Pseudotrichonotus belos Gill & Pogonoski, 2016, new species

<i>Pseudotrichonotus belos</i> new species <p>Dart sand-diving lizardfish Figures 1–3</p> <p> <b>Holotype.</b> CSIRO H 6406-04, 41.2 mm SL, Western Australia, southwest of Exmouth Gulf, 22°51’S 113°31’E, 100m depth, RV <i>Southern Surveyor</i>, beam trawl station SS1005/135, 9 December 2005.</p> <p> <b>Paratypes.</b> CSIRO H 6406-05, 29.1 mm SL, collected with holotype; WAM P.34616-001, 23.3 mm SL, Western Australia, west of Shark Bay, 25°56’S 112°41’E, 120 m depth, RV <i>Southern Surveyor</i>, Sherman benthic sled station SS10/05/115, 7 December 2005.</p> <p> <b>Diagnosis.</b> <i>Pseudotrichonotus belos</i> is distinguished from congeners by the following characters: dorsal-fin origin well behind pelvic fin origin, predorsal length 39.6–41.2% SL; dorsal-fin rays 31–33; anal-fin rays 12.</p> <p> <b>Description.</b> (Data given first for holotype, followed where different by data for 23.3 and 29.1 mm SL paratypes, respectively, in parentheses.) Dorsal-fin rays 32 (33; 31), all rays unbranched; anal-fin rays 12, all rays unbranched; pectoral-fin rays 11, all rays unbranched; pelvic-fin rays 7, first, sixth and seventh rays unbranched, other rays branched (fifth ray also unbranched in 23.3 mm SL paratype); principal caudal-fin rays 10 + 9; upper procurrent caudal-fin rays 8 (7; 7); lower procurrent caudal-fin rays 8 (7; 8); total caudal-fin rays 35 (33; 34); scales in lateral line 44/48 (estimated from counting missing scale pockets on holotype, and therefore approximate; 46/? in 23.3 mm SL paratype; count not determined for 29.1 mm SL paratype, where almost all scales missing); predorsal scales 13 (14; not determined in 29.1 mm SL paratype), reaching anteriorly to supratemporal commissure; transverse scales above anal-fin origin ca. 7 (8; not determined in 29.1 mm SL paratype); scales to preopercular angle 3 (3; not determined in 29.1 mm SL paratype); circumpeduncular scales 8 (8; not determined in 29.1 mm SL paratype); branchiostegal rays 6.</p> <p>As percentage of standard length (based only on holotype and 29.1 mm SL paratype): body depth at dorsal-fin origin 9.0 (9.3); greatest body depth 9.0 (10.3); greatest body width 11.2 (10.3); head length 25.6 (26.5); snout length 6.1 (7.2); orbit diameter 6.6 (7.2); bony interorbital width 1.9 (2.4); upper jaw length 7.3 (6.9); least caudal peduncle depth 4.1 (4.1); caudal peduncle length 11.7 (10.4); predorsal length 41.2 (39.6); preanal length 74.5 (74.2); prepelvic length 36.7 (37.5); first dorsal-fin ray length 8.0 (11.0); dorsal-fin base length 48.1 (46.7); first anal-fin ray length 6.1 (6.2); anal-fin base length 15.8 (14.4); caudal fin length not determined (rays broken in all specimens); pectoral fin length 16.0 (18.2); pelvic fin length 31.3 (38.8).</p> <p>Vertebrae 23 + 27 (23 + 25; 23 + 26), with two vertebrae (PU1 + U1) present as a compound centrum; epineurals present on vertebrae 1 through 26; epipleurals present on vertebrae 2 through 27; ribs present on vertebrae 2 through 23 (Figure 2).</p> <p>Maxilla edentate; premaxilla with 4 (at symphysis) to 2 (on sides of jaw) rows of small conical to slightly curved, depressible teeth; dentary with 4 (at symphysis) to 1 (on sides of jaw) rows of small conical to slightly curved, depressible teeth; vomer with 3 (anteriorly) to 2 (posterolaterally) rows of conical teeth arranged in a chevron; palatine with a single row of about 10–15 conical teeth; ectopterygoid, mesopterygoid and tongue edentate.</p> <p> <i>Life coloration</i> (based on colour photograph of holotype after freezing for two years; Figure 1): head and body pale tan, pinkish brown ventrally on operculum and abdomen; bright yellow midlateral stripe extending from snout tip through eye to midway along body, continuing posteriorly as four yellow spots on posterior body and caudal peduncle; yellow stripe bordered ventrally by faint grey stripe with pale blue iridescence, which continues posteriorly to caudal-fin base; iris dark grey above and below yellow stripe; six dark grey spots midlaterally on body, first spot above pelvic-fin base, second spot beneath about tenth dorsal-fin ray, third spot beneath about twentieth dorsal-fin ray, fourth spot beneath about twenty-seventh dorsal-fin ray, fifth spot beneath dorsal-fin termination, sixth spot on caudal-fin base; first and second grey spots positioned within bright yellow stripe; remaining grey spots positioned within yellow spots, extending dorsally to form saddle-like markings; dorsal-fin yellowish hyaline, with distal tips of first three rays dark grey to black; dusky grey basal spots at dorsal-fin origin and above second grey midlateral body spot; saddle-like markings from fourth through sixth grey midlateral body spots extending on to dorsal-fin base; caudal fin yellowish hyaline, with sixth grey midlateral body spot extending on to base of upper rays; additional smaller grey basal spot on ventral margin of fin; remaining fins yellowish hyaline.</p> <p>A photograph of the holotype and the 29.1 mm SL paratype when freshly dead is unfortunately out of focus and of insufficient resolution for inclusion here. The freshly dead colours are similar to the frozen colours except the bright yellow markings are more intense, the tan areas on the body are pale translucent pink, the ventral part of the abdomen is silvery pink, and each dark grey midlateral spot on the body is crossed with a narrow, bright purplish red bar.</p> <p> <i>Preserved coloration</i>: similar to freshly dead and frozen coloration; head and body generally pale tan; dark grey midlateral spots and upper portion of purplish red bars remain as dusky grey-brown bars or saddles; dark edging on dorsal-fin rays remains.</p> <p> <b>Comparisons.</b> Placement of the new species in <i>Pseudotrichonotus</i> is based on the following combination of characters: dorsal fin long-based, consisting of more than 30 segmented rays; no adipose fin; mouth relatively small (jaw angle below anterior half of eye); pelvic fin abdominal, close to vertical through dorsal-fin origin, and consisting of seven rays; principle caudal-fin rays 19; and branchiostegal rays 6. Characters distinguishing the three species of <i>Pseudotrichonotus</i> are summarised in Table 1. Most notably, <i>P. belos</i> is distinctive in having the dorsalfin set further back, such that its origin is well behind the pelvic-fin origin (versus above or slightly behind the pelvic-fin origin in <i>P. altivelis</i> and <i>P. xanthotaenia</i>), with a corresponding longer predorsal length (39.6–41.2% SL versus 34–36 % SL in <i>P. altivelis</i> and 36 % SL in <i>P. xanthotaenia</i>). This probably reflects a more posterior position of the first dorsal pterygiophore relative to interneural spaces in <i>P. belos</i>. In <i>P. altivelis</i> the first dorsal pterygiophore is a laminar bone with two ventral processes, one of which inserts in the seventh interneural space (counting the space between the first and second neural spines as the first), and the other in the ninth interneural space (Johnson <i>et al.</i> 1996: figs 15 & 17). The first dorsal ptyergiophore is not clearly visible in our radiographs of <i>P. belos</i>, but the position of the processes can be vaguely made out in the radiograph of the holotype: the anterior process inserts in the eighth interneural space and the posterior process is positioned in the tenth interneural space (Figure 2 A, B). This suggests that the dorsal fin position is one interneural space farther posteriorly than in <i>P. altivelis</i>. Pterygiophore information was not available for <i>P. xanthotaenia</i>.</p> <p> Aside from characters noted in Table 1, <i>P. belos</i> possibly differs from <i>P. altivelis</i> in having a single row of about 10–15 teeth on the palatine. According to Johnson <i>et al.</i> (1996: 25), the palatine of <i>P. altivelis</i> has “numerous (e.g., ca. 30 in one specimen), small, slightly recurved, conical teeth on its ventral border.” Parin (1992) did not describe the palatine dentition of <i>P. xanthotaenia</i>.</p> <p> <b>Etymology.</b> The specific epithet is from the Greek meaning arrow or dart, and refers to the dart-like appearance of the species. The name was selected by school students as a Spectacular Science activity in the University of Sydney. It is to be treated as a noun in apposition.</p> <p> <b>Remarks.</b> According to the voyage reports, the beam trawl that collected the holotype and larger paratype of <i>Pseudotrichonotus belos</i> was in 100m on sand and also yielded high diversity of other organisms, including a large amount of sponges, as well as rubble. The station that yielded the smaller paratype was in 120m, but targeted hard bottom features, and yielded a very small catch of sponges, gorgonians and shell hash. Presumably the <i>Pseudotrichonotus</i> was collected from finer shell hash deposits. Soft bottom habitat is not well collected for small, active fishes—particularly for sand-diving species—and it is likely that further collecting will substantially extend the known range of all three species of <i>Pseudotrichonotus</i> (Figure 3).</p> <p> There are few details available on the diet of <i>Pseudotrichonotus</i>. A radiograph of the smaller paratype shows numerous small gastropod shells in the gut. The guts of the remaining two specimens are empty.</p>Published as part of <i>Gill, Anthony C. & Pogonoski, John J., 2016, Pseudotrichonotus belos new species, first record of the fish family Pseudotrichonotidae from Australia (Teleostei: Aulopiformes), pp. 189-193 in Zootaxa 4205 (2)</i> on pages 190-193, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4205.2.8, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/192954">http://zenodo.org/record/192954</a&gt

