Simipercis trispinosa, Johnson & Randall, 2006

Johnson, Jeffrey W. & Randall, John E., 2006, Simipercis trispinosa, a new genus and species of sandperch (Perciformes: Pinguipedidae) from eastern Australia, Memoirs of Museum Victoria 63 (1), pp. 57-64 : 58-63

Simipercis trispinosa sp. nov.

Threespine Grubfish

Figures 1a–e , 2a–d , 4 ; Tables 1 –2.

Material examined. Holotype. QM I. 32697, 114 mm, east of Noosa, Qld, 26°24'S, 153°39'E, 104 m, Queensland Fisheries Service , 22 Jun 2001.

Paratypes: (N = 92) AMS I.31473-002, 130 mm, off Iluka , NSW, 29°24'S, 153°35'E, 67–77 m, K. Graham on FRV Kapala , 6 May 1990 ; AMS I.32121-004, 120 mm, off Newcastle, NSW, 32°53'S, 152°01'E, 73-79 m, K. Graham on FRV Kapala , 7 Jun 1990 ; AMS I.32209-002, 2: 66.5–116 mm, off Newcastle, NSW, 32°54'S, 151°57'E, 64–70 m, K. Graham on FRV Kapala , 23 May 1990 ; AMS I.32217-001, 5: 105.5– 135 mm, off Newcastle, NSW, 32°53'S, 152°02'E, 73–75 m, K. Graham on FRV Kapala , 29 Aug 1991 ; AMS I.33510-004, 97 mm, E of Clarence R., NSW, 29°26'S, 153°34'E, 64–68 m, K. Graham on FRV Kapala , 2 Apr 1992 ; AMS I.37355-011, 6: 39–109 mm, E of Swain Reefs, Qld, 22°23.49'S, 153°04.48'E, 170 m, trap, J. Lowry and K. Dempsey on FV Seadar Bay , 8 Sep 1995 ; AMS I.37572-001, 105 mm, south-east of Evans Head , NSW, 29°13'S, 153°31'E, 51–53 m, K. Graham on FRV Kapala , 15 Jun 1995 ; AMS I.37587-008, 100 mm, E of Swain Reefs, Qld, 22°23.49'S, 153°04.48'E, 138 m, J. Lowry and K. Dempsey on FV Seadar Bay , 8 Sep 1995 ; AMS I.37600-030, 2: 70–118 mm, E of Swain Reefs, Qld, 22°28.34'S, 152°59.45'E, 139 m, trap, J. Lowry and K. Dempsey on FV Seadar Bay , 8 Sep 1995 ; AMS I.38271-001, 2: 58–75 mm, off Newcastle, NSW, 32°54'S, 151°58'E, 67–72 m, K. Graham on FRV Kapala , 6 Apr 1995 ; AMS I.40462-001, 2: 87.5–121 mm, south-E of Sandon Bluffs , NSW, 29°40'S, 153°28'E, 55–59 m, K. Graham on FV Trader Horn, 6 Sep 1999 ; AMS I.43651-002, 76 mm, E of Manly , NSW, 33°36.5'S, 151°29.3'E to 33°40.5'S, 151°26.8'E, 69–80 m, K. Graham on FV Kirrawana, 10 Aug 2005 ; BMNH 2005.6 .2.1, 114 mm, E of Coolum, Qld, 26°30.6'S, 153°35.2'E, 102.3 m, Queensland Fisheries Service, 21 Jun 2001 ; BPBM 37231 , 4 : 118–125 mm, off Newcastle, NSW, 32°53.5'E, 151°59.5'E, 64–75 m, K. Graham on FRV Kapala , 6 Mar 1991 ; CAS 222272, 116 mm, off Newcastle, NSW, 32°53.5'E, 151°59.5'E, 67.7–71.3 m, K. Graham, 6 Mar 1991 ; CSIRO H.6247-01, 112 mm, off southern end of Swain Reefs, Qld , 22°26.1'S, 152°41.1'E, 112 m , RV Gwendoline May , 23 Apr 2004 ; NSMT P. 70863, 105.5 mm, E of Coolum, Qld, 26°30.6'S, 153°35.2'E, 102.3 m, Queensland Fisheries Service, 21 Jun 2001 ; QM I.22042, 4: 82–116 mm, E of Swain Reefs, Qld, 22°06'S, 153°02'E, 150 m, Queensland Fisheries Service, 28 Aug 1983 ; QM I.33181, 96 mm, E of Coolum, Qld, 26°32'S, 153°39'E, 123 m, Queensland Fisheries Service, 8 Aug 2001 ; QM I.33182, 98.5 mm, E of Noosa, Qld, 26°28'S, 153°39'E, 112.3 m, Queensland Fisheries Service, 8 May 2001 ; QM I.33183, 25: 59.5–123 mm, E of Coolum, Qld, 26°30.6'S, 153°35.2'E, 102.3 m, Queensland Fisheries Service, 21 Jun 2001 ; QM I.33333, 3: 80–96.5 mm, E of Point Cartwright, Qld, 26°39'S, 153°35'E, 112 m, Queensland Fisheries Service, 14 Sep 2001 ; QM I.33994, 4: 64–82 mm, E of Noosa, Qld, 26°20'S, 153°46'E, 110 m, Queensland Fisheries Service, 19 Jul 2002 ; QM I.33995, 16: 65–118 mm, E of Noosa, Qld, 26°25'S, 153°40'E, 119 m, Queensland Fisheries Service, 19 Jul 2002 ; QM I.34142, 2: 87.5–115 mm, E of Noosa, Qld, 26°24'S, 153°41'E, 98 m, Queensland Fisheries Service, 17 May 2001 ; QM I.36879, 2: 113–118 mm, E of Noosa , 26°22.2'S, 153°42.4'E, 115– 119 m, Queensland Fisheries Service, 19 Jul 2002 ; USNM 383404 128 mm, off Newcastle, NSW, 32°53.5'E, 151°59.5'E, 67.7–71.3 m, K. Graham, 6 Mar. 1991 .

