Two new species of Parapercis (Perciformes: Pinguipedidae) from north-eastern Australia, and rediscovery of Parapercis colemani Randall & Francis, 1993
Memoirs of Museum Victoria Vol 63 (1) p. 47–56 (2006)
Abstract
Two new species of pinguipedid fishes, Parapercis flavolabiata and P. sexlorata, are described. The former is known from 20 specimens collected by epibenthic sled and demersal trawl from within the Great Barrier Reef, Australia, between Anzac Reefs and Lady Musgrave Island, in depths from 45 to 79 m. It is most similar to Parapercis multiplicata Randall, 1984 and P. colemani Randall & Francis, 1993 in appearance, but is unique among the genus in having a combination of dorsal rays V, 21, anal rays I, 17–18, lateral-line scales 51–55, palatines edentate, angle of subopercle produced and with small spinules, 9–10 abdominal and 20 caudal vertebrae, and colouration including six broad red saddles across the back, a purplish-red line from the anterior edge of each orbit around the snout, and a series of yellow-edged red spots on the postorbital part of the head and nape. Parapercis sexlorata is described from seven specimens trawled off central eastern Australia between Cape Moreton, Queensland and North Solitary Island, New South Wales in 86 to 137 m. It is easily distinguished from its closest congeners with palatine teeth and dark transverse bars, P. macrophthalma Pietschmann, 1911 and P. muronis Tanaka, 1918, by having four rather than five dorsal-fin spines and six rather than five transverse bars. Parapercis colemani Randall & Francis, 1993 was previously known only from the holotype, collected in 1.5 m depth in the lagoon of Norfolk Island. Additional specimens collected on the NORFANZ survey in the Tasman Sea indicate that the species usually inhabits much deeper habitats and occurs over a wider geographic area. New localities and meristic data are reported for the additional material.
Citation
Johnson, J.W., 2006. Two new species of Parapercis (Perciformes: Pinguipedidae) from north-eastern Australia, and rediscovery of Parapercis colemani Randall & Francis, 1993. Memoirs of Museum Victoria 63: 47-56. http://doi.org/10.24199/j.mmv.2006.63.7
PUBLICATION DATE: 31 DECEMBER 2006