Parequula

Key to species of <i>Parequula</i> from the Indo-West Pacific <p> 1a. Slender body (2.7–3.4, mean 3.0 in standard length); upper margin of dorsal-fin rays reddish in fresh specimens; 14–15 (mode 15) soft anal-fin rays; 34–35 (mode 34) pored lateral-line scales................................... <i>P. elongata</i> <b>n. sp.</b></p> <p> 1b. Deeper body (2.0–2.7, mean 2.3 in standard length); upper margin of dorsal-fin rays yellowish in fresh specimens; 16–18 (mode 17) soft anal-fin rays; 37–40 (mode 38) pored lateral-line scales.............................. <i>P. melbournensis</i></p>Published as part of <i>Iwatsuki, Yukio, Pogonoski, John J. & Last, Peter, 2012, Revision of the genus Parequula (Pisces: Gerreidae) with a new species from southwestern Australia, pp. 42-54 in Zootaxa 3425</i> on page 43, DOI: <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/282006">10.5281/zenodo.282006</a&gt

Revision of the fish family Euclichthyidae (Pisces: Gadiformes) with the description of two new species from the Western Pacific

Last, Peter R., Pogonoski, John J. (2020): Revision of the fish family Euclichthyidae (Pisces: Gadiformes) with the description of two new species from the Western Pacific. Zootaxa 4758 (2): 231-256, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4758.2.