Other material: (spirit specimens) AMS E.2963, 78 mm, 21 km north-east of North Reef, Qld, 23°07'S, 152°05'E, 128 m, FIS Endeavour , 1909; AMS I.32199-003, 56 mm, off Angourie , NSW, 29°28'S, 153°33'E, 64-66 m, K. Graham on FRV Kapala , 20 Nov 1990 ; AMS I.33577-001, 107 mm, off Clarence R., NSW, 29°29'S, 153°33'E, 66-70 m, K. Graham on FRV Kapala , 19 Mar 1992 ; AMS I.37978-003, 59 mm, off Sandon Bluffs , NSW, 29°44'S, 153°26'E, 55–61 m, K. Graham on FV Trader Horn, 7 Jul 1999 ; AMS I.39897-003, 112 mm, off Sandon Bluffs , NSW, 29°44'S, 153°26'E, 55–62 m, K. Graham on FV Trader Horn, 8 Jul 1999 ; QM I.36878, 6: 63–118 mm, E of Peregian Beach , 26°25.9'S, 153°45.2'E, 132–134 m, Queensland Fisheries Service, 18 Jul 2002 ; QM I.37224, 12: 74–121 mm, E of Coolum, Qld, 26°30.6'S, 153°35.2'E, 102 m, Queensland Fisheries Service, 21 Jun 2001. (skeletal specimens) QM I.36870, 79 mm, QM I. 36871, 124 mm, QM I. 36872, 113 mm, QM I. 36873, 100 mm, all E of Coolum, Qld, 26°32.9'S, 153°36.3'E, 119–120 m, Queensland Fisheries Service, 20 Jul 2002 ; QM I. 37223, 109 mm, E of Coolum, Qld, 26°30.6'S, 153°35.2'E, 102 m, Queensland Fisheries Service, 21 Jun 2001 .

Diagnosis. See generic diagnosis. Description. Dorsal-fin rays III, 24 (3 with III, 25 rays); anal-fin rays I, 18 (3 with I, 17 and 1 with I, 19); all dorsal- and anal-fin rays branched, last to base; pectoral-fin rays 20 (19–21, 30 with 19, 5 with 21), upper ray unbranched, others including lowermost branched; pelvic-fin rays I, 5; branched caudal-fin rays 15; lateral-line scales 50 (46–54), plus 3–4 smaller scales on caudalfin base; scales above lateral line to origin of dorsal fin 3, to base of anterior soft rays of dorsal fin 2½; scales below lateral line in an oblique row to origin of anal fin 10 (10–11); circumpeduncular scales 19 (19–20); predorsal scales about 9 (8–10) to posterior margin of eye, separated along dorsal midline by a low fleshy nuchal crest and not in well-defined rows of equally-sized scales, continuing in a single row of a further 8 (8–9) large scales from posterior margin of eye through interorbital space to anterior margin of eye, or just forward of this point; origin of nuchal crest about 3 scales behind posterior margin of eye, termination about 2½ scales anterior to dorsal-fin origin; horizontal row of scales from preorbital across cheek to edge of preopercle 14; gill rakers on 1st arch 4+11, total 15 (3–6+9–13=12–18); branchiostegal rays 6; vertebrae 10+21 (20–21).

