Key to the species of Australian Platycephalus

The following key to the species of Platycephalus from Australia has been prepared for adults and young specimens with adult-like characters (e.g., specimens of P. f us cu s ca. 100 mm SL or smaller differ from adults in caudal fin color pattern and would not key comfortably to that species); see individual species descriptions for identification of smaller specimens.

1a. Head and body subcylindrical, slightly depressed; upper preopercular spine longer than lower................ P. laevigatus

1b. Head and body strongly depressed; lower preopercular spine longer than upper.....................................2

2a. One to three large caniniform teeth present anteromedially on upper jaw.......................................... 3

2b. Large caniniform teeth absent on upper jaw................................................................. 6

3a. Anal-fin rays usually 13; branched caudal-fin rays 9–11; occipital region naked; margin of interopercle scalloped................................................................................................... P. chauliodous

3b. Anal-fin rays usually 14; branched caudal-fin rays 12–13; occipital region scaled; margin of interopercle smooth.......... 4

4a. Pectoral-fin rays usually 19; swimbladder absent; abdominal cavity pale.............................. P. aurimaculatus

4b. Pectoral-fin rays usually 20 or more; swimbladder present; abdominal cavity dark brown or black...................... 5

5a. Pored lateral-line scales usually with one pair of sensory ducts with posterior external openings; total gill rakers 7–11.................................................................................................... P. conatus

5b. Pored lateral-line scales usually with two pairs of sensory ducts with posterior external openings (some scales sometimes with one, three or four pairs of ducts); total gill rakers 12–17............................................. P. richardsoni

6a. Distinct interopercular flap absent (small flap sometimes present)............................................... 7

6b. Finger-like interopercular flap present..................................................................... 8

7a. Total gill rakers>17; caudal fin with 1–2 blackish or dark brown markings or spots posteroventrally....................9

7b. Total gill rakers <14; caudal fin blackish, lacking markings or spots............................................. 10

8a. Total gill rakers>18................................................................... P. caeruleopunctatus

8b. Total gill rakers <16................................................................................... 11

9a. Ridge and spines absent on supraoccipital; many small dark dots scattered on dorsal surface of head and body... P. bassensis

9b. Ridge present on supraoccipital, usually ending in a spine; small distinct dark dots absent from dorsal surface of head and body......................................................................................... P. grandispinis

10a. Head and body marbled with irregular dark brown, brown and pale bands and spots...................... P. marmoratus

10b. Head and body without distinct spots and bands..................................................... P. orbitalis

11a. Caudal fin with several dark spots dorsally or posteroventrally, but without bands..................................12

11b. Caudal fin with several dark bands....................................................................... 13

12a. First dorsal fin with a single small isolated spine anteriorly; second dorsal- and anal-fin rays usually 14; caudal fin with several dark spots posteroventorally................................................................... P. speculator

12b. First dorsal fin usually with two small isolated spines anteriorly; second dorsal- and anal-fin rays usually 13; caudal fin with several dark spots dorsally........................................................................ P. fuscus

13a. Teeth present on dorsal surface of anterolateral edge of upper jaw....................................... P. angustus

13b. Teeth absent on dorsal surface of anterolateral edge of upper jaw................................................ 14

14a. Upper iris lappet usually broad, bilobed; caudal fin with yellow marking posterodorsally when fresh........... P. westraliae

14b. Upper iris lappet triangular, simple; caudal fin either lacking yellow marking, or not situated as above................. 15

15a. Total gill rakers 10–15 (tending to decrease with growth); caudal fin usually with four or more dark bands, lacking a yellow marking when fresh........................................................................ P. endrachtensis

15b. Total gill rakers 4–10 (tending to decrease with growth); caudal fin with three or four dark bands, a yellow marking on midline when fresh............................................................................ P. australis sp. nov.