Parequula melbournensis Castelnau 1872

<i>Parequula melbournensis</i> (Castelnau 1872) <p>English name: Silverbelly</p> <p>(Figures 1 B, 2A–B; Table 1)</p> <p> <i>Gerres melbournensis</i> Castelnau 1872: 158 (type locality: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia); Castelnau 1873: 37 (Melbourne, Australia).</p> <p> <i>Parequula bicornis</i> Steindachner, 1879a: 30 (Hobsons Bay, Vic., ca. 37°51'S, 144°56'E and Murray River, South Australia); Steindachner, 1879b: 8 (proposed for this new genus); Fricke 1995: 13 (Hobsons Bay, Vic.); Fricke 2005: 39 (Hobsons Bay, Vic.).</p> <p> <i>Chthamalopteyx melbournensis</i>; Ogilby 1888: 616, unnumbered figure (proposed as a new genus); McCulloch 1911: 63 (Flinders Island, Tas., off Murray River mouth, off Kingston, off Flinders I and Spencer Gulf, South Australia).</p> <p> <i>Parequula melbournensis</i>; Waite 1921: 106, fig. 163 (southeastern Australia); McCulloch 1930: 216 (southern Australia); Fowler 1933: 257 (listed as above localities); Whitley 1964: 45 (southern Australia); Scott 1964: 95 (Tasmania); Scott and Glover 1974: 223, unnumbered figure (Hobsons Bay); Coleman 1980: 158, unnumbered figure (Vic., Tas., SA, WA); Last <i>et al.</i> 1983: 367 (Tasmania); Hutchins and Thompson 1983: 38, fig. 168 (southern half of Australia to Rottnest Island, WA); Hutchins and Swainson 1986: 62, fig. 313 (Merimbula, NSW to Vic., Tas., SA and WA [Rottnest Island]); Bauchot and Desoutter 1989: 27 (Melbourne, Victoria, Australia); Kuiter 1993: 194 (southern Australia); Fricke 1995: 39 (Hobsons Bay, Australia); Kuiter 1996: 166 (southern Australia); Edgar 1997: 451 (southern Australia); Hutchins 2001: 34 (WA checklist, listed); Fricke 2005: 39 (Hobsons Bay, Vic.); Hoese and Bray 2006: 1217 (NSW [36˚53’ S] to Rottnest Island, WA [32˚S] and throughout Tasmania); Gomon <i>et al.</i> 2008: 587 (southern Australia).</p> <p> <b>Lectotype.</b> MNHN A–0968, 94 mm SL (MX), Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (ca. 37°49’S, 144°58’E) (herein designated).</p> <p> <b>Other specimens.</b> 36−159 mm SL, <i>n</i> =31, all from Australia. AMS I. 12146, 133 mm SL, off Port Albert, Victoria, Australia (38°00’S, 146°00’E), 27 m; AMS I. 21305−006, 139 mm SL, Great Oyster Bay, Tasmania, Australia (42°13’S, 148°13’E), 16 m; CSIRO A 1447, 62 mm SL (MX), no accurate locality data, but probably southern Western Australia, 4 m; CSIRO A 1513 (MX), 77 mm SL, Exmouth (locality data questionable), Western Australia (ca. 22°S, 114°10’E); CSIRO A 1521 (MX), 70 mm SL, Warnbro Sound, Western Australia (32°20’S, 115°43’E); CSIRO C 1941, 121 mm SL (MX), Limestone Head, King George Sound, Western Australia (ca. 35°05’S, 118°00’E); CSIRO C 2001, 116 mm SL (MX), Two Peoples Bay, Western Australia (ca. 34°57’S, 118°10’E); CSIRO C 2004, 88 mm SL (MX), Lakes Entrance, Victoria (ca. 37°53’S, 148°00’E); CSIRO C 2692, 104 mm SL (MX), Cockburn Sound, Western Australia (ca. 32°12’S, 115°44’E); CSIRO CA 52, 157 mm SL (MX), Great Oyster Bay, Tasmania (42°15’S, 142°09’E), 12 <b>–</b> 17 m; CSIRO CA 170, 116 mm SL (MX), CA 171, 102 mm SL (MX), CA 172, 110 mm SL (MX), CA 173, 87 mm SL (MX), off Waterhouse I., Ringarooma Bay, Tasmania (40°45’S, 147°45’E), 34 m; CSIRO CA 3405, 127 mm SL (MX), CA 3406, 124 mm SL (MX), off Point Culver, Great Australian Bight, Western Australia (33°20’S, 124°46’E), 48 m; CSIRO H 2923–01, 50 mm SL (MX), CSIRO H 3536–06, 159 mm SL, off Disaster Bay, NSW (37°24’S, 149°58’E), 42–43 m; CSIRO H 6346– 17, 110 mm SL (MX), CSIRO H 6346–27, 2 specimens, 86–98 mm SL (MX); off Rottnest, Western Australia (31°55’S, 115°36’E), 28–29 m; CSIRO H 6942–05, 108 mm SL (MX), Investigator Strait, South Australia (35°24’S, 137°55’E), 37 m; CSIRO T 1675, 70 mm SL (X), Settlement Point, Flinders I., Bass Strait, Tasmania (ca. 40°01’S, 147°51’E); CSIRO T 1711–09, 65 mm SL (MX), norterneast coast of Flinders I., Tasmania (ca. 40°S, 148°E); MUFS 32940, 93 mm SL (MX), off Rottnest, Western Australia (31°55’S, 115°36’E), 28–29 m; MUFS 32941–32943, 3 specimens, 47–54 mm SL (M), off King Island, Bass Strait, Tasmania (39°53’S, 144°21’E), 33–35 m; NMW 90675 (1 of 2 syntypes of <i>Parequula bicornis</i>), 125 mm SL, Murray River, Victoria; SAMA F 12112, 36 mm SL (MX), Great Australian Bight, South Australia (32°15’S, 132°39’E), 61 m; SMNS 2236 (1 of 2 syntypes of <i>Parequula bicornis</i>), 127 mm SL, Hobsons Bay, Victoria (37°51'S, 144°56'E).</p> <p> <b>Diagnosis.</b> Distinguished from congeners in having the following combination of characters: a deeper body 2.0–2.7, mean 2.3 in standard length; semi-translucent to bluish with a narrow, parallel, yellowish vertical line on each fin membrane and a yellowish fin margin; soft anal-fin rays 16–18, mode 17; pored lateral-line scales 37–40, mode 38.</p> <p> <b>Description.</b> Counts and proportional measurements of the lectotype and 29 other specimens of <i>P. melbournensis</i> are shown in Table 1. Data for the lectotype are presented first, followed by those of other specimens in parentheses if different.</p> <p>Body ovate, compressed; rostro-occipital (dorsal) profile of head weakly convex; weakly to strongly concave in lateral view above eye, interorbital space slightly convex (slightly convex or flat, sometimes grooved when skin tightly connected with skull in preserved specimens); a pair of slight protuberances (nasal bones) projecting from anterior of snout, observed as naked nasal bones, more obvious when jaws protracted (Fig. 3 C); predorsal length shorter than body depth; orbit diameter 2.9 (2.1–3.0) in head, almost equal to bony interorbital width (subequal to or slightly greater than interorbital width); snout flattened in dorsal view (flat or with very shallow groove on snout and anterior orbit for process of intermaxillary bones, especially in specimens less than 100 mm SL), its length slightly less than orbit diameter; maxilla not reaching to vertical at anterior margin of eye, its posterior edge concave (usually concave); mandibular profile weakly concave; anterior premaxillary bone with a pair of blunt bony protuberances (weak to prominent) anteriorly, most visible in dorsal view; no scales on preopercular flange, rounded angle slightly less than 90º; mouth protractile; teeth minute, weakly curved, in a broad band on both jaws, those on outer row somewhat enlarged.</p> <p>Dorsal fin not usually notched; length of soft portion exceeding that of spinous (slightly exceeding in paratypes), length of spinous dorsal-fin base subequal to three quarters length of soft anal-fin base; dorsal-fin spines moderately strong and gradually increasing in height to penultimate spines, last three spines subequal, the last ca. 0.4 in head length (closer to one third head length in many specimens); anterior soft rays subequal in height to posterior spines; anal fin commencing beneath anterior dorsal-fin ray, length of its base about one quarter more than length of head; spines slightly stronger than dorsal-fin spines; third spine longest, more than a third of head length; pelvic-fin origin beneath posterior angle of base of pectoral fin; pelvic fin not quite extending to vent, length about 60% of head length, its spine length about 80% of length of adjacent ray; pectoral fin elongate, slightly shorter than head length, fourth and fifth rays longest, extending posteriorly to level of third anal-fin spine; caudal fin moderately forked to slightly lunate.</p> <p>Gill rakers short: rakers of upper limb shorter than uppermost rakers on lower limb, and rakers on lower limb gradually becoming shorter anteroventrally; body scales oval and cycloid; interorbital space, snout, and preorbital naked; head and body punctuated with numerous, small, round pores, usually visible without magnification on specimens larger than ca. 100 mm SL (Fig. 3 C–D); most pronounced on snout and interorbital region, but also evident on dorsal and anal fin bases when deciduous scales are lost; scattered small round pores, often observed together with a probable neuromast cell at each pores’ center (Fig. 3 D); posterior nostril twice size of anterior nostril, placed very close to eye, a small skin flap between anterior and posterior nostril; scales of cheek smaller than those of body, extending on to mandible; branchiostegals 6; pseudobranchiae present; 3 supraneural bones, usually 0/0/0+2/, but variably 0/0+0/2/ (on CSIRO A 1521, CSIRO C 2004, CSIRO CA 52, CSIRO CA 170 and CSIRO H 3536–06; see Remarks section below); upper caudal fin rays (dorsal) 17–20, lower caudal fin rays (ventral) 15–17, total caudal fin rays 32–37, upper procurrent rays (dorsal) 8–11, lower procurrent rays (ventral) 7–9, total procurrent rays 15–20; vertebrae 10+15.</p> <p> <b>Coloration.</b> Fresh coloration is based on color photographs of CSIRO H 6346–17 (110 mm SL), CSIRO H 6942–05 (108 mm SL), fig. p 587 of Gomon <i>et al.</i> 2008 (presumably ca. 15 cm SL), and an underwater photograph (http://australianmuseum.net.au/image/Silverbelly-Parequula-melbournensis): head and body whitish, yellowish or silvery bronze, with alternating, narrow, broken bluish bars; darker with bluish shine above; pectoral, pelvic and anal-fin membranes translucent to pinkish; dorsal fin semi-translucent bluish with narrow, parallel, yellowish vertical line on each fin membrane; margin of dorsal fin yellowish; (see a photograph on the above internet site); upper and lower rays of caudal fin brighter yellow than central part; cheeks and opercles washed with same color as body; iris whitish or golden, often with a dark vertical bar. In preservative (based on all examined specimens, except those listed below) head and body yellowish to brownish, abdominal part paler, upper-most and lower-most caudal fin membranes usually darker than adjacent rays. CSIRO H 2923–01, CSIRO H 6346–27 and MUFS 32941–32943 have white posterior opercle and whitish ventral body coloration.</p> <p> <b>Distribution.</b> Currently known from Merimbula, New South Wales (36˚53’S) to near Rottnest Island, Western Australia (ca. 32˚S), and throughout Bass Strait and off Tasmania (Hutchins and Swainston 1986). One specimen (CSIRO A 1513) from Exmouth Gulf, Western Australia (ca. 22˚S) has questionable locality data as this locality is 10˚ latitude further north of its confirmed distribution in WA.</p> <p> <b>Ecological notes.</b> Gomon <i>et al.</i> (2008) noted “over sand or mud bottom, often associated with seagrass, from intertidal zone to more than 100 m; forms schools, sometimes in large numbers” but can also be solitary (Last <i>et al.</i> 1983). The frequency of records in the literature suggest it is a reasonably common non-commercial component of bycatch in shallow trawl fisheries. Maximum depth data for over 200 lots of <i>P. melbournensis</i> in Australian fish collections (AMS, CSIRO, NMV, SAMA, WAM) was 84 m, but very few records were from deeper than 50 m. Both <i>Parequula</i> species were collected in the same trawl survey off southwestern Australia by Last et al 2006, but not in the same trawl stations, suggesting depth-related and/or habitat partitioning.</p> <p> Recently, Platell <i>et al.</i> (1997) studied the body size and mouth morphology of <i>P. melbournensis</i>. Bruce <i>et al.</i> (2009) reported that <i>P</i>. <i>melbournensis</i> co-occurs in different seasons and locations with the carangid <i>Pseudocaranx wrighti</i>. <i>Parequula melbournensis</i> mainly fed on polychaetes (45%), molluscs, crustaceans (29%) and echinoderms. In addition, a recent dietary study of Australian fur seals (<i>Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus</i>), using pyrosequencing prey DNA techniques from faeces collected at three breeding colonies from Victoria, southeastern Australia (Deagle <i>et al.</i> 2009), found that <i>P. melbournensis</i> was a small dietary component, together with primary pelagic prey species, <i>Emmelichthys nitidus</i> (Emmelichthyidae) and <i>Trachurus declivis</i> (Carangidae). The body shape and images of live specimens swimming or hovering above the substrate suggests that it leads a benthopelagic lifestyle.</p> <p> <b>Remarks.</b> <i>Gerres melbournensis</i> Castelnau 1872 was described from two syntypes (Eschmeyer & Fricke, 2011). Syntype MNHN A–0968 (94 mm SL) has been designated as the lectotype. The other syntype, a skin (AMS A 7138, unknown size, collected near Melbourne, Victoria, ca. 37°49’S, 144°58’E), appears to have been lost (not found in a search in January 2011 according to M. McGrouther, personal communication). The two syntypes (NMW 90675, 125 mm SL and SMNS 2236, 127 mm SL) of <i>Parequula bicornis</i> Steindachner 1879, conforms to <i>Parequula melbournensis</i> (Table 1), and it is considered to be a junior synonym.</p> <p> Formula of supraneural bones in <i>P. melbournensis</i> was basically “0/0/0+2/”, which is typical of most gerreid species (Iwatsuki <i>et al.</i> 1999a), but five specimens of <i>P. melbournensis</i> noted in description above showed “0/0+0/ 2/”, which is characteristic of the <i>Gerres erythrourus</i> complex (i.e. <i>G. erythrourus</i> and <i>G. phaiya</i> with deep bodies; Iwatsuki <i>et al.</i> 1998; Iwatsuki & Heemstra 2001, see fig. 2A–B). The same formula (“0/0+0/2/”) was also observed in <i>P. elongata</i> <b>n. sp.</b> only for MUFS 32938. Therefore, <i>Parequula</i> species might exhibit variability in the formula of their supraneural bones although variation in the formula of supraneural bones of each gerreid complex, group or species have not been reported in Iwatsuki’s serial reports cited earlier.</p>Published as part of <i>Iwatsuki, Yukio, Pogonoski, John J. & Last, Peter, 2012, Revision of the genus Parequula (Pisces: Gerreidae) with a new species from southwestern Australia, pp. 42-54 in Zootaxa 3425</i> on pages 48-51, DOI: <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/282006">10.5281/zenodo.282006</a&gt

