Kurtus indicus

Fraser, Thomas H., 2013, A new genus of cardinalfish (Apogonidae: Percomorpha), redescription of Archamia and resemblances and relationships with Kurtus (Kurtidae: Percomorpha), Zootaxa 3714 (1), pp. 1-63 : 33-39

Description of Kurtus indicus and K. gulliveri

Body oblong and compressed, eye small, mouth oblique, large, protractile, terminal; single dorsal fin, long anal fin ( Figs. 20–22 ).

Dorsal fin: Kurtus indicus : Dorsal fin VII,12–14, first five spines rudimentary each fused with their serially associated proximal-middle radials; distal radial as a cartilage/bone element fused following proximal-middle radials 1–5, free 6–19; first spine supernumerary ( Fig 3C & F ); three supraneurals, posterior two with spine-like projections fore and aft; first dorsal proximal-middle radial with procumbent spine; first proximal-middle radial with posterior flange, second and third proximal-middle radials as rods with short proximal flanges as are four posterior proximal-middle radials, all other proximal-middle radials with long anterior flanges and short posterior flanges; first segmented ray unbranched, remainder branched except last branched ray in close association with a final unbranched ray supported by cartilage flange from proximal-middle radial ( Fig. 6C ). See Table 1 for axial skeleton relationships between neural spines and dorsal fin elements.

Kurtus gulliveri : Dorsal fin VII,11–14, first five spines rudimentary each fused with their serially associated proximal-middle radials; first two pterygiophores with fused proximal, middle and distal radials, next with a distal radial in close association with proximal-middle radials; fused proximal and middle radials with free cartilaginous radials for remainder of dorsal fin ( Fig. 6D ). See Table 1 for axial skeleton relationships between neural spines and dorsal fin elements.

Ontogeny of anterior dorsal elements for Kurtus gulliveri ( Fig. 22 ): 8 mm SL ( Fig. 22A ) three cartilaginous supraneurals with distal ossification; anterior two cartilaginous proximal-middle radials without evidence of distal radials; supernumerary spine and first serial dorsal spine not present, following spines ossified; third spine and following with cartilaginous distal radial. 9 mm SL ( Fig. 22B ) three cartilaginous supraneurals with faint distal ossification; anterior two cartilaginous proximal-middle radials without evidence of distal radials; supernumerary spine not present, first serial dorsal spine and following spines ossified, third spine and following with cartilaginous distal radial. 14 mm SL ( Fig. 22C ) three partially cartilaginous supraneurals with distal and flange ossification; anterior two partially cartilaginous proximal-middle radials without evidence of distal radials, flanges ossified; supernumerary spine and procumbent spine ossified; first serial dorsal spine and following spines ossified, third spine and following with cartilaginous distal radial; all proximal-middle radials with ossified flanges and partially ossified central rod, cartilaginous distal and proximal tips.

Anal fin: Kurtus indicus : Anal fin II, 31–32, two supernumerary spines ( Fig. 4C ); an anterior nubbin followed by a cavity on distal part of flange of first anal proximal-middle radial ( Fig. 4C ); anterior flange about half proximal-middle radial length, reaches near haemal arch of eleventh vertebra tipped with cartilage touching haemal spine, proximal-middle radials 2–5, all tipped with cartilage and articulate with posterior median portion of first anal proximal-middle radial, proximal-middle radials 6–8, all tipped with cartilage articulate with haemal spine of eleventh vertebra, proximal-middle radial 9 free, proximal-middle radial 10 associated with haemal spine 12 ( Figs. 5C , 21C ); proximal-middle radials (distally partly to mostly cartilaginous) all fused; cartilaginous distal radials serially associated with all proximal-middle radials; first and all following segmented rays branched including last in close association with preceding ray; last fin-ray split to the base, supported by cartilage flange from proximalmiddle radial ( Fig. 6G ). See Table 1 for axial skeleton relationships between haemal spines and anal fin elements.

