Brachypterois curvispina, Matsunuma, Mizuki, Sakurai, Makoto & Motomura, Hiroyuki, 2013

Matsunuma, Mizuki, Sakurai, Makoto & Motomura, Hiroyuki, 2013, Revision of the Indo-West Pacific genus Brachypterois (Scorpaenidae: Pteroinae), with description of a new species from northeastern Australia, Zootaxa 3693 (4), pp. 401-440 : 407-414

Brachypterois curvispina sp. nov.

[New English name: Australian Sawcheek Scorpionfish] ( Figures 3–5 , 6 A, 7, 8A–C, 9A–C, 10–11, 19, 20A; Tables 1–2 )

Holotype. CSIRO H7204-02 (X), male, 78.5 mm SL, southeast of Weary Bay, Queensland, Australia (15°55.36′S, 145°39.60′E – 15°55.15′S, 145°40.14′E), 40 m, D. Gledhill, R/V Gwendoline May, demersal trawl, 18 Nov. 2003.

Paratypes. 29 specimens, 44.0–86.0 mm SL (all from Queensland, Australia)—CSIRO H6707-04 (9 specimens), 45.8–86.0 mm SL, southeast of Swain Reefs (22°33.63′S, 152°12.88′E – 22°34.18′S, 152°13.05′E), 96 m, D. Gledhill, R/V Gwendoline May, demersal trawl, 24 Nov. 2005; CSIRO H6784-02 (X), female, 75.2 mm SL, east of Cairns (16°54.41′S, 146°07.43′E – 16°53.84′S, 146°07.63′E), 40 m, D. Gledhill, R/V Gwendoline May, demersal trawl, 23 Nov. 2003; CSIRO H6923-02 (2), 66.1–68.1 mm SL, east-northeast of Shoalwater Bay (22°04.15′S, 152°09.74′E – 22°03.83′S, 152°09.20′E), 88 m, D. Gledhill, R/V Gwendoline May, demersal trawl, 23 Nov. 2005; CSIRO H7024-03 (X), 70.3 mm SL, north of Cairns (16°33.46′S, 145°52.17′E – 16°33.20′S, 145°52.69′E), 37 m, D. Gledhill, R/V Gwendoline May, demersal trawl, 22 Nov. 2003; CSIRO H7097-02 (6), 44.0– 70.8 mm SL, south of Swain Reefs (22°25.25′S, 152°09.84′E – 22°25.78′S, 152°10.05′E), 98 m, D. Gledhill, R/V Gwendoline May, demersal trawl, 24 Nov. 2005; CSIRO H7277-04 (X), 84.9 mm SL, Swain Reefs (22°46.94′S, 152°31.86′E – 22°43.19′S, 152°38.22′E), 130 m, C. Rigby, R/V Benjamin, prawn trawl, 24 June 2011; CSIRO H7377-01, 67.5 mm SL, northeast of Gladstone (22°41.29′S, 152°07.01′E – 22°40.90′S, 152°07.52′E), 86 m, D. Gledhill, R/V Gwendoline May, demersal trawl, 23 Apr. 2004; CSIRO H7378-01 (2; 1 female, 61.0 mm SL), 50.7–61.0 mm SL, northeast of Gladstone (22°39.46′S, 151°52.98′E – 22°39.25′S, 151°52.44′E), 71 m, D. Gledhill, R/V Gwendoline May, demersal trawl, 22 Nov. 2005; CSIRO H7379-01, female, 59.6 mm SL, northeast of Cairns (16°32.08′S, 146°02.02′E – 16°32.09′S, 146°01.40′E), 54 m, D. Gledhill, R/V Gwendoline May, demersal trawl, 22 Nov. 2003; CSIRO H7380-01 (X), 74.8 mm SL, east of Cairns (16°48.15′S, 146°05.85′E – 16°48.56′S, 146°05.49′E), 45 m, D. Gledhill, R/V Gwendoline May, demersal trawl, 22 Nov. 2003; QM I.19656, 73.3 mm SL, Flora Passage (17°08′S, 146°15′E), 43.9 m, Queensland Fisheries Service, 16 Oct. 1979; QM I.35150, 52.6 mm SL, southeast of Endeavour Reef (15°49′30″S, 145°40′30″E), Seabed Biodiversity Study Team, dredge, 3 Oct. 2003; QM I.36322 (X), 63.5 mm SL, Capricorn Channel (22°32′06″S, 152°09′18″E), 95 m, Seabed Biodiversity Study Team, dredge, 14 May 2004; QM I.36386, 68.0 mm SL, southwest of Swain Reefs (22°15′18″S, 152°07′30″E), 100 m, Seabed Biodiversity Study Team, dredge, 15 May 2004.

