Parapercis pogonoskii, Johnson & Wilmer, 2018

Johnson, Jeffrey W. & Wilmer, Jessica Worthington, 2018, Three new species of Parapercis (Perciformes: Pinguipedidae) and first records of P. muronis (Tanaka, 1918) and P. rubromaculata Ho, Chang & Shao, 2012 from Australia, Zootaxa 4388 (2), pp. 151-181 : 169-172

Parapercis pogonoskii sp. nov.

New English name: Pogonoski’s Sandperch Figures 1 , 4A–C , 8 ; Tables 1–3

Parapercis sp. B: Williams et al., 1996: appendix 1 (listed in table). Parapercis sp. C: Williams et al., 1996: appendix 1 (listed in table).

Holotype. CSIRO H.6426-09, 125 mm, West of Shark Bay, WA, Australia, 24°51.9’S 112°13.9’E to 25°07.8’S 112°09.4’E, 261–299 m, trawl, B. Ford & M. Tucker on FV Congasa, 25 Apr 2006.

Paratypes. (n = 10) AMS I.31185-006, 2: 135–140 mm, NW of Shoal Point , WA, Australia , 27°23’S 112°51.9’E to 27°20.8’S 112°51.8’E, 279–306 m, trawl, J. Paxton on FRV Southern Surveyor , 3 Feb 1991; CSIRO H.2555-02, 104 mm, West of Alison Point, WA, Australia , 23°25.4’S 113°03.9’E to 23°23.7’S 113°05.5’E, 297– 311 m, trawl, P. Last on FRV Southern Surveyor , 26 Jan 1991; CSIRO H.2556-09, 2: 123–128 mm, West of Alison Point, WA, Australia , 23°25.4’S 113°03.9’E to 23°23.6’S 113°05.1’E, 300–302 m, trawl, P. Last on FRV Southern Surveyor , 26 Jan 1991; CSIRO H.6423-06, 2: 108–129 mm, NW of Shark Bay, WA, Australia , 23°43.8’S 112°52.2’E to 23°50.6’S 112°43.7’E, 250–295 m, trawl, B. Ford & M. Tucker on FV Congasa, 26 Apr 2006; CSIRO H.6426-10, 3: 123–133, same data as holotype .

Diagnosis. A species of Parapercis with dorsal-fin rays V, 21; anal-fin rays I, 17; pectoral-fin rays 19–20 (rarely 20); lateral-line scales 55–57 (modally 56); gill rakers 4–6 + 8–11 = 13–16 (modally 15); predorsal scales 6–7, ctenoid; scales on cheek ctenoid (except few cycloid scales ventrally on suborbital), in about 14 or 15 irregular horizontal rows; 8–10 canine teeth in outer row at front of lower jaw; vomer with 2–3 rows of robust conical teeth; palatines edentate; angle of subopercle with single (rarely 2) broad spine; angle of preopercle with 4–5 (usually 4) large widely-separated spines; 10 abdominal and 19 caudal vertebrae; fifth dorsal-fin spine longest; pelvic-fin tip reaching midway between vent and base of anal-fin spine to base of first anal-fin ray; and colouration including three broad diffuse reddish-brown vertical bars on upper body between anterior and posterior portions of soft dorsal fin, first bar below soft dorsal-fin rays 2–3, second below rays 8–9, third below rays 16–17, each bar with faint dusky smudge-like blotch at lower end; soft dorsal fin with two large dusky blotches, first in membrane between soft dorsal-fin rays 6–9, second between rays 14–17; caudal-fin base with broad pale reddish brown bar, upper portion of bar with faint dusky blotch.

