Parapercis flavolabiata, Johnson, 2006

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 (1), pp. 47-56 : 48-52

Parapercis flavolabiata sp. nov.

Yellowlip Grubfish

Figures 1–2, 5; Tables 1 –2.

Material examined. Holotype. QM I. 37762, male, 84 mm, east of Mystery Cay , Qld, 21°22.5'S, 152°07.5'E, 55 m, C. Bartlett on FRV Lady Basten, 19 Nov 2005.

Paratypes: (N = 16) AMS I.43796-001, 3: 39-85 mm, NW of Reef 21-253, Qld , 21°20.1'S, 152°15.9'E, 60 m, C. Bartlett on FRV Lady Basten, 20 Nov 2005; CSIRO H.6303-01, 79 mm, SE of Anzac Reefs , Qld, 18°47.1'S, 147°57.3'E,trawl 79.2m, D.Gledhill on FRV Gwendoline May, 13 Dec 2003; QM I. 36139, 3: 55-83 mm, west of Riptide Cay , Qld, 21°14.1'S 151°45'E, 45 m, C. Bartlett on FRV Lady Basten, 25 May 2005; QM I. 36598, 43 mm, NE of Eulalie Reef , Qld, 19°06.3'S, 148°06.9'E, 55 m, C. Bartlett on FRV Lady Basten, 9 Sept 2004; QM I. 36632, 91 mm, west of Stucco Reef , Qld, 19°33.3'S, 149°31'E, 77 m, C. Bartlett on FRV Lady Basten, 11 Sept 2004; QM I.37763, 2: 49 mm, east of North Reef , Qld, 23°11.1'S, 152°00.9'E, 65 m, C. Bartlett on FRV Lady Basten, 9 Nov 2005; QM I.37764, 3: 35–53 mm, north of Joist Reef , Qld, 19°26.1'S, 149°40.5'E, 74 m, C. Bartlett on FRV Lady Basten, 26 Nov 2005; QM I.37765, 48 mm, NE of Hyde Reef , Qld, 19°42.3'S, 150°10.5'E, 70 m, C. Bartlett on FRV Lady Basten, 26 Nov 2005; QM I.37766, 67 mm, SE of Lady Musgrave I., Qld , 23°54.9'S, 152°30.9'E, 52 m, C. Bartlett on FRV Lady Basten, 5 Nov 2005 .

Other material: BPBM 40411 , 59 mm, north of Hyde Reef , Qld, 19°39.9'S, 150°04.5'E, 77 m, C. Bartlett on FRV Lady Basten, 26/11/2005 ; CSIRO H.6329-01, 83 mm, WSW of Mystery Cay , Qld, 21°24.9'S, 151°52.5'E, trawl 67 m, D. Gledhill on FRV Gwendoline May, 27/11/2005 ; QM I.37767, 82 mm, NE of Lavers Cay , Qld, 21°11.1'S, 152°07.5'E, trawl 61 m, D. Gledhill on FRV Gwendoline May, 3 Dec 2005 .

Diagnosis. Dorsal-fin rays V, 21; anal-fin rays I, 17–18 (usually I, 17); pectoral-fin rays 16–18 (usually 17); lateral-line scales 51–55; gill rakers 3–5+10–11; predorsal scales 8–9; scales on cheek cycloid, in about 11 horizontal rows; usually 8 canine teeth in outer row at front of lower jaw; vomer with a crescentic row of 6–10 robust conical teeth; palatines edentate; angle of subopercle produced, with about 7 small spinules; 9–10 abdominal and 20 caudal vertebrae; colouration including 6 broad red saddles across the back, a purplish red to violet line from the anterior edge of each orbit around the snout, a series of yellow-edged red spots on the postorbital part of the head and nape, and a row of dark-red spots along soft dorsal fin.

Description. Dorsal-fin rays V, 21; anal-fin rays I, 17 (I, 17–18, only 2 with I, 18); all dorsal- and anal-fin rays branched, last to base; pectoral-fin rays 17 (16–18, 2 with 16, 1 with 18), upper ray unbranched, others including lowermost branched; pelvicfin rays I, 5; branched caudal-fin rays 14 (14–15); lateral-line scales 53 (51–55), plus 2–3 smaller scales on caudal-fin base; scales above lateral line to origin of dorsal fin 5 (5–6), to base of anterior soft rays of dorsal fin 3½; scales below lateral line in an oblique row to origin of anal fin 11 (11-12); circumpeduncular scales 24; predorsal scales 9 (8–9), extending just anterior to a vertical from preopercular margin; horizontal row of scales from preorbital across cheek to edge of preopercle 19; gill rakers on 1st arch 3+11, total 14 (3–5+10–11=13–16); branchiostegal rays 6; vertebrae 9+20 (one paratype with 9 +20, 2 with 10+20).