Non-type specimens. 2 specimens, 57.4–68.2 mm SL (both from Queensland, Australia)—CSIRO H6750-01, 57.4 mm SL, east of Dalrymple Island (9°40.61′S, 143°31.21′E – 9°39.96′S, 143°31.31′E), 35 m, D. Gledhill, R/V Gwendoline May, demersal trawl, 28 Jan. 2004; CSIRO H7381-01 (X), 68.2 mm SL, north of Bramble Cay (9°03.70′S, 143°47.47′E – 9°03.57′S, 143°48.03′E), 32 m, D. Gledhill, R/V Gwendoline May, demersal trawl, 27 Jan. 2004.

Diagnosis. A species of Brachypterois with the following combination of characters: pectoral-fin rays 14–16 (modally 15); scale rows in longitudinal series 41–45 (44); scales above lateral line 4–5 (4); scale rows between last dorsal spine base and lateral line 4–5 (4); pre-dorsal scale rows 3–5 (4); suborbital scale rows 0–2 (1) ( Fig. 6 A); total gill rakers 16–18 (16); head length 41.5–44.5 (mean 43.1) %SL ( Fig. 7 ); orbit diameter 13.0–15.4 (14.3) %SL; upper-jaw length 20.2–23.0 (21.6) %SL; longest dorsal-fin soft ray length 19.5–24.5 (22.5) %SL; longest anal-fin soft ray length 23.6–28.4 (25.3) %SL; caudal-fin length 37.8–46.4 (42.3) %SL; posterior lacrimal spine usually directed posteriorly, the tip being strongly curved upward in large adults ( Fig. 8 A–C); spine(s) on corner of outer angular ridge longer and stouter than others on ridge, directed posteriorly ( Fig. 9 A–C); number and size of caudal fin spots moderate, 5–13 (mean 9.3) spots on longest caudal-fin ray ( Figs. 3–5 , 10 ).

Description. Meristics and morphometrics of specimens examined are shown in Tables 1–2 . Characters stated in the generic definition and specific diagnoses are not repeated here. Data for the holotype are presented first, followed by paratype and non-type data (if different) in parentheses. Gill rakers simple, short and robust; longest raker on first gill arch shorter or subequal to gill filaments around angle of gill arch; fourth gill slit narrow, partially closed by membrane. Branchiostegal rays 7. Vertebrae 10 + 14. Formula for configuration of supraneural bones, anterior neural spines and anterior dorsal pterygiophores usually //2+1/1/1/1/1/1/1/1/1/1+1/. Swimbladder present.

Body oblong, moderately compressed anteriorly, strongly compressed posteriorly. Head large, its length greater than body depth. Low membranous tube associated with anterior and posterior nostrils; posterior edge of tube on anterior nostril slightly expanded. Ctenoid scales covering head, including cheek, lacrimal, suborbital pit, interopercle, subopercle, opercle, posterodorsal pit of supraocular, channel between interorbital ridges, occiput and suprapostorbital area surrounded by parietal, pterotic, lower posttemporal and cleithral spine bases; scales absent on lips and bulge on snout. Maxilla with weakly ctenoid scales; posterior portion of maxilla entirely scaled. Mandible with exposed weakly ctenoid scales. Ctenoid scales covering body, extending onto basal caudal fin; weakly ctenoid scales on ventral body surface and pectoral-fin base; a row of elongated cycloid scales on bases of soft-rayed portions of dorsal and anal fins. Lateral line complete, weakly sloping downward posteriorly. Three sensory pores on underside of each dentary; a small pore on each side of symphysial knob.

Pectoral-fin rays Total gill rakers Scale rows in longitudinal series

41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51

B. curvispina 2 4 H 5 13 2

B. serrulata 3 5 25 29 19 17 N 7 1 B. serrulifer 1 4 20 19 26 19 H 1 3 1

Scales above lateral line Scale rows between last DS and Pre-dorsal scale rows

LL

4 5 6 7 4 5 6 7 3 4 5 6 7 8 Mouth moderately large, oblique, forming an angle of ca. 40° (40–50°) to horizontal axis of head and body; upper edge of maxilla swollen laterally forming a low ridge; median lateral ridge of maxilla lacking spines; posterior end of maxilla extending slightly beyond a vertical through mid-orbit. Symphysial gap separating premaxillary teeth bands about twice width of each band; upper jaw with a band of small slender conical teeth; about 4–5 (4–6) tooth rows at front of upper jaw; about 4 tooth rows at front of lower jaw. Vomer with a V-shaped patch of 2–4 (1–4) rows of small teeth.