Parequula elongata Iwatsuki, Pogonoski & Last, 2012, new species

<i>Parequula elongata,</i> new species <p>New English name: Western Silverbelly Fig. 1 A; Table 1</p> <p> <i>Parequula</i> sp. A; Last <i>et al.</i> 2006:10, 17, and 24, figured as 37 349801 (off Perth). <i>Parequula melbournensis</i> (in part); Gomon <i>et al.</i> 2008:587 (W Coast population).</p> <p> <b>Holotype.</b> CSIRO H 6344–04, 76 mm SL (MX), off Rottnest I., Western Australia, Australia (32°08’S, 115°15’E), 132– 133 m.</p> <p> <b>Paratypes.</b> 42−81 mm SL, <i>n</i> =20, all from Australia. AMS I 18707–004, 69 mm SL (MX), Great Australian Bight, Western Australia (ca. 32°54’S, 127°36’E), 57–58 m; CSIRO H 6345–03, 67 mm SL (MX), off Rottnest I., Western Australia; CSIRO H 6349–12, 2 specimens (MX), 58–71 mm SL (MX), off Rottnest I., Western Australia (32°10’ S, 115°18’E), 102–104 m; CSIRO H 6349–15, 3 specimens, 57–66 mm SL (MX), off Rottnest I., Western Australia (31°53’S, 115°18’E), 100–102 m; CSIRO H 6452–06, 71 mm SL (X), off Shark Bay, Western Australia (25°54’S, 112°50’E), 95–100 m; MUFS 32938–32939, 2 specimens, 60–65 mm SL (MX), off Rottnest I., Western Australia (31°55’S, 115°36’E), 100–102 m; NMV A 29356–005, 3 specimens, 69–78 mm SL (MX), NMV A 29356–009, 77 mm SL (MX), NMV A 29356–021, 70 mm SL, same data as holotype; SAMA F 12097, 3 specimens, 63–76 mm SL, Great Australian Bight, South Australia (32°53’S, 133°08’E), 77 m; WAM P 26068–007, 42 mm SL (MX), Goss Pass, Beacon Island, Houtman Abrolhos Islands, Western Australia (28°29’S, 113°47’E), 40 m; WAM P 27219–034, 81 mm SL (MX), Hummock Island, Houtman Abrolhos Islands, Western Australia (28°48’S, 114° 03’E), 40– 44 m.</p> <p> <b>Non-type specimens.</b> 50−70 mm SL, <i>n</i> =17, all from Australia. CSIRO H 6349–17, 2 specimens, 59–69 mm SL (X), off Rottnest I., Western Australia (31°55’S, 115°36’E), 100–102 m; NMV A 29361–008, 5 specimens, 55–66 mm SL (X, poor condition), NMV A 29361–018, 50 mm SL (X, poor condition), NMV A 29361–024, 51 mm SL (X, poor condition), and NMV A 29361–025, 56 mm SL (X, poor condition), off Rottnest I., Western Australia (31°55’S, 115°36’E), 100–102 m; SAMA F 12089, 5 specimens, 54–65 mm SL (X, poor condition), Great Australian Bight, South Australia (32°16’S, 131°25’E), 60 m; WAM P 13274–001, 2 specimens, 58–70 mm SL (X, poor condition), off Rottnest I., Western Australia (ca. 32°00’ S, 115°30’E), depth unknown.</p> <p> <b>Diagnosis.</b> Distinguished from its congener in having the following combination of characters: slender body (2.7–3.4, mean 3.0 in SL); reddish upper margin of dorsal-fin rays when fresh; soft anal-fin rays 14–15, usually 15; pored lateral-line scales 34–35, mode 34.</p> <p> <b>Description.</b> Counts and proportional measurements of the holotype and 20 paratypes of <i>Parequula elongata</i> <b>n. sp.</b> are shown in Table 1. Proportional data and counts of 17 non-type specimens of <i>P. elongata</i> <b>n. sp.</b> are excluded from Table 1 because most specimens were damaged or in poor condition. In the description below, data for the holotype are presented first, followed by those of the paratypes in parentheses if different. All vertebral counts in non-type specimens are noted below.</p> <p>Body oblong, compressed; rostro-occipital (dorsal) profile of head almost straight, but interorbital space slightly convex (slightly convex or flat, sometimes with a shallow groove when skin tightly connected with skull in preserved specimens; a pair of weak protuberances (nasal bones) of dorsal anteriormost snout, observed as naked nasal bones, more obvious when jaws protracted (Fig. 3 A); predorsal length shorter than body depth (subequal to slightly shorter than body depth); orbit diameter 2.4 (2.3–2.8) in head, almost equal to bony interorbital width (equal to or slightly greater than interorbital width); snout in dorsal view usually flat (flat or with a shallow groove for process of intermaxillary bones, especially in specimens ca. 70–80 mm SL, but groove extends little beyond anterior margin of orbit), its length slightly less than orbit diameter; maxilla almost reaching to vertical at front margin of dermal eye opening, its posterior edge concave; mandibular profile weakly concave; anterior premaxillary bones with a pair of weak, blunt bony protuberances in front in dorsal view; preopercular flange naked, rounded, angle slightly less than 90º; mouth protractile; teeth small, weakly curved, in broad band in jaws, outer row somewhat enlarged.</p> <p>Dorsal fin usually not notched; length of soft portion slightly exceeding that of spinous portion; length of spinous dorsal-fin base slightly exceeding three quarters base of soft portion of anal fin; dorsal-fin spines moderately strong and gradually increasing in height to penultimate spines; last three spines subequal, their length about half length of head; fin rays subequal in height to posterior spines; anal fin commencing beneath anterior dorsal-fin ray, length of its base one quarter greater than head length (slightly greater than head length in most paratypes), spines much stronger than those of dorsal-fin spines, third longest, subequal to eye diameter; pelvic fins not quite extending to vent, it length ca. 0.6 times head length, while its spine ca. 0.8 times length of adjacent ray, recessible into post-pelvic groove when pelvic fin retracted; origin of pelvic fin beneath (slightly behind in some paratypes) posterior angle of base of pectoral fin; pectoral-fin length less than head length, fin tip reaching to vertical at anus and first anal-fin spine base; caudal fin moderately forked.</p> <p>Gill rakers short; rakers of upper limb shorter than uppermost rakers on lower limb, and rakers on lower limb gradually becoming shorter anteroventrally; body scales oval and cycloid; interorbital space, snout, and preorbital naked, head and body punctuated by numerous small round pores, barely visible without magnification, most obvious on snout and interorbital region, but also evident on dorsolateral body (Fig. 3 A–B); posterior nostril twice size of anterior nostril, placed very close to eye, a small skin flap between anterior and posterior nostril; scales of cheek smaller than those of body, extending on to mandible; branchiostegals 6; pseudobranchiae present; 3 supraneural bones (0/0/0+2/), but rarely 0/0+0/2/ (only in MUFS 32938); upper caudal fin rays (dorsal) 18–22, lower caudal fin rays (ventral) 15–18, total caudal fin rays 35–40, upper procurrent rays (dorsal) 9–13, lower procurrent rays (ventral) 7–10, total procurrent rays 17–23; vertebrae 10+15 (same in all non-type specimens).</p> <p> <b>Coloration.</b> Fresh coloration is based on the holotype (CSIRO H 6344–04, 76 mm SL, photographed by P. Last) and 2 paratypes (CSIRO H 6345–03, 67 mm SL, photographed by P. Last, and CSIRO H 6452–06, 71 mm SL, photographed by L. Conboy): head and body translucent with weak silvery tone both above and just beneath lateral line, silvery white ventrally; pectoral, pelvic and anal fins translucent or whitish; dorsal fins translucent with reddish outer margin; caudal fin pale whitish or translucent with four dotted vertical bands, posteriormost band or margin somewhat yellowish; cheeks and opercles similar to body colour; anterior and posterior iris lighter, remainder golden, darker in upper and lower parts. In preserved specimens: head and body yellowish or dusky brownish, lighter ventrally on abdomen; dotted vertical bands of caudal fin becoming indistinct. Alcohol-fixed specimens yellowish to dusky dorsally and whitish ventrally.</p> <p> <b>Distribution.</b> <i>Parequula elongata</i> <b>n. sp.</b> is endemic to Australia and currently known only from the following localities: off Shark Bay, the Houtman Abrolhos Islands, Rottnest Island, and in the Great Australian Bight. The distribution of this species is probably limited to southwestern Australia.</p> <p> <b>Ecological notes.</b> The first known specimens of <i>P. elongata</i> <b>n. sp.</b> were captured by trawls in depths of 100–133 m (Last <i>et al.</i> 2006). Specimens later detected in museum collections were taken by SCUBA and trawls at depths of ca. 40– 100 m. The species is not known to occur in shallow inshore waters (less than 40 m) like its congener <i>P. melbournensis</i>. Thus, the species appears to be mainly demersal on the mid continental shelf, whereas <i>P. melbournensis</i> is more common in shallow, inner-shelf and coastal environments.</p> <p> <b>Etymology.</b> The specific name, “ <i>elongata</i> ”, is proposed in reference to the more slender body of this species than its congener.</p> <p> <b>Remarks.</b> The authors consider <i>Parequula elongata</i> <b>n. sp.</b> to be a member of the genus <i>Parequula</i> (previously monotypic) due to the similarities with <i>P. melbournensis</i> (Castelnau 1872), including its dorsal-fin and anal-fin ray counts, and other similar morphological characters (see Table 1). However, it is noted that the overall body shape is subtly different. <i>Parequula elongata</i> <b>n. sp.</b> is more slender than <i>P. melbournensis</i> and all specimens were smaller than 85 mm SL, indicating that it is probably a smaller species than <i>P. melbournensis.</i></p>Published as part of <i>Iwatsuki, Yukio, Pogonoski, John J. & Last, Peter, 2012, Revision of the genus Parequula (Pisces: Gerreidae) with a new species from southwestern Australia, pp. 42-54 in Zootaxa 3425</i> on pages 43-48, DOI: <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/282006">10.5281/zenodo.282006</a&gt