Description. Morphometrics and meristics are presented in Table 3. Dorsal-fin rays V, 21; anal-fin rays I, 17; all dorsal- and anal-fin rays branched, last to base; pectoral-fin rays 20 on left side, 19 on right side (19–20, rarely 20), upper ray unbranched, others including lowermost branched; pelvic-fin rays I, 5; branched caudal-fin rays 15; lateral-line scales 56 (55–57, modally 56), plus 2–4 smaller pored scales on caudal-fin base; scales above lateral line to origin of dorsal fin 4, to base of anterior soft rays of dorsal fin 3 ½; scales below lateral line to origin of anal fin 12 (11–12); circumpeduncular scales 20; predorsal scales 6 (6–7), extending forward to vertical from upper corner of preopercle; irregular horizontal row of scales from preorbital across cheek to edge of preopercle 14–15, vertical rows below middle of eye about 6; gill rakers on first arch 5+10 = 15 (4–6 + 8–11 = 13–16); branchiostegal rays 6; vertebrae 10 + 19 = 29.

Body depth 4.5 (4.6–5.2) in SL; body subcylindrical, slightly compressed, greatest width 1.2 (1.0–1.1) in body depth; head length 3.6 (3.4–3.9) in SL; snout short and bluntly pointed, its length 4.7 (3.7–4.7) in HL; orbital diameter 2.7 (2.5–3.0) in HL; eyes directed more laterally than dorsally, bony interorbital space narrow, 9.4 (8.7– 10.8) in HL; caudal-peduncle depth 3.0 (3.0–3.7) in HL; caudal-peduncle length 3.2 (2.9–3.6) in HL.

Mouth oblique, jaws terminal; curved canine teeth at front of lower jaw slightly projecting, but not visible when mouth fully closed; upper jaw short, extending to vertical from anterior margin of pupil (just beyond anterior margin of eye to just beyond anterior margin of pupil), no fleshy flap extending posteriorly from tip of maxilla, upper-jaw length 2.7 (2.6–3.1) in HL; upper jaw with 23–24 (22–27) outer curved canines on each side, first 6–8 larger than others, of these first or second largest, those following progressively smaller posteriorly; broad inner band of small villiform teeth anteriorly, narrowing gradually to only two rows at rear of jaw; front of lower jaw on each side with 5 (4–5, often 4 on one side and 5 on the other) enlarged curved canines in distinctly separate outer row, these teeth all approximately equal in size, next 5 (5–7) teeth in outer row small canines, then 4 (4–5) larger curved canines, remaining teeth in outer row subequal, of moderate size, in row of about 10; broad inner band of villiform teeth in lower jaw extending posteriorly from symphysis to side of jaw just posterior to group of larger teeth in middle of outer row, inner teeth then continuing as single row. Vomer with 3 (2–3) irregular rows of robust conical teeth, 5 (4–7) teeth in anterior row largest, second row comprised of 2 (2–6) slightly smaller teeth, third row when present comprised of 1 (1–3) smaller tooth; palatines edentate. Tongue spatulate with broadly rounded tip, dorsal surface covered with numerous minute papillae.

Gill membranes united with broad free fold, not attached to isthmus. Gill rakers short, the longest about 3.5 in length of longest gill filament on first gill arch. Anterior nostril small, situated anterior to mid-eye, less than half distance from anterior margin of eye to snout tip, with distinct membranous tube, often lying flat against snout in preserved specimens. Posterior nostril more than half distance from anterior margin of eye to anterior nostril, dorsoposterior to, and slightly smaller than width of anterior nostril, its opening round to oval-shaped, with slightly raised rim, but no membranous flap; internarial distance about twice width of posterior nostril.

Opercle with an exposed, robust blade-like spine; lower margin of subopercle entire, angle with single (1–2, rarely 2) broad flattened spine; angle and lower hind margin of preopercle with 4 (4–5, usually 4) large widelyseparated spines, remainder of hind margin entire.

Lateral line continuous, ascending smoothly from opercle to below last dorsal-fin spine, then approximately following contour of back; scales ctenoid, except for cycloid scales on breast, midline of belly and lowermost on suborbital; scales on middle of sides with up to about 60 small cteni; scales on cheek extending forward to vertical just anterior to tip of maxilla and just anterior to anterior margin of pupil (just posterior to anterior margin of orbit to below anterior margin of pupil); no scales on dorsal, anal or pelvic fins; fleshy base of pectoral fin with large ctenoid scales, proximal half of pectoral fin with numerous rows of small elongate scales, feebly ctenoid near base, becoming cycloid distally; elongate ctenoid scales densely arranged on caudal-fin rays, covering up to proximal three-fourths of fin.