Kurtus gulliveri : Anal fin II, 39–49, two supernumerary spines; an anterior nubbin followed by a cavity on distal part of flange of first anal proximal-middle radial ( Fig. 4C ); anterior flange about one quarter first proximalmiddle radial length, proximal tip reaches near mid-haemal arch of eleventh vertebra, proximal-middle radials 2–5, all tipped with cartilage and articulate with posterior median portion of first anal proximal-middle radial, proximalmiddle radials 6–12, all tipped with cartilage articulate with haemal spine of eleventh vertebra, proximal-middle radial 13 free, proximal-middle radial 14–16 associated with haemal spine 12 ( Fig. 21A ); proximal-middle radials (distally partly to mostly cartilaginous) all fused; cartilaginous distal radials serially associated with all proximalmiddle radials; first and all following segmented rays branched including last in close association with preceding ray; last fin-ray split to the base, supported by cartilage flange from proximal-middle radial ( Fig. 6H ).

Vertebrae and Ribs: Kurtus indicus: Vertebrae 10+14 ( Fig 21C , Table 1); first vertebra narrow, curved down to large basioccipital condyle and small dorsolateral exocciptal condyles, first neural spine slender and autogenous; first and second vertebrae without ribs; first pair of ribs ( Fig. 7D ) on lower mid-centrum of third vertebra curving backward and down briefly crossing second pair of ribs, reaching to level of scapula foramen, cartilage tipped; second pair of ribs on anterior half of centrum of fourth vertebra without parapophyses curving, as long rods, down over anterior part of expanded third ribs near anterior flange on first anal proximal-middle radial, cartilage tipped ( Figs. 7D , 21D ); fifth vertebra with third pair of ribs expanded to level of upper pectoral fin, proximally fitting (fused?) on expanded wing-like parapophyses, distally with short ridges and one thin flange with distal ossified rod and short cartilage tips, overall length much shorter than preceding rib; sixth vertebra with pair of ribs expanded ventrally longer than preceding ribs, proximally fitting (fused?) on expanded wing-like parapophyses, distally with short ridges, one produced thin flange with distal thin, short cartilage tip; seventh vertebrae with pair of ribs expanded ventrally longer than preceding rib, proximally fitting (fused?) on expanded wing-like parapophyses, distally with short ridges, one produced thin flange lacking stainable distal rods; eighth vertebrae with pair of ribs expanded ventrally longer than preceding rib, proximally fitting (fused?) on expanded wing-like parapophyses, with rudimentary flange lacking stainable distal rods, ninth vertebra with pair of ribs expanded ventrally longer than preceding rib, proximally fitting (fused?) on expanded wing-like parapophyses, with six rudimentary flanges, none with stainable rods; tenth vertebra with pair of ribs proximally fitting (fused?) on expanded wing-like parapophyses, enclosing tip of first anal proximal-middle radial and partly covering first haemal spine of eleventh vertebra ( Fig. 4C , 5C ); eleventh to fifteenth vertebrae with expanded bone identified as ribs on lower part of each centrum; sixteenth vertebra with typical centrum without expanded bone, slightly broad haemal spines and typical neural spines; neural spines on vertebrae 4–10 shorter than first three, vertebrae 2–14 with wider neural spines, progressively narrower on 12–14, typical rod shaped neural spines on vertebrae 15–23; neural spine of PU2 well developed without a crest; haemal spine on eleventh vertebra canted distally anteriorly, much longer spine than following haemal spines, with wide flange posteriorly; haemal spines on vertebrae 12–17 flattened knife-like, haemal spines on vertebrae 18–23 rod-shaped; haemal and neural spines on preural3 longest of all, tipped with cartilage and between two cartilaginous supports for procurrent caudal rays.