Sciadonus pedicellaris Garman 1899

Sciadonus pedicellaris Garman, 1899 Table 1, Figs. 1, 14 Sciadonus pedicellaris Garman, 1899: 172 (type locality Gulf of Panama). Sciadonus kullenbergi Nybelin, 1957: 310 (type locality off the Azores). Leucochlamys galatheae Nielsen, 1969: 75 (type locality Kermadec Trench, SW Pacific). Sciadonus galatheae Nielsen & Møller, 2015: 736 (key), 738, fig. 99.2 Sciadonus pedicellaris: Nielsen 2018: 183. Material examined. (5 specimens, 66–116 mm SL) CSIRO H 8091-02 (GenBank Accession MH 491985), female, 88 mm SL, GAB, SA, 35°48.89’S, 132°01.27’E, RV Investigator, st. IN2017_C01/175, beam trawl, 3930–4250 m, 15 Apr. 2017. CSIRO H 8092-02 (GenBank Accession MH 491984), female, 79 mm SL, GAB, SA, 35°42.95’S, 131°39.38’E, RV Investigator, st. IN2017_CO1/178, beam trawl, 3817–3950 m, 16 Apr. 2017. CSIRO H 8099-01 (GenBank Accession MH 491986), female, 66 mm SL, GAB, SA, 34°45.89’S, 130°42.01’E, RV Investigator, st. IN2017_CO1/208, beam trawl, 1816–1870 m, 23 Apr. 2017. NMV A 31819 -001, female, 116 mm SL, off Newcastle, NSW, 33°26.46’S, 152°42.12’E, RV Investigator, st. IN2017_VO3/065, beam trawl, 4173–4280 m, 30 May 2017. CSIRO H 8125-01 (GenBank Accession MH 491988), male, 92+ mm SL, Hunter Commonwealth Marine Reserve, NSW, 32°08.28’S, 153°31.62’E, RV Investigator, st. IN2017_ V03 /078, beam trawl, 3980–4029 m, 4 June 2017. Diagnosis. Sciadonus pedicellaris differs from the other four Sciadonus species by the following combination of characters: No distinct black spots dorsally and along midbody; pelvic fin length 1.0–2.2 % SL; dorsal fin rays 90–107; precaudal vertebrae 43–49; origin of anal fin below dorsal fin rays 44–56. Size. Largest known specimen (126 mm SL) is a ripe female. Distribution (Fig. 1). Earlier known from 19 specimens caught in the Northeast Atlantic, Northeast Pacific, the Solomon Sea and off New Zealand at 1169–5440 m (Nielsen 2018) and now additionally five specimens from the GAB and off southern Qld caught at 1816–4280 m. Remarks. The present five specimens are compared to 19 specimens from most oceans (Nielsen 2018) and Table 1 shows agreement in all the 21 characters mentioned.Published as part of Nielsen, Jørgen G., Pogonoski, John J. & Appleyard, Sharon A., 2019, Aphyonid-clade species of Australia (Teleostei, Bythitidae) with four species new to Australian waters and a new species of Barathronus, pp. 554-572 in Zootaxa 4564 (2) on page 569, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4564.2.12, http://zenodo.org/record/258900