Origin of dorsal fin at (at or just posterior to) vertical from axil of pectoral fin, predorsal length 3.5 (3.2–3.6) in SL; dorsal-fin spines progressively longer, first 5.3 (4.2–5.4) in HL; fifth spine longest, 2.7 (2.4–2.7) in HL; membrane from fifth spine to first soft ray attached near tip of fifth spine and only barely incised; 5th (4th to 7th) soft dorsal-fin ray longest, length 1.7 (1.4–1.8) in HL. Origin of anal fin below base of about fifth soft dorsal-fin ray, preanal length 2.1 (1.9–2.1) in SL; anal-fin spine slender, closely attached to first soft ray, 5.3 (3.5–4.6) in HL; 13th (usually 14th or 15th) soft anal-fin ray longest, length 2.2 (2.1–2.5) in HL. Caudal fin slightly rounded (truncate in smallest paratype, slightly rounded in larger paratypes), length 5.2 (5.0–5.3) in SL. Pectoral fins rounded, 11th (10th or 11th) ray longest, 4.0 (3.7–4.1) in SL, longer than pelvic fins. Origin of pelvic fins in advance of upper base of pectoral fins, on vertical just posterior to upper corner of opercular opening, prepelvic length 3.8 (3.5–3.9) in SL; pelvic-fin spine closely attached to first soft ray, its tip fleshy and attenuated, reaching about three-fourths distance to tip of first ray; fourth soft pelvic-fin ray longest, reaching base of anal-fin spine (between vent and base of analfin spine, to base of first anal-fin ray), length 4.5 (4.1–4.5) in SL.

Colour when fresh. Based on colour photographs, upper head and body in holotype (fig. 4B) pale yellowish grey (pale pinkish orange in paratype AMS I.31185-006, fig. 4C); lower portion of head from snout to preopercle, pale pink (rosy pink in AMS I.31185-006), opercle and fleshy pectoral-fin base white; upper body with series of three broad diffuse vertical reddish-brown bars between pectoral-fin base and caudal peduncle, first bar below soft dorsal-fin rays 2–3, second below rays 8–9, third below rays 16–17, each bar with faint dusky smudge-like blotch at its lower end. Lower body uniformly white. Dorsal fin mainly semitranslucent, spinous portion with no distinctive markings, soft portion diffusely freckled with numerous small faint yellow spots (spots orange in AMS I.31185-006), two large diffuse dusky blotches, first on membrane between dorsal-fin rays 6–9, second between rays 14–17. Anal fin uniformly white. Caudal-fin base with broad pale reddish brown bar, upper portion of bar with poorly-defined dusky blotch, remainder of fin with five narrow vertical wavy orange-yellow bands, interspaces between bands semitranslucent. Pectoral fins translucent, faintly yellowish. Pelvic fins white, faintly infused with pink.

Colour in alcohol. Head and body of holotype (fig. 4A) and paratypes pale yellowish brown, scales above lateral line with faintly darker edges. Body with three broad faint vertical dusky bars, first bar below soft dorsal-fin rays 2–3, second below rays 8–9, third below rays 16–17, bars extending from dorsal-fin base to about lower fourth of body, but portion of each bar on or below lateral line more distinctive than above (most paratypes with bars faint or absent due to length of time in preservative, or loss of scales). Soft dorsal fin with two large diffuse dusky blotches, first on membrane between soft dorsal-fin rays 6–9, second between rays 14–17. Upper corner of caudalfin base with small but distinctive dusky blotch (persisting in most paratypes). Remainder of caudal fin, and anal, pectoral and pelvic fins pale.