Dorsal profile of snout steep, forming an angle of ca. 40° to horizontal axis of head and body. Nasal spine base relatively long, its length subequal to distance between anterior and posterior nostrils; with a row of 7 (2–8) small spines. Interorbital ridges moderately developed, with a row of 1 (1–8) spines; separated by a shallow channel, initially diverging posteriorly; conjoined with origin of coronal spine base (not in small specimens). Interorbital space shallow, about one-seventh of orbit diameter extending above dorsal profile of head. Coronal spine with 2 (2–6) small spinous points on short base; its base conjoined with origin of parietal spine base; 5 (2–5) small spines forming a pair of small patches between origins of coronal spine base. Tympanic with 2 spinous ridges; upper ridge shorter than lower ridge with 3 (2–5) spines; lower ridge with 7 (2–7) spines. Preocular with 10 (3–11) spines on its frontal surface and margin of orbit. Supraocular with a transverse ridge located between interorbital ridge and outer edge of supraocular, with 3 (3–7) spines; 12 (9–16) spines on margin of orbit; posterodorsal edge of supraocular expanded posteriorly, with a small inner pit. Postocular with 8 (3–8) spines on margin of orbit. Occipital area lacking anterior ridge; a pair of short low ridges with 7 (1–7) spines on posterior margin between parietal spine bases. Parietal spine with 8 (7–18) spinous points on a relatively long ridge; its base diverging posteriorly; a short ridge with 2 (0–7) spines just under posterior portion of parietal ridge. Sphenotic spine with 12 (7–12) spinous points. No postorbital spine. Pterotic spine with 17 (7–20) spinous points. Small patch of 2 (0–2) spines behind pterotic spine. A short oblique ridge with 2 (0–2) spines between parietal spine and lower posttemporal spine. No upper posttemporal spine. Lower posttemporal spine with 5 (1–5) spinous points on a relatively short ridge; a short oblique ridge with 2 (0–2) spines just above posterior portion of spine base; a small patch of 3 (0–3) spines in front of spine. Supracleithral spine with a spinous point on a relatively short ridge. Cleithral spine with 5 (3–11) spinous points on a relatively long ridge.

Holotype Paratypes Non-types

CSIRO H7204-02 (n = 29) (n = 2)

SL (mm) 78.5 44.0–86.0 57.4–68.2

Meristics Modes. .....continued on the next page a Upper unbranched + branched + lower unbranched rays = total rays on left side of body/ total rays on right side. b Rakers on upper limb + rakers on lower limb = total rakers.

c At vertical midline of eye.

d At posterior end of preocular spine base.

DS and LL indicate dorsal-fin spine base and lateral line, respectively.

Anterior portion of articular head of maxilla with 3 (0–4) spines; lateral portion of articular head lacking spine, exposed when mouth closed. Inner edge of dentary elevated as a low ridge; central dentary ridge running along sensory canal, comprising 2 ridges posteriorly; outer margin of dentary a low ridge; tip of ventral surface of dentary slightly expanded ventrally. Outer edge of angular a low ridge; inner angular ridge running along sensory canal. Retroarticular lacking spines. Lacrimal with 2 lateral ridges; upper ridge with 4 (3–5) spines, its anterior origin conjoined with ridge on dorsal articular process of lacrimal; lower ridge with 3 (1–4) spines. Anterior lacrimal spine with 3 (1–4) spinous points, directed downward. Posterior lacrimal spine broad, with 4 (2–4) spinous points; all ridges on lacrimal strongly spinous. Suborbital with 2 ridges; both ridges with supplementary upper and lower ridges; posterior upper ridge branched into two posteriorly; 2 small arched ridges below anterior and posterior ridges; all ridges strongly spinous [60 (32–60) spines in total]. Poorly developed suborbital pit present. Preopercle spines with one or more spinous points; lateral ridge of uppermost spine with 1 (0–2) spines. A ridge on preopercle submargin strongly spinous. Two poorly developed spinous vertical ridges on postorbital. Interopercle lacking spine. Upper opercular spine simple with a spinous point; a simple lower opercular spine present but usually under skin (sometimes absent).

