Aseraggodes normani Chabanaud, 1930

Randall, John E., 2005, A review of soles of the genus Aseraggodes from the South Pacific, with descriptions of seven new species and a diagnosis of Synclidopus., Memoirs of Museum Victoria 62 (2), pp. 191-212 : 207-208

Aseraggodes normani Chabanaud

Figure 13 , Tables 1–3

Aseraggodes melanostictus .— Norman, 1926: 290, fig. 12 (off Gladstone, Queensland) (non Peters)

Aseraggodes normani Chabanaud, 1930: 241 .

Material examined. Queensland: BMNH 1925.7 .22.73, 109 mm, holotype of Aseraggodes normani . WSW of Townsend Island , 22°21.5'S, 150°25'E , AMS I.34377-005, 83 mm. 2 km NE of Cape Clinton , 22°32'S, 150°48'E , AMS I.34399-032, 93.5 mm. 2 km NE of Cliff Point , 22°35'S, 150°49'E , AMS I.34361-024, 3: 74.5–89 mm. Off Gladstone , AMS IA. 2993, 104.5 mm. Off Bustard Head, 24°1'S, 151°46'E , AMS IB.1105, 97.5 mm. Moreton Bay , AMS I. 484, 116 mm.

Type locality. Coast of Queensland .

Diagnosis. Dorsal rays 64–71, anal rays 50–52; dorsal and anal rays unbranched (Chabanaud incorrect in reporting bifid tips); pelvic rays 5; caudal rays 18, 14 branched; lateral-line scales 68–73 (counted to origin of dorsoanterior branch on head); only tips of cteni projecting beyond posterior edge of scales, with at most 8 cteni tips posteriorly on body, fewer anteriorly); eyes separated by 3 rows of scales at narrowest place, with an additional row medially and anteriorly on each eye; vertebrae 35–36 (usually 35); dorsal pterygiophores anterior to fourth neural spine 10–11; body depth 2.3–2.55 in SL; HL 4.4–4.8 in SL; snout length 2.3–2.5 in HL; scales anteriorly on head replaced by slender cirri, progressively longer, those at ventral edge of head and front of snout up to three-fourths eye diameter in length; lateral line aligned with dorsal edge of upper eye, ending with a dorsoanterior branch of 7–9 pored scales, straight branch of 4–6 scales, and ventral branch of 7–9 scales; no pores detected beneath scales on ocular side of body; eye diameter 5.0– 6.5 in HL; upper eye overlapping anterior one-half to three-fourths of lower eye; narrowest vertical interorbital space 8.2–9.0 in HL; upper end of gill opening at level of ventral fleshy edge of lower eye; tubular anterior nostril broad, not reaching fleshy base of lower eye when laid back; no caudal peduncle; depth at base of caudal fin 1.55–1.8 in HL; caudal fin rounded, its length 4.1–4.5 in SL; longest dorsal ray 1.35–1.5 in HL; blind side of dorsal and anal rays with a lengthwise thin membranous ridge, broad at base and narrowing as it extends up to three-fourths ray length anteriorly, progressively shorter and narrower posteriorly; edge of membrane on anterior rays of blind side of dorsal fin with cirri; pelvic fins 1.9–2.05 in HL, the tip of longest ray extending to base of second or third anal ray; ocular-side pelvic fin distinctly anterior and larger than fin of blind side; both fins broadly joined by membrane from their fifth rays and jointly to the large genital papilla about one-half length above its base; colour in alcohol light brown, densely dotted with black and short black scale edges; scattered roundish pale spots smaller than eye variously present, some free of black dots; median fins with black dots, but fewer than on body; one specimen with a few large dark blotches on lateral line and on either side of lateral line. Largest specimen examined, 116 mm SL.

Remarks. Known only from off the coast of Queensland from 22.5° to 27° S, taken by trawls at depths of 15 to 27 m. Norman (1926) reported three specimens, 130–142 mm total length, collected off Queensland during the experimental cruises of R / V “Endeavour”, 1909–1914, as Aseraggodes melanostictus Peters , previously known from a single specimen taken in 73 m off New Britain. Chabanaud (1930a) found one of Norman’s three specimens at the Natural History Museum, London ( BMNH). Recognizing it as misidentified, he named it in honour of J. R. Norman. An additional (non-type) “Endeavour” specimen in the Australian Museum was collected off Gladstone, 23°S 151°E on 9 Jul 1910.

Chabanaud (1943) established the valid genus Synclidopus for the species Solea macleayanus , but he erred in placing Aseraggodes normani as a second species of this genus.

Figures

Figure 13. Holotype of Aseraggodes normani, BMNH 1925.7.22.73, 109 mm SL, Queensland.