Orectolobus hutchinsi, Peter R. Last, Justin A. Chidlow & Leonard J. V. Compagno, 2006

Peter R. Last, Justin A. Chidlow & Leonard J. V. Compagno, 2006, A new wobbegong shark, Orectolobus hutchinsi n. sp. (Orectolobiformes: Orectolobidae) from southwestern Australia., Zootaxa 1239, pp. 35-48 : 37-47

Orectolobus hutchinsi new species

(Figs 1-7, Table 1)

Orectolobus sp. : Hutchins and Thompson, 1983, pp 10, 73, fig. 10.

Orectolobus sp. : Hutchins and Swainston, 1986, pp 20, 119, fig. 12.

Orectolobus sp. A : Last and Stevens, 1994, pp 126, 128-9, fig. 14.2, Pl. 26; Compagno, 2001, pp 154, 161-2, figs 117, 125; Compagno, et al., 2005, p 164, Pl. 24.

Holotype. CSIRO H 5275-01, 1325 mm TL, mature male, north of Rottnest Island, Western Australia, 31° 55'S, 115° 27'E, caught by demersal gillnet, 39 m depth, 19 Dec. 1999.

Paratypes. Twelve specimens. CSIRO H 6189-01, 1099 mm TL, female , CSIRO H 6189-02, 921 mm TL, immature male , CSIRO H 6189-03, 1005 mm TL, immature male, west of Green Head, Western Australia, 30° 00'S, 114° 32'E, caught by demersal gillnet, 79 m depth, 15 Oct. 2004 ; WAM P 4736-001, 2 specimens, 234 mm TL, juvenile female, 236 mm TL, juvenile male, Stony Island, Albany, Western Australia, 35° 02'S, 117°38'E, 28 Oct. 1959 ; WAM P 6702-001, 200 mm TL, late male embryo, WAM P 6704-001, 202 mm TL, late female embryo, Shark Bay, Western Australia, 25°21'S, 113°40'E, Sept. 1960 ; WAM P 12021-001, 576 mm, immature male, Point Peron, Western Australia, 32°15'S, 115°40'E, caught by line ; WAM P 27880-001, two specimens 246 mm TL, juvenile male, 341 mm TL, juvenile female, Bunkers Bay, Western Australia, 33°32'S, 115°02'E, caught by rotenone, 0.1 to 5 m depth, 8 Dec. 1982 ; WAM P 26620-001, 369 mm TL, female; Geordie Bay, Rottnest Island, Western Australia, 32°00'S, 115°30'E, caught by rotenone, 5 m depth ; WAM P 27731-001, 905 mm TL, male, Ocean Reef, Western Australia, 31°47'S, 115°38'E, caught by fishing line .

Diagnosis. A moderate-sized, Orectolobus with the following: yellowish brown when fresh with well-defined, darker brown saddles; no white spots, blotches or reticulations on fins or body; nasal barbel distinctly bilobed; postspiracular lobes simple, reduced or rudimentary; distance across preorbital lobe group 1.2-1.3 times interspace between preorbital group and postspiracular lobe, 13-15 times base length of anterior postspiracular lobe; base of anterior postspiracular lobe 11-12 in its distance from postorbital group, 4.9-7 in its distance from posterior postspiracular lobe; mouth width 4.7-10.2 times preoral distance; no warty tubercles on back of adult; juveniles with rows of elevated denticles or poorly defined warty tubercles on back; dorsal fins raked posteriorly; first dorsal fin over rear half of pelvic-fin bases; interdorsal space 0.38-0.56 times anal-fin base length; anal-fin inner margin 0.8-1.1 times anal-fin posterior margin; teeth in upper jaw 25-27, those in medial row at symphysis rudimentary; spiral valve turns 26-28; monospondylous centra 48-50.

Description. Body firm, moderately depressed anteriorly from snout to pelvic-fin origin; broadest over midtrunk, trunk width 18.5% in holotype (15.2-17.6% in adult paratypes, 12.2-16.3% in postnatal juvenile paratypes) TL. Head broad, strongly depressed, somewhat oval in cross-section, length 21.7 (21.7-23.0)% TL; maximum height 9.3 (5.6-9.7)% TL, length 0.88 (0.70-0.86) in pectoral-pelvic space; pelvic-anal space 2.69 (1.86-3.42) times anal-fin base; snout-vent length 1.00 (0.81-1.01) tail length. Tail subcircular anteriorly in adults, more compressed in juveniles, its width 1.04 (0.99- 1.02, 1.26-1.27 in juveniles) in height at second dorsal-fin insertion; caudal peduncle rudimentary, caudal fin almost connected to anal-fin insertion, compressed slightly, oval in cross section, width 1.43 (1.09-1.57) in height.