Origin of first dorsal-fin spine above cleithral spine; bases of first and second dorsal-fin spines closer than those of succeeding adjacent spines; fifth (usually sixth or seventh, rarely fifth) spine longest; length of longest spine about half of maximum body depth; penultimate (twelfth) spine shortest; membranes of spinous portion of dorsal fin strongly incised, especially in anterior portion. Dorsal-fin soft rays all branched; fourth (sometimes third or fifth) soft ray longest; length of longest ray subequal to or slightly longer than longest fin spine; posterior branched ray not joined by membrane to caudal peduncle. Origin of first anal-fin spine below base of penultimate (twelfth) dorsal-fin spine; third spine longest. Anal-fin soft rays all branched; second (sometimes first or third) soft ray longest, its length greater than that of longest dorsal-fin soft ray; posterior branch of last soft ray not joined by membrane to caudal peduncle. Pectoral fin long; fifth ray [fifth or sixth (branched) in relatively large specimens of 45.8–84.9 mm SL; ninth or tenth (unbranched) in relatively small specimens of 44.0– 70.8 mm SL] longest; tip of longest ray reaching a vertical through base of last anal-fin soft ray, but not reaching level with caudal-fin base; lower unbranched rays weakly thickened. Pelvic-fin soft rays all branched; third (rarely second) ray longest, much longer than upper jaw; tip of longest ray not reaching to anus when depressed; last ray joined by membrane to abdomen for about one-fourth (one-fourth to one-third) its length. Caudal fin with 14 segmented rays, 10 rays branched, 4 remaining rays unbranched; 3 unsegmented and spinous procurrent rays in dorsal and ventral series; posterior margin of fin rounded.

Color of fresh specimen (based on Fig. 5 ). Head and body reddish, darker dorsally, paler ventrally; a poorly defined large black blotch (subequal to orbit diameter) on opercle. Five poorly defined reddish-brown bands on head; anteriormost band running from anterior margin of eye over snout to tip of lower jaw; second from anteroventral margin of eye extending onto lacrimal and both jaws; third just below eye reaching posterodorsal corner of maxilla; fourth from posteroventral margin of eye to posterior portion of opercle; fifth from posterior margin of eye to blotch on opercle. Five poorly defined vertical brown bands on body (not clearly observed due to missing scales in most specimens examined). Ground color of dorsal and anal fins similar to that of head and body. Numerous dark red spots, forming a more or less dotted line, on soft-rayed portion of dorsal fin. Anal fin with about 6 similarly dotted dark red lines. Pectoral fin membrane dark brown; numerous creamy-white spots on rays, forming about 6 dotted bands. Pelvic fin pinkish-white, with about 8 poorly defined dark brown bands. Caudal fin membrane translucent; about 60 small dark red spots on rays. Eye dull yellow; iris black.

Color of preserved specimens. Head and body creamy-white to brownish-white, darker dorsally, paler ventrally; a poorly defined large brown to black blotch (subequal to orbit diameter) on opercle. Bulge on snout, tips of jaws, cheek and postorbital area partly blackish. A blackish band obliquely crossing eye to interopercle; a blackish band saddling nape and reaching center of opercle. Five poorly defined vertical blackish bands on body; anteriormost band below between first and third dorsal-fin spine bases; second below between fourth and sixth spine bases; third below between eighth and penultimate spine bases; fourth Y-shaped, upper margin of anterior branch below last spine and third soft ray bases, upper margin of posterior branch below sixth and ninth soft ray bases, both branches connected at level of lateral line or just below dorsal-fin base; fifth on caudal peduncle just in front of caudal-fin base. Dorsal fin with translucent to dusky membrane; a large black blotch on spinous portion between about sixth and ninth spines; about 6 (5–6) poorly defined black bands on soft-rayed portion. Anal fin with translucent to dusky membrane and about 6 (5–8) poorly defined narrow black bands. Pectoral fin membrane blackish, with about 6 (4–6) poorly defined narrow black bands. Pelvic fin membrane blackish, with about 5 (4–7) poorly defined narrow black bands. Caudal fin membrane translucent with about 90 (80–90) small black spots on rays; maximum spot diameter 2.6 [1.8–3.7 (mean 2.6) based on 11 specimens] times in caudal-fin ray width at position where spot present on ray. Eye dark blue; iris white.

Distribution. Brachypterois curvispina is currently known only from northern and northeastern coasts of Queensland, Australia, from the east entrance of Torres Strait south to Swain Reefs and the Capricorn Islands ( Fig. 11 ). The specimens of the 15 lots examined were collected from depths 32–130 m (average 70 m).

Etymology. The specific name “ curvispina ” refers to one of the diagnostic characters of this species, the dorsally curved posterior lacrimal spine present in large adults.

