle with a single flat feeble spine posteriorly; Nostrils large, both anterior to centre of orbit; Anterior nostril elliptical, the upper part covered by a flap from posterior margin and the lower part covered by a flap from the anterior margin, fringed with 8 (up to 11) and 3 (up to 3) cirri respectively; Posterior nostril round, diagonally above and behind anterior nostril; Pores of lateralis system on head inconspicuous; Gill-rakers short, the longest about half the length of the longest gill filament on first arch. Scales cycloid; Scales on head very small, the height of the exposed part about one-sixth height of largest scales on side of body; Scales dorsally on head extending forward to above anterior nostril; Scales on cheeks extending anteriorly nearly to corner of mouth; Snout, lips and ventral part of head naked; Lateral line slightly arched above pectoral fin, becoming progressively closer to dorsal contour of body posteriorly, at rear base of dorsal fin it is separated from fin by only 2 scale rows; Lateral line scales small, the exposed part about one-third height of adjacent scales; Scaly sheath at base of dorsal fin about half the height of last dorsal spine, comprising 2 scale rows except near the junction of spinous and soft rayed sections, where 3 rows are present; Scaly sheath at base of anal fin comprising 1 scale row anteriorly and 1-2 scale rows posteriorly; Small scales basally on pectoral fins; No scales in axil of pectoral fins; A few rows of small scales basally on pelvic fins. Max. length: 27.4 cm SL - Depth range: 6 - 88 m.

Color
Whitish body with four dark diagonal bands - one through the eye to the pectoral fin base, one from the nape to the pectoral fin base, a broad band from before the dorsal fin to the pelvic fin base, and a broad band from behind the 4th dorsal-fin spine to the lower caudal fin lobe. The species also has a white anal fin, a black tip on the upper caudal fin lobe, and black pelvic fins.

Etymology
Goniistius: from Greek, -gon = angled + from Greek, istion = sail. Referring to the oblique bars found on many species.
francisi: in honor of Malcolm Francis (b. 1954), New Zealand fisheries scientist and marine ecologist, for contributions to the biogeography of southwest Pacific fishes, and for supplying tissue samples from this “rarely encountered taxon” for Burridge’s genetic research.
Original description: Cheilodactylus (Goniistius) francisi Burridge, 2004 - Type locality: Lord Howe Island, 100 m off Phillip Point (31°32'S 159°04'E), 20-25 m depth, poison and spear, G. R. Allen, B. Goldman, D.F.

Distribution
Southwestern Pacific: Lord Howe Island, New Caledonia, Norfolk Island, Kermadec Islands.

Biology
Inhabits coral reef and rocky reef.

Similar Species
Goniistius gibbosus (Richardson, 1841) - Reported from Southeastern Indian Ocean: Western Australia.
Goniistius vestitus (Castelnau, 1879) - Reported from New Caledonia - Link to the species (here).

Goniistius vittatus (Garrett, 1864) - Reported from Northern central Pacific: Hawaiian Islands endemic.
Goniistius zebra (Döderlein, 1883) - Reported from Northwestern Pacific.

Last update: 30, June 2024