Body depth 4.85 (4.15–5.25) in SL; body moderately compressed, greatest width 1.35 (1.15–1.55) in body depth, juveniles subcylindrical, but specimens becoming increasingly compressed with age (1.3–1.55 in specimens greater than 90 mm SL); head length 3.85 (3.6–4.0) in SL, proportionately longest in adults; snout blunt, its length 5.2 (3.9–6.4) in HL; orbit diameter 2.8 (2.6–3.5) in HL; eyes directed more laterally than dorsally, bony interorbital space narrow, 9.5 (8.6–12.0) in HL; caudal-peduncle depth 2.85 (2.65–3.15) in HL; caudal-peduncle length 2.6 (2.35–3.2) in HL.

Mouth slightly oblique, terminal, with curved canine teeth at front of lower jaw slightly projecting and visible when mouth is closed; upper jaw extending to a vertical between anterior margin and middle of pupil, upper jaw length 2.5 (2.35–2.6) in HL; upper jaw with 27 (24–29) outer curved canines, closely and evenly spaced, 2nd or 3rd from symphysis largest, but not distinctly larger than those following, gradually reducing in size posteriorly, broad inner band of villiform teeth anteriorly, narrowing gradually to form single row at rear of jaw; front of lower jaw on each side with 4 (4–5, usually 5) enlarged curved canines in distinctly separate outer row, tooth nearest symphysis smallest, the others gradually increasing in size laterally, 4th usually largest (occasionally 5th), broad inner band of villiform teeth extending posteriorly from symphysis to side of jaw 12–18 rows back, next 5–7 teeth enlarged and in single row (of these, 4–5 posterior-most teeth largest and strongly recurved), then followed by single row of 12–17 smaller slightly curved conical teeth. Total number of teeth in each jaw generally slightly more in adults than in juveniles. Vomer and palatines edentate. Tongue spatulate with broadly rounded tip, its surface covered with tiny papillae.

Gill membranes united with broad free fold, not attached to isthmus. Gill rakers short, the longest about one-third length of longest gill filament on 1st gill arch. Anterior nostril small, inconspicuous, situated in front of centre of eye about one-third distance to tip of snout, with membranous posterior flap, the latter folded around near base to form partial tube, flap usually lying flat against snout in preserved specimens. Posterior nostril close to anterior margin of eye, dorsoposterior to, and about 3 times width of anterior nostril, its opening simple, anterior edge thin and slightly expanded, making aperture slightly oval-shaped; internarial distance about twice width of posterior nostril.

Opercle with no exposed pointed spine; dorsoposterior angle of opercular bone narrowly truncate with minute shallow notch, posteroventral corner of notch broadly and bluntly triangular, but hidden by skin and scales or barely exposed; subopercle and preopercle entire, the margins broadly rounded and slightly overlapped by large ctenoid scales.

Lateral line continuous, ascending fairly abruptly from opercle to below origin of soft dorsal fin, then approximately following contour of back; all scales ctenoid, except for those on pelvic fins and distally on pectoral fins, those on middle of sides with about 50 cteni; scales on cheek extending forward to a vertical between anterior margin of eye and anterior margin of pupil; no scales on dorsal and anal fins; small elongate cycloid scales on basal 3rd of pelvic fins; small scales on basal 4th of pectoral fins, ctenoid proximally and cycloid distally; proportionately larger ctenoid scales densely arranged on basal two-thirds of caudal fin.

Origin of dorsal fin at a vertical just anterior to tip of opercular flap, the predorsal length 4.0 (3.8–4.1) in SL; 1st dorsal-fin spine shortest, 6.15 (5.1–7.6) in HL; 3rd dorsal-fin spine longest, 3.75 (3.1–4.25) in HL; membrane from 3rd spine to 1st soft ray moderately notched, attached at about four-fifths height of 3rd dorsal-fin spine; longest dorsal-fin soft ray the 19th (18th–20th), 1.2 (1.2–1.45) in HL; origin of anal fin below base of 7th to 8th soft dorsal-fin ray, preanal length 2.35 (2.15–2.4) in SL; anal-fin spine slender, closely attached to 1st soft ray, 3.55 (3.05–3.7) in HL; longest soft anal-fin ray the 15th (15th or 16th), 1.8 (1.7–2.1) in HL; caudal fin truncate to slightly rounded, but in males 3rd branched ray from upper margin filamentous, and about 10th–13th rays slightly produced to form a small lobe, length of caudal fin without filament 4.7 (3.95–5.2) in SL; pectoral fins rounded, 12th ray usually longest, 4.3 (4.2–4.8) in SL, longer than pelvic fins in adults, shorter than pelvic fins in juveniles; origin of pelvic fins in advance of upper base of pectoral fins and slightly anterior to a vertical from dorsal-fin origin, prepelvic length 4.05 (3.95–4.4) in SL; pelvic-fin spine closely attached to 1st soft ray, its termination very fleshy and difficult to accurately determine; 4th soft pelvic-fin ray longest, reaching almost to base of 2nd soft anal-fin ray (origin of anal fin to base of 3rd soft ray), 4.35 (3.8–5.45) in SL.

