Chaunax penicillatus McCulloch, 1915

Ho, Hsuan-Ching, Roberts, Clive D. & Stewart, Andrew L., 2013, A review of the anglerfish genus Chaunax (Lophiiformes: Chaunacidae) from New Zealand and adjacent waters, with descriptions of four new species, Zootaxa 3620 (1), pp. 89-111 : 99-102

Chaunax penicillatus McCulloch, 1915

( Figures 9 A–C, Table 2 )

Chaunax penicillatus McCulloch, 1915: 167 , Pl. 33, fig. 2 (Holotype: AMS E.5488; paratype: AMS I.13605 (1); type locality: 60 km SW of Cape Everard, Victoria, Australia, depth 293–366 m). Le Danois, 1979: 34 (in part); Stephenson, 1971: 238, fig. 4; Caruso, 1999: 2022; Paxton et al., 1989: 282; Gomon & Ho, 2008: 377; Paxton et al., 2006: 651; Ho & Shao, 2010: 53.

Chaunax tosaensis Okamura & Oryuu in Okamura & Kitajima, 1984: 275, Pl. 192. (Holotype: BSKU 36101. Paratypes: BSKU 99 specimens; type locality: Mimase fish market, Tosa Bay, depth probably 200–300 m). Chaunax sp. B: Roberts et al., 2009: 532 (listed).

Specimens examined. 17 specimens, 91–269 mm SL. New Zealand: AIM AK 1000, 120 mm, E of Alderman Islands, 356–475m, trawled, 8–12 June 1969. NMNZ P. 032640, 108 mm, NE of Great Barrier Island, 35º24.4'S, 176º10.1'E, F/V Albatross II, stn. OBS 0864/035, 400–402 m, bottom trawl, 17 Jul. 1995. NMNZ P. 033033, 126 mm, Mernoo Bank, Chatham Rise, 43º10'S, 175º44'E, F/V Petersen, 430–470 m, Oct. 1995. NMNZ P.033901, 106 mm, SE of Alderman Islands, 36º57.305'S, 176º16.84'E, F/V Drysdale, stn. DRY 9602/007, 403–406 m, bottom trawl, 20 Oct. 1996. NMNZ P.033933, 108 mm, SE of Alderman Islands, 36º55.975'S, 176º16.81'E, F/V Drysdale, stn. DRY 9602/001, 395 m, bottom trawl, 18 Oct. 1996. NMNZ P.034457, 124 mm, Kermadec Ridge, N of Raoul Island, 28º50.8'S, 177º50.4'W, F/V Santa Maria, stn. OBS 1021/003, drop line, 7 Jul. 1997. NMNZ P.036972, 105 mm, Southern Colville Ridge, 36º51.7'S, 176º16.8'E, R/V Kaharoa, stn. KAH 9604/035, 384–390 m, bottom trawl, 18 Apr. 1996. NMNZ P.038479, 214 mm, SE of Tora, Wairarapa, 41º33.8'S, 175º37.1'E, F/V Venture K, stn. OBS 1660/032, 336–353 m, bottom trawl, 9 Jul. 2002. NMNZ P.046324, 65 mm, E of Cape Kidnappers, 39º41.8'S, 177º41.2'E, F/V Venture K, stn. OBS 2827/026, 343 m, 7 Apr. 2009. New Caledonia: NMNZ P.027438, 157 mm, Seamount B, S of New Caledonia, 24º56.7'S, 168º21.7'E, Beryx 2, stn. 1, 505– 577 m, bottom trawl, 23 Oct. 1991, coll. C. Roberts. NMNZ P.027449, 188 mm, Seamount B, S of New Caledonia, 24º26.6'S, 168º21.1'E, Beryx 2, stn. 5, 522– 575 m, bottom trawl, 24 Oct. 1991, coll. C. Roberts. NMNZ P.027481, 269 mm, Seamount B, S of New Caledonia, 24º54.2'S, 168º21.7'E, Beryx 2, stn. 19, 510– 519 m, bottom trawl, 30 Oct. 1991, C. Roberts. NMNZ P.029370, 263 mm, Seamount B, S of New Caledonia, 24º55.75'S, 168º21.4'E, Beryx 11, stn. 6, 505– 620 m, bottom trawl, 15 Oct. 1992, coll. C. Roberts & C. Paulin. NMNZ P.029415, 2, 137– 227 mm, and NMNZ P. 042786, 137 mm, Seamount B, S of New Caledonia, 24º55.1'S, 168º21.55'E, Beryx 11, stn. 3, 502– 610 m, bottom trawl, 14 Oct. 1992, C. Roberts & C. Paulin. NMNZ P. 042784, 91 mm, Seamount B, S of New Caledonia, 24º54.2'S, 168º21.7'E, Beryx 2, stn. 19, 510– 519 m, bottom trawl, 30 Oct. 1991, coll. C. Roberts.

Diagnosis. Dorsal-fin rays III, 11–12 (modally 12); anal-fin rays 6–7 (7); pectoral-fin rays 11–13. A species in the C. pictus -species group with a black and very deep illicial trough, an extremely short illicium and esca with numerous stout black (anterior face) and white (posterior face) cirri ( Figs. 9 B–C). Gill rakers: GRi = 13–14 (3–4+9–10); GRii = 8–10; GRiii = 8–11; GRiv = 7–8. Lateral-line counts: AB = 10–12 (mainly 11); BB' = 4–5 (5); BD = 2–3 (2); CD = 6–7; EF = 3–5 (4); FG = 3–4 (3); GH = 10–13 (11–12); BI = 35–40 (36–38).

It can be distinguished from C. stigmaeus Fowler, 1946 in its extremely short illicium, lacking a black ring on illicial stem, and distinct markings of rings or blotches on dorsal surface of body when preserved; and from C. pictus in having a relatively short tail (all three values of tail lengths relatively small), blackish blotches usually present on dorsal surface, and a relatively narrow head.

Distribution. Widespread in the Indo-west Pacific, including Kenya, South Africa, Madagascar, Japan, Taiwan, South China Sea, Australia and New Zealand ( Fig. 8 ). Bathymetric range 343–620 m in the present study area.

Remarks. This is the only member in the C. pictus -species group that occurs outside the Atlantic Ocean and is also the widest distributed species of the genus in the Indo-Pacific region. Chauanx tosaensis is a junior synonym proposed by Caruso (1999) and confirmed by comparisons of both morphological characters and Cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) sequences made by the first author (Ho, unpublished data). First record of family Chaunacidae in New Zealand waters was by Stephenson (1971), who accurately identified, diagnosed and figured this species.

Figures

FIGURE 8. Distribution map of three Chaunax species in present study. Circle = Chaunax penicillatus. Triangle = C. reticulatu sp. nov. Square = C. russatus sp. nov. Open symbols are primary types. A symbol may represent more than one capture. Dashed line = limit of Exclusive Economic Zone. Prepared by C. Struthers, Te Papa. Dashed line = limit of Exclusive Economic Zone. Prepared by C. Struthers, Te Papa.

FIGURE 9. Chaunax penicillatus McCulloch, 1915, NMNZ P. 032640, 108 mm SL. A. Lateral view. B. Laterodorsal view of head. Photos: A Stewart, Te Papa. C. Close – up view of illicial trough area, illustrated by E McKay edited by M. Freeborn, Te Papa.