Snout short, narrowly rounded in lateral view, almost truncate to broadly rounded in dorsal view, apex indented slightly; preoral length 1.4 (1.0-2.0)% TL, 6.6 (4.4-10.2) in mouth width; prenarial length negligible. Eyes dorsal on head, small, slit-like, length 1.7 (1.4-1.9)% TL, 12.6 (11.8-15.5) in head length; supraorbital crest elevated slightly over and eye and above spiracle; interorbit flat to weakly concave, space 3.61 (3.51-4.80) times eye length, 1.25 (1.07-1.50) times preorbit, 2.39 (2.18-2.67) times spiracle length, 0.87 (0.71-1.04) in prespiracular length; subocular pocket deep, well-developed, curved ventrally. Spiracles narrow, slit-like, oblique to horizontal axis, slightly longer than eye, 1.51 (1.43-2.01) times eye length; their dorsal margin strongly concave, well elevated above weakly concave ventral margin; eye-spiracle space relatively large, 1.8 (1.5-1.9)% TL; weak groove above dorsal margin of spiracle; short, deep, transverse groove near posterior edge of spiracle. Gill slits lateral on head; anterior four slits more or less equally spaced, of similar height 1.8-2 (1.1-2.1)% TL; 5th gill slit tallest, 1.33 (1.25-1.97) times 4th; 4th closer to 5th than to 3rd; 2nd directly above pectoral-fin origin, 5th slightly anterior to midbase of pectoral fin. Mouth subterminal, large, horizontally expanded, broadly arched; width 9 (8.5-10.4)% TL, 3.2-5.8 times its length in paratypes (length in holotype damaged), 1.77 (1.43-2.05) in head width at eye; mouth length of paratypes 1.8-2.8% TL; upper labial furrows 3.6 (3.5-4.3)% TL, originating at ventral margin of nostrils; lower labial furrows longer than uppers, their length 4.8 (4.3-5.4)% TL, 0.53 (0.42-0.63) of mouth width, almost connected near symphysis of lower jaw; short, deep longitudinal groove at symphysis of lower jaw. Nostrils small, widely separated, internarial space 4.7 (4.1-5.1)% TL, adjacent upper lip of mouth. Nasal barbel terminal on head, medial to nostrils, proboscis like, rounded basally, tapering distally, length subequal to upper labial furrows; short, flattened lobe at basal third of its posterior margin (less pronounced in juveniles); lateral nasal lobe broad, well elevated, subcircular, most expanded posteriorly.

Teeth not exposed when mouth closed, varying in shape and size in each jaw (Figs 5, 6); cusps mostly directed lingually; some non-symphysial teeth with weak distal cusplet. Upper jaw with 3 rows at symphysis, a single medial row of small teeth with a weak cusp, flanked on each side by a row of very large, fang-like teeth; lateral symphysial rows with long cusps, in three functional series, labial cusps well anterior, more upright and partly recessed into upper lip; rows distal to symphysis with teeth decreasing sequentially in size, anterior teeth with long cusps, near angle of jaw cusps very short, indistinct. Lower jaw with three rows of enlarged symphysial teeth, their cusps subequal in length to each other and to those at symphysis of upper jaw; tooth cusps distal to symphysis decreasing sequentially in size more sharply than in upper jaw; cusps rudimentary near angle. Tooth formula (holotype, 3 paratypes): upper jaw 12 (12-13) + 1 (1) + 12 (12-13) = 25 (25-27); lower jaw 10 (10-11) + 1 (1) + 9 (10-11) = 20 (21-23).