Kurtus gulliveri: Vertebrae 10+14 ( Fig. 21A , Table 1); first vertebra narrow, curved down to large basioccipital condyle and small dorsolateral exocciptal condyles, first neural spine slender, autogenous; first and second vertebrae without ribs; first pair of ribs on mid-centrum of third vertebra curving downward reaching to level of scapula foramen, narrow with a slight caudad flange, cartilage tipped; second pair of ribs anterior to a thin wings of vertebral bone with an inferior foramen on each side as part of fourth vertebra, ribs articulating on centrum anterior to wings, ribs with moderately expanded flanges less than half the length of cartilage tipped distal rods; third pair of ribs articulating with notched broad vertebral wings, wings with inferior foramen on each side, ribs with broad flanges more than two-thirds length of cartilage tipped distal rods ( Fig. 21B ); fourth pair of ribs articulating with nearly centered notched broad vertebral wings, wings with inferior foramen on each side, ribs with broad flanges about 90% of cartilage tipped distal rods; fifth to seventh pairs of ribs articulating with centered notched broad vertebral wings, wings with inferior foramen on each side, ribs with broad flanges almost 100% of cartilage tipped distal rods; eighth pair of ribs similar to the preceding except the articulation with the wings shifted caudad, ribs associated with haemal spine of eleventh vertebra, enclosing the proximal end of the first anal proximal-middle radial; no rib-like bony expansions on caudal vertebrae; neural spines on vertebrae 4–10 shorter than first three, vertebrae 2–14 with wider neural spines, progressively narrower on 12–14, typical rod shaped neural spines on vertebrae 15–23; neural spine of PU2 well developed without a crest; haemal spine on eleventh vertebra canted distally anteriorad, much longer spine than following haemal spines, with wide flange posteriorly; haemal spines on vertebrae 12–17 flattened knife-like, haemal spines on vertebrae 18–23 rod-shaped; haemal and neural spines on preural3 longest of all, tipped with cartilage and between two cartilaginous supports for procurrent caudal rays.

Kurtus indicus : no inferior vertebral foramen apparent through expanded ribs of abdominal vertebrae, each caudal vertebra with an inferior foramen except PU2, foramina penetrating expanded bone on eleventh to fifteenth vertebrae; epineurals on ribs of vertebra 3–8, absent on remaining ribs.

Kurtus gulliveri : fourth to tenth abdominal vertebrae with inferior vertebral foramina, eleventh to twentysecond vertebrae with one or two inferior foramina on base of haemal spines except for PU2; first epineural small, on first neural spine, epineurals on ribs of vertebrae 2–10, tiny short ossifications except for epineurals 2–4.

Hypural complex: Kurtus indicus , ( Fig. 8C ): Three epurals, first and longest a rod with flattened anterior end, second as rod about one half length of fifth hypural, with cartilage at distal end, third a short splinter above the proximal end of hypural 5; uroneurals absent; hypurals 1+2 fused, tight articulation of terminal centrum, hypurals 3+4 fused, without urostylar shield, fused to terminal centrum, hypural five free, parhypural with parapophyseal hook and broad anterior flange, terminal centrum with rudimentary urostyle; PU2 with long neural spine. Principal caudal fin rays 9+8 (8+7, segmented and branched rays and two segmented and unbranched principal rays); fourteen dorsal procurrent rays, five associated with an anterior cartilage, one with neural spine of third preural centrum (PU3), five with posterior cartilage, and three with epurals one and two; eleven ventral procurrent rays, six associated with an anterior cartilage, one with haemal spine of PU3, and one with haemal spine of PU2 ( Fig. 8C ); no procurrent spur.

Kurtus gulliveri ( Figs. 8D , 23B ): 8.9 mm specimen: three cartilaginous epurals; no uroneurals; cartilaginous fused hypurals 1+2+parhypural, cartilaginous fused hypurals 3+4; cartilaginous hypural 5; terminal centrum long, free, distal third cartilaginous; neural spine on preural 2 proximally ossified, midsection cartilaginous, distal third ossified; cartilaginous plate between preural 3 and epural 1; cartilaginous plate between haemal spine of preural 2 and preural 3. 50 mm specimen: three epurals, first and longest, as a rod with small flattened proximal end with cartilage at distal end, second a rod almost as long as first, with cartilage at distal end, third as a rod almost as long as second, tipped with cartilage; slender paired uroneurals; hypurals 1+2 fused, with tight articulation of terminal centrum, hypurals 3+4 fused, without urostylar shield, fused to terminal centrum, hypural five free, parhypural with parapophyseal hook and broad anterior flange, terminal centrum with rudimentary urostyle; preural 2 with long neural spine. Principal caudal fin rays 9+8 (8+7, segmented and branched rays and two segmented and unbranched principal rays); ten dorsal procurrent rays, six associated with anterior cartilage, four with epurals; six ventral procurrent rays, one associated with last epural, five with cartilage; no procurrent spur.