Remarks. Two specimens (CSIRO H7381-01, 68.2 mm SL and CSIRO H6750-01, 57.4 mm SL) collected from the extreme northern end of its range near the Australia /New Guinea border (off Bramble Cay in 32 m depth and off Dalrymple Island in 35 m depth, respectively), differed from the typical form of B. curvispina in having a relatively darker body and fin coloration in preserved specimens, and shallower sampling depths. Accordingly, they were excluded from the type series. Additional material from the northern distributional range is necessary to determine the extent of intraspecific variations in B. curvispina .

Figures

FIGURE 3. Preserved specimens of Brachypterois curvispina sp. nov. (A) CSIRO H 6707 - 04 (1 of 9 specimens), 48.8 mm SL, paratype; (B) CSIRO H 6923 - 02 (1 of 2), 66.1 mm SL, paratype; (C) CSIRO H 7024 - 03, 70.3 mm SL, paratype; (D) CSIRO H 6784 - 02, female, 75.2 mm SL, paratype; (E) CSIRO H 7204 - 02, male, 78.5 mm SL, holotype.

FIGURE 4. Preserved specimens of Brachypterois curvispina sp. nov. (A) CSIRO H 7381 - 01, 68.2 mm SL; (B) CSIRO H 7380 - 01, 74.8 mm SL, paratype.

FIGURE 5. Fresh specimen of Brachypterois curvispina sp. nov., CSIRO H 7381 - 01, 68.2 mm SL (photo: D. Gledhill).

FIGURE 6. Relationships of number of suborbital scale rows to standard length in (A) Brachypterois curvispina sp. nov., (B) B. serrulata and (C) B. serrulifer.

FIGURE 7. Relationships of: (A) head length; (B) orbit diameter; (C) upper jaw length; (D) longest dorsal-fin soft ray length; (E) longest anal-fin soft ray length; and (F) caudal-fin length to standard length in Brachypterois curvispina sp. nov. (stars, solid lines), B. serrulata (circles, dotted lines) and B. serrulifer (triangles, chain lines). H 1 holotype of B. curvispina; H 2 holotype of B. serrulifer; N neotype of Sebastes serrulatus.

FIGURE 8. Spines on lacrimal bones of Brachypterois curvispina sp. nov. (A – C), B. serrulata (D – F) and B. serrulifer (G – I). (A) CSIRO H 7204 - 02, male, 78.5 mm SL, holotype of B. curvispina; (B) CSIRO H 6784 - 02, female, 75.2 mm SL, paratype of B. curvispina; (C) CSIRO H 6750 - 01, sex undetermined, 57.4 mm SL; (D) KAUM – I. 24056, male, 97.9 mm SL; (E) KAUM – I. 24054, female, 76.5 mm SL; (F) KAUM – I. 24050, female, 63.9 mm SL; (G) KAUM – I. 22033, male, 83.0 mm SL; (H) CAS 60396 (1 of 19 specimens), female, 67.9 mm SL; (I) CAS 49547 (1 of 14), sex undetermined, 57.6 mm SL. LLS lateral lacrimal spine; ALS anterior lacrimal spine; PLS posterior lacrimal spine. Left to anterior. Bars indicate 5 mm.

FIGURE 9. Spines on angular bones of Brachypterois curvispina sp. nov. (A – C), B. serrulata (D – F) and B. serrulifer (G – I). (A) CSIRO H 7204 - 02, male, 78.5 mm SL, holotype of B. curvispina; (B) CSIRO H 6784 - 02, female, 75.2 mm SL, paratype of B. curvispina; (C) CSIRO H 6750 - 01, sex undetermined, 57.4 mm SL; (D) KAUM – I. 24056, male, 97.9 mm SL; (E) KAUM – I. 24054, female, 76.5 mm SL; (F) KAUM – I. 24050, female, 63.9 mm SL; (G) KAUM – I. 22033, male, 83.0 mm SL; (H) CAS 60396 (1 of 19 specimens), female, 67.9 mm SL; (I) CAS 49547 (1 of 14), sex undetermined, 57.6 mm SL. Arrows indicate spine (s) on posterior corner of outer angular ridge. Left to anterior. Bars indicate 1 mm.

FIGURE 10. Relationships of number of spots on longest caudal-fin ray to standard length in Brachypterois curvispina sp. nov. (stars), B. serrulata (circles) and B. serrulifer (triangles; dotted symbols indicate specimens from the Indian Ocean, remaining specimens from the Pacific Ocean). H holotype of B. serrulifer. Note: counts unable to be made in holotype of B. curvispina and neotype of Sebastes serrulatus.

FIGURE 11. Distributional records of Brachypterois curvispina sp. nov. (stars), B. serrulata (circles) and B. serrulifer (triangles) based on collected specimens examined in this study. Closed symbols indicate type localities.