Dermal lobes poorly developed; anterior preorbital group (PO1) with two, simple lobes, first lobe broader based and shorter than second, lobes almost connected; posterior preorbital group (PO2) with two simple lobes, longer, more slender, more widely spaced than anterior group; combined distance across preorbital groups 6.7 (6.3-6.6, 7.2-7.6 in juveniles)% TL; anterior postspiracular group (PS1) with single, short lobe; posterior postspiracular lobe (PS2) rudimentary in holotype, simple, short in paratypes, base width of anterior postspiracular lobe 0.5 (0.4-0.5, 0.7-0.8 in juveniles)% TL, base width of posterior postspiracular lobe 0.3 (0.3, 0.4-0.5 in juveniles)% TL; distance between preorbital group and anterior postspiracular lobe 5.1 (5.3-5.4, 4.4-5.0 in juveniles)% TL, between postspiracular lobes 3.2 (2.4-2.7, 2.2-2.4 in juveniles)% TL.

Dermal denticles (Fig. 7) variable in shape, on dorsal trunk minute, columnar, nonimbricated, compact (juvenile denticles imbricated); crowns of adult usually convex distally, with scalloped or irregular anterior margins, entire posterior margins (juveniles with broad, leaf-shaped crowns); crowns winged or filamentous inside spiracle; skin somewhat velvety; postnatal juveniles with elevated scales, extending in two, irregular longitudinal rows from near spiracle to below second dorsal fin, more elevated in WAM P 4736-001 (female, 236 mm TL) than smaller paratype, WAM P 6702-001 (male, 200 mm TL); weak warty tubercles on back of largest juvenile, WAM P 1202-001 (male, 576 mm TL); holotype and larger paratypes lacking warty tubercles. Clasper elongate, extending to below second dorsal fin; outer length 9.7% TL; inner length 15.9% TL, 4.5 times width at base; glands expanded slightly, tip bluntly pointed.

Dorsal fins similar in size and shape, firm, triangular; anterior and posterior margins straight, equally oblique; apices acute, first dorsal-fin apex not more rounded than second dorsal-fin apex; inner margin parallel originating just forward of level of pelvic-fin rear tip; predorsal length 50.7 (47.5-49.5)% TL, pre-second dorsal-fin length 64.1 (58.5- 62.2)% TL; first dorsal-fin height 7.7 (7.2-9.0)% TL; 1.06 (0.91-1.08) times second dorsal-fin height; first dorsal-fin inner margin 1.26 (1.02-1.5) times spiracle length; first dorsal-fin midpoint to pectoral-fin insertion 27.5 (24.6-28.7)% TL; first dorsal-fin midpoint to pelvic-fin origin 8.5 (8.5-9.4, 10.1-10.2 in juveniles)% TL.

Pectoral fin moderately large, length 14.8 (11.6-14.7)% TL, anterior margin length 3.53 (2.43-4.01) times inner margin length; base fleshy, anterior margin weakly convex, apex narrowly rounded; posterior margin straight distally; inner margin straight, free rear tip very broadly rounded; prepectoral length 18.3 (17.4-20.3)% TL; pectoral-pelvic space 19.1 (15-19.2)% TL.

Pelvic fin subtriangular, of moderate-size, length 14.3 (11.7-13.5)% TL; anterior margin straight; apex very broadly rounded; posterior margin weakly convex; inner margin straight, free rear tip narrowly rounded; origin well anterior to first dorsal-fin origin, insertion below first dorsal-fin midpoint, prepelvic length 46.2 (39.8-45)% TL; pelvic-anal space 20.9 (19.1-22.9)% TL, pelvic-caudal space 26.9 (27-29.2)% TL.

Anal fin obliquely elongate, lobe-like, well developed, base 7.8 (6.7-8.5, 8.1-11.4 in juveniles)% TL, 0.56 (0.24-0.45) in interdorsal distance; anterior and inner margins almost parallel, very broadly rounded at apex; origin well posterior of second dorsal-fin insertion; anal-fin height 2.06 (1.79-2.27, 2.47-4.00 in juveniles) in base length; second dorsal-fin origin to anal-fin origin 12.1 (10.5-12.6)% TL, second dorsal-fin insertion to anal-fin insertion 7.7 (7.6-10)% TL; anal-fin length 3.35 (2.26-5.63) times its posterior margin length; inner margin 0.75 (0.76-1.33) times posterior margin.

