Pterygotrigal (Parapterygotrigla) robertsi

Richards, William J. & Yato, Takuji, 2014, Revision of the subgenus Parapterygotrigla (Pisces: Triglidae: Pterygotrigla), Zootaxa 3768 (1), pp. 23-42 : 37

Pterygotrigal (Parapterygotrigla) robertsi del Cerro & Lloris 1997

Roberts’ Gurnard

( Figures 6 A –B, Tables 1 & 2)

Pterygotrigla robertsi del Cerro & Lloris 1997: 117 –119 (original description, illustration, New Caledonia). Parapterygotrigla sp. “C”. www.marine.csiro.au/caab/caabsearch-frames.htm.

Material examined. CSIRO H832.02, 307 mm SL, Australia, Queensland, Marion Plateau, Marion Reef, 20 o25.8’ to 20 o23.6’S, 152 o57.7’E, FRV Soela, sta. 6 / 85 / 27, 22 Nov. 1985, 508– 511 m depth. In addition, L. del Cerro provided original data from the holotype MNHN 1994 - 25, 152 mm SL, New Caledonia, Stylaster Seamount, 23 o37.7’ S, 167 o43.7’E, Beryx II, sta. 32, 420–460 m depth (also cataloged as NMNZ P- 29291).

Diagnosis. Buckler in advance of D 1 fin present, antrorse AIO spine absent, anterior AIO spines short (7–10 % SL), P 1 fin long (47–55 % SL), P 1 fin 1 st free ray long (33 % SL), eye moderate (10–11 % SL), snout long (16–20 % SL), nape and breast lack scales, belly with scales, 9–12 short gill rakers (2 %SL), dark pigment on dorsum of holotype (see Fig. 6 B).

Description. D 1 VIII, D 2 12, A 12, P 1, long (47–55 % SL) 11–12 + 3, 9–10 bucklers along base of D 1, GR 9–12 short + rudiments, llsc 59–63, nape and breast lack scales, nuchal spine strong (11 % SL), no ocular spines, opercular spine short reaching to gill opening, preopercular spine short reaching to gill opening, preopercular ridge present, cleithral spine long (15 % SL).

Coloration. Del Cerro & Lloris (1997) describe the color in alcohol as follows: “general coloration yellowish, head slightly darker, ventral flanks below cleithral spine and ventral side anteriorly to the vent are shadowed. Traces of dark markings on D I fin between spines 1–6, pectoral fin blackish except uppermost ray and 3 lowermost which are pale, free rays pale as well as other fins”. There is a dark irregular patch on the dorsum below the D 1 fin of the holotype (see Fig. 6 A ) that is not mentioned in the original description. The Queensland specimen did not have any pigmentation on its dorsum nor was any dark pigment detected on the dorsal, anal and caudal fins. The P 1 fin was dusky with a light border.

Distribution. Coral Sea endemic, southwestern Pacific. Rare in collections; known only from Stylaster Seamount, off New Caledonia and Marion Reef off Queensland, Australia. L. del Cerro (pers. comm.) notes another specimen from Vanuatu.

Figures

FIGURE 6 A. Lateral view of the holotype of Pterygotrigla robertsi, (photo courtesy of L. del Cerro). B. Dorsal view of the holotype of Pterygotrigla robertsi (photo courtesy of L. del Cerro).