Galeus

Séret, Bernard & Last, Peter R., 2008, Galeus priapus sp. nov., a new species of sawtail catsharks (Carcharhiniformes: Scyliorhinidae) from New Caledonia, Zootaxa 1813, pp. 19-28 : 27

Key to Indo-Pacific Galeus species

(adapted from Compagno, 1984)

1a- A crest of enlarged denticles on the preventral caudal margin....................................................................2

1b- No crest of enlarged denticles on the preventral caudal margin..................................................................3

2a- 3 broad dark saddles in front of 1st dorsal fin ......................................... G. boardmani (southern Australia)

2b- 10 to 16 narrow bands in saddles in front of 1st dorsal fin................ Galeus sp. B (northeastern Australia)

3a- Labial furrows very short, confined to mouth corners; snout broadly rounded (pre-oral length much shorter than mouth width) ...................................................................................... G. schultzi ( Philippines)

3b- Labial furrows short but distinct, not confined to mouth corners; snout more pointed (pre-oral length about equal or longer than mouth width)....................................................................................................4

4a- Dorsal fins and sometimes caudal lobes black-tipped ............................... G. sauteri ( Philippines to Japan)

4b- Dorsal and caudal fins not black-tipped, usually white edged....................................................................5

5a- Mouth lining dark, dusky to blackish..........................................................................................................6

5b- Mouth lining pale, white or light grey.........................................................................................................7

6a- Caudal fin relatively short, lower postventral caudal margin 12.4–14.5% TL; clasper short and thick (fall- ing well in front of anal origin in mature male, clasper outer length 5.2–7.3 % TL, its base width 3.0–4.9 times in outer length); origin of crest of enlarged denticles on upper caudal margin well in front of origin of caudal ventral lobe; precaudal vertebral centra 74–78 ........... G. gracilis (northern Australia, Indonesia)

6b- Caudal fin relatively long, lower postventral caudal margin 15.5–16.2% TL; clasper very long and slender (reaching anal origin in mature male, clasper outer length 9.0–11.2 % TL, its base width 7.2–10.0 times in outer length); origin of crest of enlarged denticles on upper caudal margin over level of origin of caudal ventral lobe; precaudal vertebral centra 81–86 ................................. G. priapus ( New Caledonia, Vanuatu)

7a- Snout very long, pre-oral length over 7 % TL ........................................................... G. longirostris ( Japan)

7b- Snout moderately elongated, pre-oral length less than 7 % TL...................................................................8

8a- Distance from mouth to inner nostril much shorter than length of upper labial furrow; anal-fin base rela- tively short, 8–10% TL, shorter than pelvic-anal interspace ................................... G. nipponensis ( Japan)

8b- Distance from mouth to inner nostril longer than length of upper labial furrow; anal-fin base long and low, about 12% TL, longer than pelvic-anal interspace ...................................... G. eastmani ( China Sea, Japan)