Pelvics both species: Thoracic pelvic fins I,5 all soft rays branched, inner edge free; basipterygium attached to inner side of cleithrum, ~45° angle, outer flange produced as posterior facing spine; spine with fused bridge through pelvic foramen.

Pectoral girdle both species: Posttemporal with long upper arm, short lower arm and narrow posterior portion without serrations; extrascapular tiny; supracleithrum not reaching angle of cleithrum; scapula and coracoid mostly fused with short caudad smooth suture ( Kurtus indicus , Fig. 9B ) or with complete smooth suture ( Kurtus gulliveri ); dorsal edge of scapula fused with cleithrum, coracoid process high on cleithrum; four hourglass shaped pectoral radials, lower two with coracoid, upper two with scapula; two rod-like postcleithra, lower one long, slightly expanding distally between pelvic fin and first anal proximal-middle radial, thin, short upper postcleithrum not extending dorsal to upper edge of scapula, near first rib; ligament from distal pelvic ridge to junction of upper and lower postcleithra. Kurtus indicus : pectoral fin-rays very long, extending to vertical with 15 th –16 th anal ray; 23 rays, lower eight and upper three unbranched. Kurtus gulliveri : pectoral fin-rays very long; 17 rays, broken.

Ventral gill arches not shown, both species: Three cartilage-tipped, ossified basibranchials and small rounded fourth cartilaginous basibranchial, first very short barely beyond hypohyals, second longer and third longest extending under fourth with elongate cartilaginous tip; no tooth plates on basihyal or basibranchials; three hypobranchials, first with gill rakers, teeth on inner edge, and tooth plate between each gill raker, small tooth plates on inner side, alternating between larger and smaller, second with gill rakers, teeth on inner edge, and tooth plate between each gill raker, small tooth plates on inner side, third with semi-spherical shape, cartilaginous posteriorly, ossified portion completely covered in teeth; five ceratobranchials, first with gill rakers on outer shoulder, teeth on inner shoulder, and tooth plate between each gill raker, small tooth plates on inner side, second with gill rakers on outer shoulder, teeth on inner shoulder, and tooth plate between each gill raker, small tooth plates on inner side, third with humped tooth plates, some alternating with flat tooth plates, and smaller inner humped tooth plates, fourth with long anterior tooth plate followed by slightly humped and rounded tooth plates, fifth bearing four to five long rows of teeth larger posteriorly and along inner rim.

Dorsal gill arches ( Figs. 10D & E ) both species: Four epibranchials, first with gill rakers, teeth on inner edge, short interarcual cartilage between dorsal portions of uncinate process on first epibranchial and anterior tip of single cartilaginous condyle of second pharyngobranchial; second epibranchial curved, its partly cartilaginous tip articulating medially with cartilaginous condyle on dorsal side of third pharyngobranchial and anterior to large tooth patch; third epibranchial wide at its articulation with wide posterior cartilaginous end of large third pharyngobranchial tooth patch, dorsally cartilaginous tipped Y-shaped third epibranchial articulated dorsally with cartilaginous tipped Y-shaped fourth epibranchial (this co-joined point articulates with base of neurocranium); three pharyngobranchial, first, short, rod-like with small tooth patch at base of Kurtus indicus and absent in K. gulliveri , articulates dorsally with neurocranium and ventrally with first epibranchial; second with Y-shaped cartilaginous tips and medial narrow tooth patch, posterior tip ventral to second epibranchial, medial tip articulating with anterior tip of third pharyngobranchial; third pharyngobranchial with large posterior tooth patch; fourth pharyngobranchial absent, a small tooth plate partially articulating with dorsally positioned fourth epibranchial.