Body depth 6.15 (5.7–6.3) in SL; body subcylindrical, greatest width 0.95 (0.90–0.95) in body depth; head length 3.35 (3.1–3.4) in SL; snout pointed, its length 3.6 (3.55–4.0) in HL; orbit diameter 3.45 (3.35–3.7) in HL; eyes directed more laterally than dorsally, bony interorbital space narrow, 8.05 (8.0–11.2) in HL; caudal-peduncle depth 3.3 (3.15–3.6) in HL; caudal-peduncle length 2.95 (2.85–3.5) in HL.

Mouth slightly oblique, lower jaw protruding slightly, with curved canine teeth at front of each jaw slightly projecting and visible when mouth is closed; upper jaw extending to a vertical at anterior margin of pupil, upper jaw length 2.5 (2.3–2.65) in HL; upper jaw with 22 (20–23) outer curved canines, first 8 or 9 clearly the largest, of these 8th or 9th the largest, those following gradually reducing in size posteriorly, broad inner band of villiform teeth anteriorly, narrowing gradually to form only 2 rows at rear of jaw; front of lower jaw on each side with 4 (3–4) enlarged curved canines in distinctly separate outer row (6 paratypes with total of 8, 3 with 7, and 7 with 6), tooth nearest symphysis smallest, the others gradually increasing in size laterally, last in the series largest, broad inner band of villiform teeth extending posteriorly from symphysis to side of jaw just posterior to largest tooth in outer row, next 6 (5–9) teeth in single row, enlarged and gradually increasing in size posteriorly, then followed by single row of 14 (13–15) smaller slightly curved conical teeth. Vomer with crescentic row of 9 (6–10) robust conical teeth, medial teeth largest, usually several smaller additional teeth posteriorly; palatines edentate. Tongue spatulate with broadly rounded tip.

Gill membranes united with broad free fold, not attached to isthmus. Gill rakers short, the longest about one-third length of longest gill filament on first gill arch. Anterior nostril small, inconspicuous, situated in front of centre of eye, slightly more than half distance to tip of snout, with membranous posterior flap, the latter folded around near base to form partial tube, flap usually lying flat against snout in preserved specimens. Posterior nostril slightly more than half distance from snout to anterior margin of eye, dorsoposterior to, and about twice width of anterior nostril, its opening simple, aperture slightly oval-shaped; internarial distance about 1.5 times width of posterior nostril.

Opercle with distinctly exposed, robust, pointed spine, angle of subopercle expanded and armed with about 7 small spinules; preopercle and remainder of subopercle entire, the margins naked and broadly rounded.

Lateral line continuous, ascending smoothly from opercle to below 2nd or 3rd soft dorsal-fin ray, then approximately following contour of back; scales ctenoid, except for those on nape, cheeks, breast, midline of belly, and some anteriorly on opercle and posteriorly on base of pectoral fins, those on middle of sides with about 36 cteni; scales on cheek extending forward approximately to a line between middle of eye and posterior tip of maxilla; no scales on dorsal, anal or pelvic fins; 2 or 3 rows of small cycloid scales on base of pectoral-fin rays; elongate ctenoid scales densely arranged on proximal two-thirds of caudal fin.

Origin of dorsal fin at or just posterior to a vertical from tip of opercular flap, the predorsal length 3.25 (3.1–3.35) in SL; 1st dorsal-fin spine shortest, 11.35 (9.05–12.85) in HL; 2nd and 3rd dorsal-fin spines progressively longer; 4th dorsal-fin spine longest, 3.8 (3.3–4.25) in HL; 5th dorsal-fin spine intermediate in height between 2nd and 3rd spines; membrane from 5th spine to 1st soft ray moderately notched, attached at about two-thirds height of 5th dorsal-fin spine; longest dorsal-fin soft ray the 19th (19th–20th), 1.95 (1.95–2.25) in HL; origin of anal fin below base of 5th to 6th soft dorsal-fin ray, preanal length 2.1 (1.95–2.1) in SL; anal-fin spine slender, closely attached to 1st soft ray, 5.7 (4.95–7.45) in HL; longest soft anal-fin ray the 15th (15th or 16th), 2.35 (2.15–2.5) in HL; caudal fin emarginate, in males 2nd and 3rd branched ray from upper margin produced to form a short filament, and about 10th–13th rays slightly produced to form a small rounded lobe, length of caudal fin without filament 4.75 (3.85–4.7) in SL; pectoral fins rounded, 10th ray usually longest, 4.7 (4.55–5.05) in SL, shorter than pelvic fins; origin of pelvic fins in advance of upper base of pectoral fins and approximately on a vertical from upper corner of operculum, prepelvic length 3.8 (3.5–3.85) in SL; pelvic-fin spine closely attached to 1st soft ray, its termination fleshy and difficult to accurately determine; 4th soft pelvic-fin ray longest, reaching to base of 2nd soft anal-fin ray (origin of anal fin to base of 3rd soft ray), 4.1 (3.7–4.25) in SL.

Colour in alcohol. Head, body and fins mostly uniformly pale yellowish-brown. Some faint dark saddles dorsally above lateral line persisting in larger specimens.