Colour in alcohol. Head, body and fins mostly uniformly pale yellowish brown. Margins of scales on upper part of body faintly greyish. Narrow naked area of nuchal crest silvery-white (gradually fading in preservative), interspersed variably with dusky melanophores.

Colour fresh. Male holotype pale rose-pink, with numerous vague narrow oblique posteroventrally-directed yellow bands, shading to pearly-white on lower part of opercle, pectoral fin base, breast and belly. Oblique pale yellow bar from lower edge of eye across cheek. Dorsal margin of eye yellow, remainder of iris silvery-white, variably washed with pale red above and posteriorly. Nuchal crest on predorsal midline silvery-white, with numerous scattered dusky melanophores (nuchal crest pale golden-pearl, surrounded basally with diffuse red in paratype CSIRO H. 6247-01, fig. 1d). 1st to 3rd (1st and 2nd in some paratypes) dorsal-fin rays crimson in males, dorsal-fin spines, remaining rays and dorsal-fin membrane pale yellow to semitransparent. Anal-fin membrane chalky-white on basal three-fourths, crimson distally in males. Caudal fin translucent greyish with 4–5 irregular wavy diagonal lemon-yellow bars, lower margin bright-yellow with a crimson flash submarginally on outer half of fin. Some paratypes with yellow and red colouration interspersed along lower margin of fin, and with a lesser 2nd red flash immediately above, near distal edge of fin. Pectoral fins translucent. Proximal half of pelvic fins white, yellowish distally (some larger paratypes with outer half of fin faintly pale red-pink). Peritoneum silvery-black.

Distribution. Demersal trawl grounds between Swain Reefs, Qld (22°06'S, 153°02'E) and Manly, NSW (33°40'S, 151°26'E), at depths of 51–170 m (fig. 4).

Etymology. From the Latin tres meaning three, and spina meaning thorn or spine, in reference to the 3 dorsal-fin spines, a character state not found in any other species of Pinguipedidae .

Remarks. Although it has a distributional range of at least 11 degrees latitude, Simipercis trispinosa has been trawled from only several relatively small areas of the east Australian coast (fig. 4). There appears to be a strong correlation between increased depth of capture and decreasing latitude across the range of the species. Specimens from near the northern range extremity, in the southern Great Barrier Reef region, occur in considerably greater depths (112–170 m) than those at the southern end, in New South Wales (51–80 m). Those centrally located, off the Sunshine Coast in southern Queensland were recorded from intermediate depths (98–123 m). Most trawl catches of S. trispinosa have included several males in excess of 110 mm SL with prominent fin markings and well-developed caudal-fin filaments (maximum recorded size 135 mm SL), among a larger group of smaller females, ranging from about 60–100 mm SL. The largest female examined with ripe gonads measured 100 mm SL. Nuchal crests were noted in specimens of all sizes and are not related to age, gender or sexual maturity.

Figures

Figure 1. Type specimens of Simipercis trispinosa. (A) Holotype, QM I.32697, 114 mm SL, male (B) Paratype, BPBM 37231, 125 mm SL, male (C) Paratype, AMS I.32217-001, 115 mm SL, male (photo: K. Graham) (D) Paratype, CSIRO H.6247-01, 112 mm SL, male, dorsal view of nape, showing fleshy nuchal crest (photo: D. Gledhill) (E) Paratype, AMS I.43651-002, 76 mm SL, female (photo: S. Humphries).

Figure 2. Opercula of Simipercis trispinosa, showing poorly developed points at dorsoposterior angle, and low position of inner horizontallyaligned opercular ridge. (A) QM I.36872, 113 mm SL, outer surface (B) QM I.36872, 113 mm SL, inner surface (C) QM I.36871, 124 mm SL, outer surface (D) QM I.36871, 124 mm SL, inner surface.

Figure 4. Distribution of Simipercis trispinosa based on specimens examined.