First gill arch rudiment and raker counts: Kurtus indicus , upper rudiments 1, upper rakers 7, lower rakers 14, lower rudiments 0, all rakers 21, rakers plus rudiments 22; exposed pseudobranchiae. Kurtus gulliveri , upper rudiments 1, upper rakers 6, lower rakers 15, lower rudiments 1, all rakers 21, rakers plus rudiments 23.

Hyoid series both species: seven branchiostegals, three on ventral edge of anterior ceratohyal, two on distal face of anterior ceratohyal and two on distal face of posterior ceratohyal; sutures present connecting upper third of anterior ceratohyal with posterior ceratohyal on distal face, cartilage present between anterior ceratohyal and posterior ceratohyal and on ventral edge of posterior anterior ceratohyal; long foramen present in anterior ceratohyal ( Fig. 11B ); urohyal without anterior process, acutely triangular, narrow end, tipped in cartilage, articulating with anterior hypobranchials and cartilaginous tip of first basibranchial, ligamentous band from ventral edge of urohyal to each ventral hypohyal, another ligament to anterior portion of urohyal to upper hypohyal.

Preopercle with few spines anteriorly near its angle on ridge, three strong spines on edge; opercle, interopercle, and subopercle with thin ossifications.

Lachrymal edge smooth, second infraorbital barely ossified, gap between lachrymal/second infraorbital and third infraorbital, third without shelf, fourth long, fifth articulating with neurocranium, sixth closely attached to sphenotic ( Fig. 12C , Kurtus indicus ).

Neurocranium: Kurtus indicus , males with small hook on occiput, formed by supraoccipital, covered with skin, supraoccipital with large crest extend forward over median frontal crest nearly to junction between frontal and mesethmoid; frontals smooth without lateral crests, median frontal crest; basisphenoid present, base wide; welldeveloped pterosphenoids fusing anteriorly to form partial interorbital septum with cartilage anteriorly along parasphenoid joining mesethmoid, orbit side of frontals and inner lateral ethmoid; flange along edge of lateral ethmoid joins flange along parts of anterior edge of frontal to form short enclose canal opening adjacent to edge of mesethmoid. Kurtus gulliveri , males with prominent hook on occiput, formed by supraoccipital ( Fig. 24 ) and covered with skin, four low spinelets (present on females) on dorsal edge, supraoccipital extends far forward between frontals; frontals without lateral crests from sphenotic, low median frontal crest, ridge from mid-orbit to supraoccipital (no ridge in juvenile cleared and stained specimen); basisphenoid present, base wide; welldeveloped pterosphenoids fusing medially to form partial interorbital septum with cartilage anteriorly along parasphenoid joining mesethmoid, orbit side of frontals and inner lateral ethmoid; flange along edge of lateral ethmoid joins flange along parts of anterior edge of frontal to form short enclose canal opening vertically adjacent to edge of mesethmoid (not seen in de Beaufort’s figure).

Eyes with pair of cartilaginous scleral ossicles.

Villiform teeth entire length of premaxilla, one row slightly larger anteriorly becoming few rows of smaller teeth almost entire length; dentary with several rows of teeth becoming two rows about 1/3 way posteriorly; four to six small teeth on lateral edges of vomer and long single row of small teeth on palatines; no teeth on basihyal, ectopterygoid or endopterygoid; maxillary excluded from border of mouth; no supramaxilla.

Scales: very small cycloid scales; snout and interorbit naked, with exception of preopercle and opercle; lateral line scales short from posttemporal ending just past opercle flap. Kurtus indicus Male: Scales small, cycloid, deciduous, on body and all principle rays of caudal fin to near tips; scale absent anterior to pelvic and behind pectoral fins, under supraoccipital crest, area behind produced supraoccipital crest and along dorsum to origin of spinous dorsal; no scales on soft rays of pectoral, anal or dorsal fin. Kurtus gulliveri Female: Scales small, cycloid, deciduous, on dentary, cheek, preopercle, opercle, nape, breast, behind pectoral, on dorsal, anal, pelvic and caudal fin-rays.