Paraphyonus bolini

Paraphyonus bolini (Nielsen, 1974) Table 1, Figs. 1, 11 Aphyonus bolini Nielsen, 1974: 179 (type locality 15°38’N, 111°54’E). Paraphyonus bolini: Nielsen 2015: 329. Material examined. (6 specimens, 101–155 mm SL) NMV A 31819 -002, male, 129 mm SL, off Newcastle, NSW, 33°26.10’S, 152°39.90’E, RV Investigator, st. IN2017_VO3/065, beam trawl, 4173–4280 m, 30 May 2017. CSIRO H 8125-03 (GenBank Accession MH 491990), female, 145 mm SL, Hunter Commonwealth Marine Reserve, NSW, 32°08.28’S, 153°31.62’E, RV Investigator, st. IN2017_ V03 /078, beam trawl, 3980–4029 m, 4 June 2017. NMV A 31832 -001, male, 155 mm SL, off Byron Bay, NSW, 28°21.30’S, 154°38.16’E, RV Investigator, st. IN2017_VO3/ 0 97, beam trawl, 3762–3803 m, 8 June 2017. CSIRO H 8129-02 (GenBank Accession MH 491991), female, 124 mm SL, off Byron Bay, NSW, 28°22.26’S, 154°38.92’E, RV Investigator, st. IN2017_ V03 /099, beam trawl, 3825– 3754 m, 9 June 2017. NMV A 31836 -003, female, 126 mm SL, east of Moreton Bay, Qld, 27°00.47’S, 154°13.89’E, RV Investigator, st. IN2017_VO3/102, beam trawl, 4264–4274 m, 10 June 2017. NMV A 31838 - 0 0 2, male, 101 mm SL, off Fraser Island, Qld, 25°15.18’S, 154°11.52’E, RV Investigator, st. IN2017_VO3/109, beam trawl, 4005–4006 m, 11 June 2017. Diagnosis. Paraphyonus bolini differs from the other species in the genus by the following combination of characters: long rakers on anterior gill arch 11–15, number of pectoral fin rays 13–17, anterior anal fin ray below dorsal fin ray 14–19, dorsal fin origin above vertebra 18–22, precaudal vertebrae 26–30, preanal length 49.5–60 % SL; no black pigmentation laterally in roof of mouth. Size. The largest known specimen (155 mm SL) is a ripe male. Distribution (Fig. 1). The present six specimens were caught off NSW and southern Qld at depths of 3754– 4280 m. The six earlier known specimens are from off Madagascar, South China Sea and off Vanuatu at depths of 1075–1300 m. Remarks. The comparison (Table 1) between the present six specimens and the six earlier known specimens (Nielsen 2015: 332) shows full agreement in all meristic characters. In morphometric characters there is a variation in preanal length, base of pelvic fin to anal fin and head length and furthermore, the Australian specimens occur deeper than the non-Australian specimens (3754–4280 m vs 1075–1300 m). However, we do not consider the differences enough to justify establishing of a new species. Nielsen (2015: 332) considered a specimen as tentatively identified to P. bolini based on differences in number of vertebrae and rays in dorsal and anal fins. However, the Australian material levels out these differences.Published as part of Nielsen, Jørgen G., Pogonoski, John J. & Appleyard, Sharon A., 2019, Aphyonid-clade species of Australia (Teleostei, Bythitidae) with four species new to Australian waters and a new species of Barathronus, pp. 554-572 in Zootaxa 4564 (2) on pages 566-567, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4564.2.12, http://zenodo.org/record/258900

Barathronus pacificus Nielsen & Eagle 1974

Barathronus pacificus Nielsen & Eagle, 1974 Table 1, Figs. 1, 9–10 Barathronus pacificus Nielsen & Eagle, 1974: 1067 (type locality: 44°41.1’N, 133°24.1’W). Barathronus pacificus: Nielsen et al. 1999: 139. Material examined. (2 specimens, 86–95 mm SL): CSIRO H 8092-03, male, 86 mm SL, GAB, SA, 35°42.95’S, 131°39.38’E, RV Investigator, st. IN2017_C01/178, beam trawl, 3817–3950 m, 16 Apr. 2017. CSIRO H 8093-01 (GenBank Accession MH 491987; head badly damaged during capture), male, 95 mm SL, GAB, SA, 35°48.86’S, 131°42.16’E, RV Investigator, st. IN2017_C01/179, beam trawl, 4618–4750 m, 17 Apr. 2017. Size. Largest known specimen is a ripe female 140 mm SL. Diagnosis. Barathronus pacificus differs from the other nine Barathronus species by the following combination of characters: Dorsal fin rays 67–80, anal fin rays 61–69, pectoral fin rays 25–27, precaudal vertebrae 37–39, total vertebrae 82–89, anterior gill arch with 28–35 long rakers, 6–8 fangs on vomer, peritoneum transparent, no ventral flexure of anteriormost vertebrae and a pair of small claspers at basis of penis. Distribution (Fig. 1). Six earlier known specimens from nearby localities in the NE Pacific at 3334–3860 m, from a 42 mm SL juvenile from the Tasman Sea and now from two GAB stations in close proximity at 3817–4750 m. Remarks. The present two specimens are compared to the six earlier known specimens, including the type material from the Northeast Pacific. Table 1 shows just a few minor differences between the specimens from the two areas. Also included in the table is a 42 mm SL pelagic juvenile of B. pacificus recorded by Okiyama & Kato (1997) from the Tasman Sea between Lord Howe and Norfolk Islands (30°00’S, 163°00’E) which was not part of the Australian Exclusive Economic Zone in 1997. It was therefore not included by Bray et al. (2015) in their summary of the Aphyonidae.Published as part of Nielsen, Jørgen G., Pogonoski, John J. & Appleyard, Sharon A., 2019, Aphyonid-clade species of Australia (Teleostei, Bythitidae) with four species new to Australian waters and a new species of Barathronus, pp. 554-572 in Zootaxa 4564 (2) on pages 565-566, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4564.2.12, http://zenodo.org/record/258900

FIGURE 1. Parequula elongata n in Revision of the genus Parequula (Pisces: Gerreidae) with a new species from southwestern Australia

FIGURE 1. Parequula elongata n. sp. (A) and P. melbournensis (B). A) holotype, CSIRO H 6344 – 04, 76 mm SL, off Rottnest I., Western Australia; B) CSIRO H 6942 – 05, 108 mm SL, Investigator Strait, South Australia