Molecular results. The phylogenetic analyses indicate that P. pogonoskii is widely divergent from all sampled congeners, but most closely related to P. colias , P. allporti and P. gilliesii , with average genetic sequence divergences from those species of 14.1%, 15.7% and 15.9%, respectively. Intraspecific divergence between the four samples of P. pogonoskii was only 0.2% (fig. 1; Table 1).

Etymology. Named for John Pogonoski, Ichthyologist at CSIRO Marine Research, Hobart, in honour of his contributions to Australian ichthyology and his helpful co-operation with taxonomic research on CSIRO fish collections.

Distribution and abundance. Collected from soft to rubbly bottom on demersal trawl grounds from northwest of Shoal Point, 27°23’S 112°51.9’E, northward to west of Alison Point, 23°23.7’S 113°05.5’E, WA, Australia, at depths of 250–311 m (fig. 8). Parapercis pogonoskii appears relatively uncommon, with only 11 specimens collected by trawl from 5 sites.

Discussion. Parapercis pogonoskii (figs. 4A–C) has a unique colouration, consisting of three broad diffuse reddish-brown vertical bars on the upper body, the soft dorsal fin with two large dusky blotches, and the caudal-fin base with a broad pale reddish brown bar and a dusky blotch in the upper corner. Among other species of Parapercis with the fifth dorsal-fin spine longest and similar fin ray, lateral-line scale and gill-raker counts (e.g. Parapercis allporti , P. gilliesii and P. imamurai sp. nov.), P. pogonoskii can be distinguished by its colouration, comprising of 3 diffuse dark vertical bars on body situated below soft dorsal-fin rays 2–3, 8–9, and 16–17, versus 5–7 dark bars in P. allporti , 2 dark horizontal stripes and about 10 irregular dark vertical bars in P. gilliesii , and 3 wider dark saddles, situated below soft dorsal-fin rays 6–11 and 15–19 and on caudal peduncle extending onto base of caudal fin in P. imamurai . In addition, P. pogonoskii has only 6–7 predorsal scales that extend forward only to a vertical from the upper corner of the preopercle (versus 8–9 in P. allporti , 12–14 in P. gilliesii and 10–12 in P. imamurai sp. nov., all extending anterior to upper corner of preopercle). Parapercis pogonoskii can also be separated from P. allporti by its relatively shorter first dorsal-fin spine (first spine only about half length of fifth, versus subequal to fifth in P. allporti ); from P. gilliesii by its greater number of teeth and tooth rows on the vomer (2 or 3, but usually 3 teeth rows, with 4–7 + 2–6 + 0–3 teeth, versus 2 rows, with 3–5 + 1–2 teeth), fewer lateralline scales (55–57, versus 58–64), fewer transverse scales from the lateral line to base of first dorsal-fin spine (4 versus 7), and fewer total gill rakers (13–16, versus 16–20); and from P. imamurai sp. nov. by its fewer transverse scales from the lateral line to base of first dorsal-fin spine (4 versus 5), and fewer total gill rakers (13–16, versus 16–18).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Maximum clade credibility Bayesian tree of species of Parapercis and outgroup taxa. Clade support is indicated by posterior probabilities ± 0.95 above the branch and bootstrap values ± 70 representing a topologically identical best maximum likelihood tree are below the branch.New Australian records of P. muronis and P.rubromaculata are indicated with an asterix *. Scale represents average number of substitutions per site.

FIGURE 4. Type specimens of Parapercis pogonoskii sp. nov. A. Holotype, CSIRO H.6426-09, 125 mm SL, west of Shark Bay, WA, Australia, preserved(Photo: M.Ekins);B. Holotype, fresh(Photo:CSIRO); C. Paratype, AMS I.31185-006, 135 mm SL, NW of Shoal Point, WA, Australia, fresh (J. Paxton).

FIGURE 8. Collection localities for three new species and two new records of Parapercis, based on material examined (P. algrahami = red spheres, P. imamurai = black stars, P. pogonoskii = black spheres, P. rubromaculata = red stars, P. muronis = red squares (Map courtesy of CartoGIS Services, College of Asia and the Pacific, Australian National University).