Nares: Kurtus indicus anterior naris large, oval, without flap or raised rim; posterior naris larger, oval without raised rim; Kurtus gulliveri with flap on posterior side large enough to cover anterior opening; posterior naris large oval without raised rim.

Pseudobranchiae present, exposed in both species.

Kurtus indicus with 10 pyloric caeca; K. gulliveri with 8–11 pyloric caeca.

Anus immediately behind pelvic fins.

Lateralis canals and pores ( Fig. 21 ): Kurtus indicus Male: narrow open canals under skin with discrete pores, not all obvious, present on dentary; along preopercle (obscured); over orbit; suborbital pores from lachrymal to upper infraorbital; snout with anterior supraorbital pores near edge of upper jaw and proximal to nares; short rudimentary supratemporal canal branch from canal to posttemporal; lateral line with about 16 small scales to below vertical level of first dorsal spine ( Fig. 25B ), pores between lateral-line scales ( Fig. 16C ); no pits present after last lateral-line scale to base of caudal fin. Kurtus gulliveri with about 22 lateral-line scales, pores between lateral-line scales; no pits present after last lateral-line scale to base of caudal fin; 1–3 large supraorbital pores with tiny pores along proximal edge of serrated lateral ethmoid; other pores not visible.

Free neuromasts: Kurtus indicus Male ( Fig. 25 ): Many tiny neuromasts on head, incompletely shown, present on nape past supraoccipital crest to near first dorsal spine, on body above lateral-line scales, incompletely shown neuromasts on upper body to origin of first dorsal spine and in area between pelvic and pectoral fins. Kurtus gulliveri Female (not shown): Free neuromasts tiny, from posterior snout on interorbit, anterior nape, below posttemporal, on cheek, preopercle, opercle and dentary; around edges of small scales in a semisquare/rectangle pattern where present, not seen elsewhere on predorsal to first dorsal spine (may be present in males).

Pale color for stomach and intestine of both species of Kurtus .

Swim bladder enclosed by expanded ribs for both species; not examined for internal characters.

Color pattern: Both species of Kurtus semi-translucent or pale in life; Kurtus indicus with scattered melanophores on nape, dense melanophores on male crest and its base becoming dispersed along rudimentary dorsal spines ( Fig. 20A ); edges of anal, dorsal and caudal fins blackish, scattered melanophores on caudal-fin rays; Kurtus gulliveri uniform without darkish markings on body; edges of caudal fin blackish, edge of dorsal fin blackish, membranes of soft dorsal fin darkish ( Fig. 20B ; Berra 2003, fig. 3).

Remarks: Both species share apomorphic characters (synapomorphic at the genus level) at the family level: shape and insertion of the expanded precaudal ribs, medially fused pterosphenoids supporting the bony interorbital septum, extremely small cycloid scales, reduced cephalic canals, lateral-line pores between simple scales, male supraoccipital crests, inflexible first five dorsal spines each fused to an amalgamation of the distal and proximalmiddle radials. The neural spine on PU2 vertebra and two supernumerary anal spines are considered plesiomorphic characters. Kurtus represents a distinctive lineage of percomorph fishes. An analysis of characters follows to assess previously hypothesized relationships with the Apogonidae .

Figures

FIGURE 3. Anterior and mid-dorsal fin elements. A & D. Archamia bleekeri, USNM 356291, 37.6 mm SL. B &E. Taeniamia leai, USNM 306823, 55.0 mm SL, bone stain only. C & F. Kurtus indicus USNM 267150, 63.0 mm SL. supraneurals = S1–3; neural spines = 1–3, 6–9; proximal-middle radial = P1–2, 5–8; distal radial = R; fused radials = FR; dorsal spines = I–III V– VII and IX; shaded areas = cartilage stain. Scale = 1 mm.