Caudal fin moderately elongate, strongly compressed; dorsal caudal margin straight, length 18.5 (18.1-19.6, 19.5-22.8 in juveniles)% TL, its origin slightly anterior to anal-fin insertion; upper lobe originating as a indistinct, low ridge; posterior margin irregular, with rounded apices; terminal caudal lobe fan-like, length 1.75 (1.37-2.02) times spiracle length.

Vertebral counts (n=5 paratypes): monospondylous centra 48-50; precaudal centra 106-109; caudal centra 39-45; total centra 97-105. Spiral valve counts: 26-28 (n=3, based on discarded specimens, validated from photographs).

Coloration. When fresh. Dorsal surface medium brown to yellowish with prominent dark brown blotches and saddles; three predorsal saddles, additional bars beneath each dorsal fin, one bar interdorsally; blotches and saddles strongly demarcated, but not well defined from each other (better defined in juveniles); dark markings spaced irregularly with diffuse edges; predorsal saddles with well-defined, yellowish ocelli; snout finely spotted; no small dark or whitish spots, blotches or reticulations; unpaired fins and upper surfaces of paired fins darkest anteriorly. Ventral surface only slightly paler than rest of body. In preservative. Dorsal coloration becoming greyish to bluish grey; saddles and bars remaining dark, brown to reddish-brown (ginger), strongly demarcated from rest of body; contrast of similar tones on dorsal, caudal, and upper surfaces of pectoral and pelvic fins; mouth white; nasal barbel darker dorsally than ventrally. Ventral surface whitish with dark grey blotches; blotches less dense in paratypes, greyish areas concentrated to lip margins, edge of head, and on pectoral and pelvic fins; tail more uniformly dark than trunk; claspers grey.

Size. This species was first reported by Hutchins and Thompson (1983) and was thought to reach about 152 cm TL. Others have claimed that it matures by 85 cm TL (Last and Stevens, 1994) and attains about 200 cm TL (Hutchins and Swainston, 1986, Compagno, 2001). Unpublished data by one of us (Chidlow) is based on 696 specimens, including mature males. The largest individual observed measured 149 cm TL confirming the initial reports of a smaller maximum size for O. hutchinsi . However, males mature at a slightly larger size than suggested by earlier reports (i.e. about 111 cm TL rather than 85 cm TL). The mature male holotype had a girth of 625 mm and weighed 15 kg. Young are born at 22-26 cm TL (mean 24.1 cm TL based on 40 specimens).

Etymology. Named in honour of Dr Barry Hutchins (curator of fishes at the Western Australian Museum, Perth) who has dedicated a lifetime to the taxonomy of the rich fish fauna of Western Australia. Dr Hutchins first reported this species as an undescribed taxon more than 20 years ago.

Common name. Western Wobbegong.

Distribution. Inshore continental shelf off Western Australia from Groper Bluff (west of Bremer Bay) to Coral Bay (near North West Cape). Types known from 0.1-79 m but additional material collected in depths of 9-106 m.

Comparisons. One of the most distinctive members of the genus Orectolobus based on its colour pattern and dermal lobe morphology, Orectolobus hutchinsi is larger than most wobbegong species. It has a distinctive yellowish brown upper body coloration with welldefined, darker brown saddles containing paler markings (most congeners have stronger and more complex colour patterns) that lacks whitish rings and blotches (unlike O. ornatus and O. maculatus ). Of the wobbegongs, only Sutorectus tentaculatus and Orectolobus wardi have poorly developed lobes on the head similar to those of O. hutchinsi . In these species the lobes are simple, and typically reduced in size or rudimentary (rather than mostly lobe-like and well-developed). However, unlike O. hutchinsi , they have a simple nasal barbel (rather than possessing a barbel with an additional, flattened, sub-basal lobe). Adults of Orectolobus hutchinsi also lack rows of warty tubercles along the back which are considered to be diagnostic of S. tentaculatus . Postnatal juveniles of O. hutchinsi have weakly developed rows of dorsal tubercles that become obscure in late juveniles and absent in adults.

Wobbegongs have other unique characters -the morphometrics of the lobe groups on the head appear to be important for distinguishing species. The shapes of lobes in each group, and the distance across the preorbital lobe group in relation to the base widths of both postspiracular groups and their interspaces, are unique to O. hutchinsi . These data should be obtained routinely when treating other members of this family.