Siphamia guttulata : Allen et al. 2006: 1108

<i>Siphamia guttulata</i> ­(Alleyne­&­Macleay­1877) <p>Figures 1–2, 3 A–B, 4–5, Tables 1–3</p> <p> <i>Apogon guttulatus</i> Alleyne & Macleay 1877: 267, plate 5, fig.1 (type locality, Darnley Island, Torres Strait, Queensland); Stanbury, 1969: 206.</p> <p> <i>Siphamia guttulata</i>: Allen <i>et al</i>. 2006:1108; Gon & Allen 2012:48; Fraser & Prokofiev 2016: 229; Kuiter & Kozawa 2019: 154.</p> <p> <i>Siphamia guttulatus</i>: Munro 1960: 139; Paxton <i>et al</i>. 1989: 557; Allen 1999: 2608; Mabuchi <i>et al</i>. 2014: 201.</p> <p> <b>Lectotype.­</b> AMS IA.8103, 22.5 mm, Torres Strait, Darnley Island, Queensland, 9°35’S, 143°46’E, 1875.</p> <p> <b>Paralectotypes.­</b> AMS I.16306-001 [ex MAMU F402], 31 specimens, 19.0–28.0 mm, collected with lectotype.</p> <p> <b>Non-type­specimens.­</b> 31 specimens, 16.6–27.6 mm SL, all from Queensland, unless otherwise indicated. AMS I.49030-001, 20.3 mm SL, Cumberland Islands, east of Repulse Bay, 20°34.79’S, 149°08.95’E, 27 m, 11 Dec. 2003; CSIRO H 6648-02, 25 mm SL, north of Edgecumbe Bay, 19°48.59’S, 148°15.87’E, 35 m, 30 Apr. 2004; CSIRO H 6685-03, 23 mm SL, CSIRO H 6685-04, 3: 21.55–23.8 mm SL, north-east of Innisfail, 17°13.50’S, 146°21.57’E, 44 m, 19 Oct. 2004; CSIRO H 6734-02, 5: 21.3–24.55 mm SL, south-east of Cooktown, 15°42.67’S, 145°37.36’E, 35 m, 18 Nov. 2003; CSIRO H 6930-02, 25 mm SL, CSIRO H 6930-03, 2: 21.5–24.2 mm SL, south-east of Cairns, 17°06.36’S, 146°00.30’E, 20 m, 18 Oct. 2004; CSIRO H 7026-02, 24.45 mm SL, north-east of Cairns, 16°45.93’S, 146°04.62’E, 40 m, 11 Oct. 2004; CSIRO H 7457-01, 27 mm SL, CSIRO H 7457-03, 26.0 mm SL, north of Cape Weymouth, 12°34.72’S, 143°28.70’E, 33 m, 3 Oct. 2004; CSIRO H 7486-03, 2: 16.6–24.65 mm SL, south of Cape Flattery, 15°02.64’S, 145°20.17’E, 20 m, 13 Oct. 2004. CSIRO H 7487-03, 25.2 mm SL, east of Port Douglas, 16°28.65’S, 145°41.20’E, 31 m, 22 Nov. 2003; CSIRO H 8479-01, 24.4 mm SL, Torres Strait, north of Darnley Island, 9°31.23’S, 143°45.68’E, 37 m, 28 Jan. 2004; CSIRO H 8480-01, 2: 21.05–23.85 mm SL, north-west of Lizard Island, 14°33.24’S, 145°19.28’E, 26 m, 20 Nov. 2003; CSIRO H 8481-01, 19.9 mm SL, north of Port Douglas, 16°21.77’S, 145°30.38’E, 16 m, 18 Nov. 2003; CSIRO H 8483-01, 21.8 mm SL, Torres Strait, east of Coconut Island, 10°02.11’S, 143°11.47’E, 25 m, 29 Jan. 2004; CSIRO H 8484-01, 22.0 mm SL, south-east of South Island, Northumberland Islands Group, 21°53.14’S, 150°28.56’E, 41 m, 14 Nov. 2005; CSIRO H 8489-01, 27.6 mm SL, north of Princess Charlotte Bay, 13°57.81’S, 143°58.72’E, 36 m, 6 Oct. 2004; CSIRO H 8490-01, 22.6 mm SL, south-east of Cooktown, 15°42.21’S, 145°42.49’E, 46 m, 18–19 Nov. 2003; NTM S.18369-001, 23.7 mm SL, north-east of Orford Bay, 11°09.69’S, 142°57.34’E, 28 m, 30 Sep. 2004; QM I.40983, 20.3 mm SL, Torres Strait, south-east of Dalrymple Island, 9°46.09’S, 143°32.24’E, 41 m, 29 Jan. 2004; WAM P.35009.001, 24.2 mm SL, north-east of Great Palm Island, 18°34.23’S, 146°48.84’E, 43 m, 15 Dec. 2003.</p> <p> <b>Diagnosis.­</b> A species of the <i>Siphamia tubifer</i> group with 2 supraneurals, 0–1 median predorsal scales and 13–25 preopercular serrations.</p> <p> <b>Description.­</b> Based on the material listed above. Dorsal rays VII+I,9; anal rays II,8; pectoral rays 14–16 (modally 15); median predorsal scales 0–1; developed gill rakers 1 + 7–8; supraneurals 2. Body depth 2.2–2.8 in SL and body width 1.9–2.25 in the depth; eye diameter 2.7–3.2 in head length; first dorsal spine 2.1–2.9 in second spine; second dorsal spine 3.7–4.9, spine of second dorsal fin 4.0–5.0, and second anal spine 4.0–5.1, all in head length; pectoral-fin length 4.1–5.5 and pelvic-fin length 3.7–4.6 in SL; caudal-peduncle length 1.4–2.1 in distance between pelvic spine insertion and anal-fin origin; predorsal distance 2.0–2.2, preanal distance 1.3–1.4 and prepelvic distance 8.8–11.35, all in SL. Preopercular edge with 13–25 serrations around angle and ventral edge; scales spinoid; light organ ending over to 1 st to 6 th procurrent caudal rays in specimens 20–26 mm SL</p> <p>Colour (from Figure 1; photograph taken after specimen stored frozen for eight years). Head and body with varying shades of brown, darker on nape, becoming lighter posteriorly and peppered with black dots of different sizes. Iris dark brown. Jaws creamy white, peppered with small dark dots. Abdominal area, gill cover, and area between eye and upper jaw silvery. Light organ silvery, with dark vertical striations. A line of large, black melanophores along midline of body from upper posterior edge of preopercle to caudal-fin base. Fins pale; first dorsal-fin spines, pelvic spine and posteriormost second dorsal-fin rays with small black dots.</p> <p> <b>Comparisons.­</b> Species of <i>Siphamia</i> fall into two groups easily distinguished by the colour pattern of the light organ made of a silvery region extending along the ventral margin of the body from the isthmus to the caudal peduncle. <i>Siphamia guttulata</i> belongs to the <i>S. tubifer</i> species group which has a striated light organ (Fig. 1). Species of the second group have a dotted light organ (see images of both groups in Gon & Allen 2012). Within the <i>S. tubifer</i> group <i>S. guttulata</i> (Fig. 2) and <i>S. argentea</i> Lachner 1953 share two supraneurals; all other species of this group have one supraneural. Most members of the <i>S. tubifer</i> group, including <i>S. guttulata</i>, share a similar colour pattern of, usually, three dark stripes on a pale background. The exceptions are <i>S. jebbi</i> Allen 1993 and <i>S. stenotes</i> Gon & Allen 2012, the former with no stripes and the latter with two stripes on the upper part of the body (Gon & Allen 2012). These two species as well as <i>S. argentea</i> differ from <i>S. guttulata</i> and the remaining member of the <i>S. tubifer</i> group in having 13 pectoral-fin rays [vs. 14–16 (usually 15) rays]. In addition, <i>S. guttulata</i> differs from all other members of the <i>S. tubifer</i> group in having the scales in its predorsal area arranged irregularly resulting in none or one proper predorsal scale (Fig. 3 A–B). The median predorsal scales of <i>S. guttulata</i> requires further clarification. Predorsal scales are present either side of the dorsal midline on the type specimens, with some appearing to have a very small median predorsal scale, usually just prior to the first dorsal fin spine (Fig. 3A). For the non-type specimens most scales were lost in the trawls, but in at least one specimen a small median predorsal scale was present (Fig. 3B). In the other Queensland survey specimens, it was impossible to reliably determine the presence/absence of this small scale. Further examination of this character on specimens in better condition will be required to resolve this issue. In comparison, the median predorsal scales of <i>S. tubifer</i> are larger and more obvious (Fig. 3C) and range from 3–5 in number (Gon & Allen 2012).</p> <p> <b>DNA­barcoding.</b> Twenty-six specimens were successfully barcoded at the COI gene. Following alignment of the consensus sequences and the <i>Pterapogon kauderni</i> sequence from GenBank, 633 base pairs of the gene were analysed. The ratios of nucleotides in the COI gene across the 26 <i>Siphamia</i> specimens ranged from 19.5% (G) to 29.6% (T), with 211 of the 633 representing parsimony informative sites. The within species variation was very low (reflected by small genetic distances among individuals of each species) - <i>Siphamia cuneiceps</i> (d = 0.006); <i>S. roseigaster</i> (d = 0.003); <i>S</i>. <i>tubulata</i> (d = 0.006); <i>S. tubifer</i> (d = 0.003) and <i>S. guttulata</i> (d = 0.004). Pairwise distances (based on the number of base substitutions) between the species was much larger and is shown in Table 3. The largest divergence between species was <i>S. guttulata</i> and <i>S. roseigaster</i> / <i>S. tubulata</i>.