FIGURE 4. Radiographs as positives of the lower mid-section of the body and anterior anal fin elements. A. Archamia bleekeri, NTM S.13958.020 by H. Larson. B. Taeniamia leai, USNM 356277 by Sandra Raredon. C. Kurtus indicus, USNM 372503 by Sandra Raredon. D. Holapogon maximus, BMNH 1889.4.15.22 by T. Fraser. tenth vertebrae = 10, flange = f, ribs = r4–12, proximal-middle radials = mp1–5, nubbin = n, supernumerary spines = S, = serial spine with respect to anteriormost proximal-middle radial = I, homologous positions with respect to serial proximal-middle radials 1 or 2 = s1–2.

FIGURE 5. Lateral views of vertebrae 9–12 with haemal arches and associated ribs, haemal spines and proximal portions of the anal fin pterygiophores. A. Taeniamia macroptera, USNM 171228, 54.0 mm SL. B. Archamia bleekeri, USNM 356291, 37.6 mm SL. C. Kurtus indicus, USNM 267150, 63.0 mm SL. = tenth vertebra = 10, = haemal arch = HA, = haemal spine = HS, ribs = R8−10, inferior foramen = IF, tips of anal fin proximal radials = 1–10, shaded areas = cartilage stain. Scale = 1 mm.

FIGURE 6. Last few fin elements of the dorsal and anal fins. A & E. Taeniamia leai, USNM 306823, 55.0 mm SL, bone stain only. B & F. Archamia bleekeri, USNM 356291, 37.6 mm SL. C & G. Kurtus indicus USNM 267150, 63.0 mm SL. D & H. Kurtus gulliveri, USNM 217309, ~50 mm SL. d = distal radial; fr = fin ray, m = middle radial, p = proximal radial, p+m = cartilage not free from proximal radial, shaded areas = cartilage stain. Scale = 1 mm.

FIGURE 7. A. Archamia bleekeri, USNM 356291, 37.6 mm SL, anterior eleven vertebra, ribs and epineurals. B. Taeniamia leai, USNM 306823, 55.0 mm SL, anterior eleven vertebra, ribs and epineurals (not counter stained). C. Taeniamia leai, USMN 306823, 55 mm SL, partial portions of ribs 1–4 enlarged to show narrow flanges on ribs 2–4. D. Kurtus indicus, USNM 267150, 63.0 mm SL, vertebra 3–6, ribs and epineurals (starting on v4 and ending on v6). Epineurals in red and cartilage in blue. Vertebra number on centrum = 1, 3, 5, 11, rib number = R3. Scale = 1 mm.

FIGURE 8. Caudal fin elements from third pre-ural centrum. A. Archamia bleekeri, USNM 356291, 37.6 mm SL. B. Taeniamia leai, USNM 306823, 55.0 mm SL, only cleared and stained. C. Kurtus indicus, USNM 267150, 63.0 mm SL. D. Kurtus gulliveri, USNM 217309, ~50 mm SL. Numbers refer to upper and lower procurrent (5–14) and principle caudal-fin rays (8–9). terminal centrum = ct, epural = e, = hypural = h, neural crest = nc, = neural spine = ns, parhypural = p, preural centrum = pu, urostylar sheath = us = paired uroneurals = u, fused elements = +, paired uroneurals in solid black, cartilage in gray. Scale = 1 mm.

FIGURE 9. Pectoral girdle. A. Archamia bleekeri USNM 356291, 37.6 mm SL, left side. B. Kurtus indicus USNM 267150, 63.0 mm SL, left side. extrascapular = E, posttemporal = PT, supracleithrum = SC, = cleithrum = CL, coracoid = CO, scapula = S, radials = R, upper postcleithrum = UP, = lower post cleithrum = LP, shaded areas = cartilage stain. Scale = 1 mm.

FIGURE 10. Dorsal view of the upper branchial bones, all similarly sized. A. Apogon townsendi AMNH 23513, modified from figure 41B, Rosen and Patterson (1990). B. Taeniamia leai USNM 306823, 55 mm SL, bone stain only. C. Archamia bleekeri, USNM 356291, 37.6 mm SL. D. Kurtus gulliveri, AMNH 43396, modified from figure 46A, Rosen and Patterson (1990). E. Kurtus indicus USNM 267150, 63.0 mm SL. F. Taeniamia buruensis USNM 112112, 62.0 mm SL. second epibranchial = E2, interarcual cartilage = IC, third pharyngobranchial = P3, shaded areas = cartilage stain.