Colour fresh. Male holotype pale pinkish-white above on body, with 6 broad inverted triangular red saddles, extending almost to ventral midline on each side. Secondary narrow vertical red bars between the 3rd and 4th, 4th and 5th and 5th and 6th saddles, and on the caudal peduncle extending ventrally from lateral line to a similar level. A small red blotch also in the same series, just below pectoral fin base. Pigmentation of bars and saddles darker blood-red at their lower apex. Lower sides, belly and breast shading to pearly white. Head mostly flesh-pink. Opercle below opercular spine and adjacent upper four-fifths of pectoral-fin base pale yellow. A short diffuse oblique red and yellow bar (red anteriorly, yellow posteriorly) from tip of maxilla to about half distance to middle of eye. A distinct purplish-red to violet line broadly but faintly margined in pale orange-yellow from middle of anterior edge of orbit, curving around snout to meet orbit on opposite side. Chin and anterior half of upper and lower lips diffusely flushed with red. Posterior half of upper lip bright yellow. Purple-pink reflective band across anterior part of interorbital, followed posteriorly by a small pale-yellow blotch adjacent to inner edge of each eye. Transverse row of 3 yellow-edged red spots across occipital region, lowermost on each side behind upper third of eye, the upper central spot on dorsal midline. Four additional yellow-edged red spots in a crescentic row on nape immediately behind head, upper 2 directly behind inner margin of orbit, lowermost on anterodorsal edge of post-temporal. Area from upper corner of operculum to posterodorsal part of head diffusely washed in yellow. Posteroventral margin of orbit with faint purple-pink reflective line underlying the orbital membrane. Dorsal and ventral margins of iris yellow, followed by a broad purplish-red area extending to upper and lower edges of pupil respectively, remainder of iris behind and in front of the pupil yellow. Distal third of spinous dorsal fin membrane pale translucent yellow. Basal two-thirds of membrane between 1st and 2nd dorsal spines blood-red, that between other spines mainly transparent, but with numerous tiny white dots. Soft dorsal fin with numerous tiny white dots, translucent yellow on basal and distal 3rd, but with central 3rd transparent. Distinctive small dark-red spot in transparent area just above midheight of fin following each ray. Anal fin with basal half translucent whitish and distal half pale translucent yellow. Caudal fin with a broad oblique blood-red band covering about one-third of fin anterodorsally, but extending to full length of fin ventrally, followed by a central white area, and a broad pale-yellow margin distally. Narrow bright-yellow edge to anterodorsal half of caudal fin. Centre of fin with about 4 small darker red smudge-like spots interspersed with dusky melanophores. Pectoral fins transparent. Pelvic fins white, with a faint yellowish blush proximally. Tongue pinkish-white. Peritoneum white.

Distribution. Demersal trawl grounds between Anzac Reefs, 18°47.1'S, 147°57.3'E and Lady Musgrave I., 23°54.9'S, 152°30.9'E, Great Barrier Reef, Qld, in depths from 45 to 79.2 m. (fig. 4).

Etymology. From the latin flavo for yellow and labiata for lipped, in reference to the distinctive yellow posterior half of the upper lip.

Remarks. Parapercis flavolabiata is most similar in colouration to P. multiplicata Randall, 1984 , sharing with that species a series of reddish saddles across the back and a row of dark-red spots along the soft dorsal fin, however it may easily be distinguished by the presence of only six saddles (rather than eight), dark marking in spinous dorsal fin confined to first membrane (rather than anterior three), presence of a bright-yellow upper lip, purplish-red line across the snout, and series of yellow-edged red spots on the postorbital region of the head (all absent), fewer pectoral fin rays (16–18, usually 17 versus 14–16, usually 15), lower lateral-line scale count (51–55 versus 56–58) and fewer predorsal scales (8–9 versus 10–12). Parapercis colemani Randall & Francis, 1993 has similar colouration and meristics to P. flavolabiata , but has five reddish saddles that only cover the upper third of the body and a series of ten separate vertical yellow bars below (versus six red saddles continuous to lower sides and interspersed posteriorly with independent shorter red bars), lacks the distinctive head markings of P.flavolabiata , and has a higher lateral-line scale count (55–58 versus 51–55). Parapercis punctulata Cuvier, 1829 and P. signata Randall, 1984 are also somewhat similar in colouration, but have dark markings and spots on anal fin (absent in P.flavolabiata ), differ markedly in the colouration of the head and spinous dorsal fin (membranes of the latter with black blotch covering entire base), and have more lateral-line scales (55–57 versus 51–55).

This species was taken during a wide-ranging study of benthic inter-reef fishes and invertebrates across the entire Australian Great Barrier Reef region. Most prior surveys of this region have been more restricted geographically and have concentrated on areas fished commercially for penaeid prawns and scallops, Amusium spp , using variously adapted commercial otter trawl gear and scallop dredges. This survey utilised small but fairly conventional trawl gear, but employed a specialised epibenthic sled with a diameter of 1.5 m and stretched mesh size of 25 mm. Almost 1200 tows of 200 m were undertaken with this apparatus. It was responsible for the capture of numerous poorly known benthic fish species and accounted for all but three of the specimens collected of Parapercis flavolabiata .