</p> <p> The within group distance for the individuals from each of the species in the ‘ <i>S. tubulata</i> group’ was higher (0.170, s.e ±0.010) than the distances among individuals of each of the species in the ‘ <i>S. tubifer</i> group’ (0.070, s.e ±0.010). The topology of the NJ and ML trees of the COI gene was identical and clearly demonstrates the among species genetic distances with the separation of each species strongly supported. The maximum likelihood tree is shown in Figure 5. An attempt was made to extract DNA out of 3 of the 31 paralectotypes of <i>Siphamia guttulata</i> (AMS I.16306-001, 21.9–24.8 mm SL) although the early fixation history of these specimens was unknown. However, low yields and poor-quality DNA from these specimens prevented the acquisition of adequate sequence lengths to be informative.</p> <p> <b>Remarks.­</b> Alleyne & Macleay (1877) described <i>Apogon guttulatus</i> as having three dark stripes on the body, practically invisible in their small black and white illustration, the lowest of which marks “the limits of a very silvery belly.” A close examination of this drawing (also reproduced by Kuiter & Kozawa 2019: 154), enlarged on a computer screen, reveals a darkish area extending backwards from the lower part of the gill cover along the ventral contour of the body. It would be difficult for an eye not trained for the light organ of <i>Siphamia</i> to relate this species to Weber’s (1909) genus. Indeed, McCulloch (1929) classified it in <i>Apogonichthys</i> Bleeker 1854. It is therefore not surprising that 51 years went by before Munro (1960) made the correct generic association.</p> <p> The proportional measurements and counts of the studied specimens (Table 2) are compared with those of Gon & Allen (2012). In conjunction with the striated light organ, colour pattern and molecular data, these data helped confirm the identification of the specimens as <i>Siphamia guttulata</i>. The Queensland specimens we examined lost most of their scales due to abrasion during capture in prawn trawl (the types of the species at AMS were dip-netted and are in better condition). The largest specimen in this study was 27.6 mm SL, a similar size to the maximum size of 28.0 SL mm given by Gon & Allen (2012). The range of the spines’ proportions in this study (Table 2) indicates relatively high character variability and this was also evident in other species of the <i>Siphamia tubifer</i> group such as <i>S. goreni</i> Gon & Allen 2012, <i>S. randalli</i> Gon & Allen 2012, and <i>S. tubifer</i>, as noted by Gon & Allen (2012). Twenty-three recently collected specimens were counted for pectoral-fin rays. The majority (14) of these fish had 15 rays in both pectoral fins, and another two had 15 on the left fin while the right one was damaged; three fish had 16 rays; one fish had 14 rays on the left pectoral-fin and three had this count on the right fin. Gill rakers were counted in 18 specimens and all had a total of 8 developed rakers and 7 rakers on the ceratobranchial. The light organ of the smallest specimen (CSIRO H 7486-03, 16.6 mm SL) ended at about two thirds of the caudal peduncle length; in a 19.9 mm SL specimen (CSIRO H 8481-01) it ended in front of the first procurrent caudal-fin ray; and in the largest non-type specimen (CSIRO H 8489-01, 27.6 mm SL) it ended over the 6 th procurrent caudal-fin ray. The Queensland specimens differed slightly in morphometrics from the type specimens as follows: 1.9–2.25 body width in the former (vs. 1.8 in latter; Gon & Allen 2012), because most of the specimens examined in this study were frozen for 8–10 years before fixation.</p> <p> <i>Siphamia guttulata</i> is a common resident in the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) ecosystem. It was collected in many areas from Darnley Island, Torres Strait, (09°35’S, 143°46’E) southwards to Northumberland Islands Group, Queensland (21°53.14’S, 150°28.56’E), encompassing most of the GBR (Fig. 4), at a depth range of 11– 46 m. Its absence from over 100 demersal trawl stations, including night-time hauls, during the same survey undertaken south of 22°S suggests it is unlikely to be present in the extreme southern GBR. Although the exact depth of collection of the type specimens at Darnley Island was not originally stated, Alleyne & Macleay (1877) noted that it was “very numerous…in holes in the rocks at low water,” implying that the collectors were able to see the fish while wading in the water, possibly with the aid of a viewing box or primitive snorkelling equipment. The species is likely to occur in nearby Papua New Guinea waters.</p> <p> <b>Comparative­material:</b> <i>Siphamia cuneiceps</i> (6 specimens, 27–32 mm SL, all from Queensland): CSIRO H 6791-04, 27 mm SL, Torres Strait, west of Banks (Moa) Island, 10°15.52’S, 141°51.06’E, 13 m, 17 Jan. 2004; CSIRO H 6901-13, 27 mm SL, Torres Strait, south of Dungeness (Zagai) Island, 9°57.01’S, 142°53.76’E, 10 m, 20–21 Jan. 2004; CSIRO H 7679-03, 29 mm SL, north of Broad Sound, 21°43.81’S, 149°36.46’E, 14 m, 12 Nov. 2005; CSIRO H 8482-01, 32 mm SL, CSIRO H 8482-02, 32 mm SL, CSIRO H 8482-03, 30 mm SL, south-east of Mackay, 22°07.49’S, 150°19.48’E, 26 m, 14 Nov. 2005. <i>Siphamia roseigaster</i> (21 specimens: 32–48 mm SL, all from Queensland, unless otherwise indicated): CSIRO H 6440-02, 8: 35–41 mm SL, Torres Strait, south of Bristow (Bobo) Island, Papua New Guinea, 9°13.68’S, 143°19.23’E, 36 m, 25 Jan. 2004; CSIRO H 6912-05, 5: 37–48 mm SL, Torres Strait, east of Saibai Island, Papua New Guinea, 9°18.98’S, 142°55.43’E, 11 m, 23 Jan. 2004; CSIRO H 7452-01, 40 mm SL, CSIRO H 7452-02, 6: 32–48 mm SL, Broad Sound, 22°07.59’S, 149°36.95’E, 16 m, 27 Apr. 2004; CSIRO H 8478-01, 39 mm SL, Broad Sound, 22°07.75’S, 149°41.21’E, 18 m, 27 Apr. 2004. <i>Siphamia tubifer</i> (11 specimens: 24–35 mm SL, all from Queensland): CSIRO H 6516-02, 29 mm SL, north of Princess Charlotte Bay, 13°43.52’S, 144°01.49’E, 40 m, 05 Oct. 2004; CSIRO H 6535-04, 29 mm SL, south-east of Cairns, 17°08.66’S, 146°32.05’E, 71 m, 19 Oct. 2004; CSIRO H 6701-03, 28 mm SL, north-east of Rockingham Bay, 17°43.21’S, 146°43.68’E, 67 m, 13 Dec. 2005; CSIRO H 6722-08, 27 mm SL, Torres Strait, north-east of Cape York Peninsula, 10°31.84’S, 143°51.19’E, 27 m, 10 Jan. 2004; CSIRO H 6752-02, 31 mm SL, CSIRO H 6752-03, 2: 33.0– 33.6 mm SL, north-east of Hinchinbrook Island, 17°50’S, 146°45’E, 72 m, 28 Nov. 2003; CSIRO H 7026- 03, 35 mm SL, north-east of Cairns, 16°45.93’S, 146°04.62’E, 40 m, 11 Oct. 2004; CSIRO H 7460-01, 32 mm SL, north-east of Townsville, 18°31.23’S, 147°35.45’E, 76 m, 14 Dec. 2003; CSIRO H 7461-01, 26 mm SL, east of Hinchinbrook Island, 18°22.63’S, 146°44.59’E, 51 m, 1 May 2004; CSIRO H 7463-01, 24 mm SL, north-east of Mackay, 20°06.24’S, 150°13.48’E, 74 m, 5 Dec. 2005. <i>Siphamia tubulata</i> (10 specimens: 17–32 mm SL, all from Queensland): CSIRO H 6145-08, 17 mm, Torres Strait, north-west of Prince of Wales (Muralug) Island, 10°33.57’S, 141°37.14’E, 17 m, 16 Jan. 2004; CSIRO H 6442-05, 27 mm SL; north-east of Whitsunday Island group, 19°40.31’S, 150°04.95’E, 73 m, 5 Dec. 2003; CSIRO H 6713-02, 30 mm SL, Shoalwater Bay, 22°15.09’S, 150°11.73’E, 10 m, 14 Nov. 2005; CSIRO H 7453-01, 31 mm SL, north-east of Northumberland Islands, 20°56.73’S, 150°20.35’E, 43 m, 4 Dec. 2005; CSIRO H 7660-05, 28 mm SL, east of Northumberland Islands, 21°37.92’S, 150°07.89’E, 34 m, 28 Nov. 2005; CSIRO H 7894-02, 32 mm SL, Torres Strait, Seven Reefs, 10°19.14’S, 143°44.99’E, 54 m, 31 Jan. 2004; CSIRO H 8031-02, 25.4 mm SL, east of Bowling Green Bay, 19°09.45’S, 148°07.06’E, 54 m, 12 Dec. 2003; CSIRO H 8487-01, 29 mm SL, east of Cumberland Islands, 20°36.36’S, 150°15.98’E, 45 m, 4 Dec. 2005; CSIRO H 8488-01, 2: 31–32 mm SL, north of Whitsunday Islands, 19°39.87’S, 149°09.91’E, 49 m, 8 Dec. 2005.</p>Published as part of <i>Pogonoski, John J., Gon, Ofer & Appleyard, Sharon A., 2020, Redescription and distributional range extension of the Speckled Siphonfish, Siphamia guttulata (Pisces: Apogonidae), pp. 377-388 in Zootaxa 4766 (2)</i> on pages 379-385, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4766.2.6, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/3763507">http://zenodo.org/record/3763507</a&gt