FIGURE 11. Hyoid series. A. Archamia bleekeri, USNM 356291, 37.6 mm SL, outer right side laterally reversed. B. Kurtus indicus, USNM 267150, 63 mm SL, outer left side. upper hypohyal = UH, lower hypohyal = LH, branchiostegals = BR1–7, = beryciform foramen = BF, anterior ceratohyal = AC, posterior ceratohyal = PC, interhyal = IH. Scale = 1 mm.

FIGURE 12. Dorsal view of infraorbitals with shelves. A. Archamia bleekeri, USNM 356291, 37.6 mm SL, right side. B. Taeniamia leai, USNM306823, 55 mm SL, left side laterally reversed. C. Kurtus indicus, USNM 267150, 63 mm SL, right side. infraorbital = 1–6, shelf = S. Scale = 1 mm.

FIGURE 16. Semi-diagrammatic fourth lateral-line scales, left side, growth rings not shown. A. Taeniamia leai, USNM 356272, 53 mm SL. B. Archamia bleekeri, USNM 276669, 50 mm SL. C. Kurtus indicus UF 182306, 94 mm SL, scale enlarged 7.6X. D. Kurtus indicus UF 182306, 94 mm SL, lateral-line scale at size for size comparison with scale illustrated for Archamia bleekeri. Scale for A, B and D = 1 mm., Scale for C = 0.25 mm.

FIGURE 20. A. Kurtus indicus, UF 182306, 93.7 mm SL, Sri Lanka, off of Myiddy, 19 Mar 1970, preserved in ethyl alcohol, male. B. Kurtus gulliveri, 180 mm SL, Fly River, Papua New Guinea, perimortem, by Gerald R. Allen.

FIGURE 21. Radiographs by S. Raredon inverted as positives. A. Kurtus gulliveri, USNM 217311, 103 mm SL. C. Kurtus indicus, USNM 372503, 69 mm SL. tenth vertebrae = 10. Inset B K. gulliveri, ribs 3–8. Inset D Kurtus indicus, ribs 3–13. White arrows point to inferior foramen for the 12th and 16th vertebra and present in all caudal vertebrae except PU3 to terminal centrum for K. gulliveri and K. indicus.

FIGURE 22. Kurtus gulliveri, cleared and counter stained anterior dorsal elements. A. 8 mm SL. B. 9 mm SL. C. 14 mm SL. neural spines = 1–3, supraneurals = S1–3, SS = supernumerary spine, proximal-middle radials = P1–6, serial dorsal spines = I– V, distal radials = R3–6. Clearing, staining and original photographs by G. David Johnson.

FIGURE 23. Kurtus gulliveri, A. Cleared and counter stained anterior anal fin of 21 mm SL specimen. B. Cleared and counter stained caudal complex of 8.9 mm SL specimen. Red = bone, blue = cartilage. A. nubbin = N, proximal-middle radials = P1–4, distal radials = R1–3, serial branched soft rays = 1–3, supernumerary spines = I–II. B. epurals = e1–3, haemal spines = hs, hypurals = h1–5, neural spines = ns, parhypural = p, second preural centrum = pu2, terminal centrum = tc. Clearing, staining and original photographs by G. David Johnson.

FIGURE 24. Kurtus gulliveri, male, lateral view of the neurocranium, 70 mm, from de Beaufort (1914), table XII, figure 1, scanned and edited by T. Fraser with updated nomenclature, traced sutures, thinner lines elsewhere and some additional shading. The neurocranium probably from the 280 mm SL specimen in his figure 3.

FIGURE 25. Partial semi-diagrammatic composite distribution of free neuromasts (dots) and partial canals and pores of Kurtus indicus, UF 182306, 94 mm SL, male. A. Dorsal view of head and nape. B. Lateral view of head and anterior body. C. Ventral view of the dentary, mental to articular pore. Scale = 5 mm.