Therapon

Gill, Anthony C., Russell, Barry C. & Nelson, Gary, 2018, F. L. de Castelnau’s Norman River fishes housed in the Macleay Museum, University of Sydney, Zootaxa 4459 (3), pp. 565-574 : 570

Therapon terrae-reginae Castelnau [= Amniataba percoides ]

Figure 5

Therapon terrae-reginae; Castelnau 1878b: 46 (Norman River).

This is the only non-type specimen of Castelnau’s Norman River fishes in the Macleay Museum, which we include primarily as evidence that the MAMU Norman River specimens match with Castelnau’s collection. Castelnau (1878a) described T. terraereginae on the basis of a single specimen from northern Queensland, possibly from the Fitzroy River. He further noted that he had seen a six-inch Fitzroy River specimen of the same species in the Brisbane Museum (now Queensland Museum). He reported on an unspecified number of specimens from the Norman River in his 1878b paper. However, he introduced confusion by noting “The specimen on which I formed this species is not in my possession having been returned to the Brisbane Museum, so I cannot compare the specimens that I have from the Norman River with the type.” As can be discerned from his original description, the Queensland Museum specimen is not the type. According to Bauchot & Desoutter (1987), the holotype is instead deposited in the MNHN (MNHN A-703). Vari (1978) included T. terraereginae in the synonymy of Amniataba percoides (Günther 1864) .

MAMU F.569A includes a single 66.5 mm SL specimen (TL not determined, owing to caudal-fin damage). The old label says “ THERAPON TERRAE-REGINAE NORMAN RIVER”. The index card for the specimen also says “ Therapon terrae-reginae […] 1 sp. 3″ Norman River.” We believe this specimen is Castelnau’s Norman River specimen. It agrees well with Vari’s (1978) description of Amniataba percoides . We note, however, that it does not key to that species using Vari’s key, owing to an error in the first couplet (A versus AA): in contrast to the key, A. percoides has an exposed, serrated posttemporal (versus covered with skin and not serrate according to the key).

Figures

FIGURE 5. Amniataba percoides, MAMU F.569A, 66.5 mm SL, Castelnau’s Norman River specimen of Therapon terrareginae. Photo by Y.K. Tea.