Bar-tail Flathead

description

Description. Counts and measurements shown in Table 11. Data for all specimens presented first, followed by lectotype condition in parentheses. Lectotype Paralectotype Holotype of P. arenarius Non-types MNHN 6865 MNHN 2007 - 0128 AMS B. 7136 n = 20 SL (mm) 175 * 153 * 239 97.2 – 330 Counts: Snout, area anteroventral to eye, interorbit and occipital region scaled; lower half of suborbital region naked. Interorbit narrower than orbital diameter. Upper iris lappet simple, triangular; lower simple, weakly convex. Nasal and preorbital spines absent. One suborbital spine present below posterior margin of eye in 177 mm SL or smaller specimens (including lectotype), absent in larger specimens. Lower preopercular spine slightly longer than upper, not reaching opercular margin. Supplemental preopercular spine usually present in 207 mm SL or smaller specimens, absent in larger specimens (absent in lectotype). Finger-like interopercular flap present; margin of interopercle smooth. Maxilla reaching from near anterior margin of pupil to middle of eye (upper jaw damaged in lectotype). Upper jaw with moderate or large conical, or small caniniform teeth anteromedially. Palatine teeth in two rows, v

Taxonomic revision of the flathead fish genus Platycephalus Bloch, 1785 (Teleostei: Platycephalidae) from Australia, with description of a new species

diagnosis

Diagnosis. A species of Platycephalus with the following combination of characters: first dorsal fin with a single small isolated spine anteriorly; second dorsal- and anal-fin rays usually 13; interorbital width 7.7 – 12.0 % HL; postorbital length 50.7 – 56.9 % HL; snout, area anteroventral to the eye, interorbit and occipital region scaled; upper iris lappet simple, triangular; a finger-like interopercular flap present; upper jaw without large caniniform teeth; teeth absent on dorsal surface of anterolateral edge of upper jaw; palatine teeth arranged in two rows; usually four or more dark longitudinal bands on caudal fin.

Taxonomic revision of the flathead fish genus Platycephalus Bloch, 1785 (Teleostei: Platycephalidae) from Australia, with description of a new species

discussion

Remarks. The name Platycephalus endrachtensis had been mistakenly referred to a species having a yellow blotch on the upper portion of the caudal fin when fresh by many authors (e. g., Taylor, 1964; Gloerfelt-Tarp & Kailola, 1984; Sainsbury et al. 1985; Hutchins & Swainston 1986; Knapp, 1999) until Imamura (2008) revealed it to be a senior synonym of P. arenarius Ramsay & Ogilby, 1886 (Fig. 29 B), P. westraliae being the species with a yellow blotch [see Imamura (2008) for a detailed discussion]. Platycephalus endrachtensis most resembles P. angustus, P. australis, P. cultellatus and P. indi cus, P. westraliae, and Platycephalus sp. 1 and sp. 2 (sensu Nakabo, 2002) in having usually 13 second dorsal- and analfin rays, the snout, area anteroventral to the eye, interorbit, and occipital region scaled, large caniniform teeth absent on the upper jaw, a finger-like interopercular flap, palatine teeth arranged in two rows and the caudal fin with dark brown or black longitudinal bands It can be distinguished from P. angustus, P. cultellatus, and Platycephalus sp. 1 and sp. 2 in having the first dorsal fin with a single small isolated spine anteriorly (usually two in the latter four specie

Taxonomic revision of the flathead fish genus Platycephalus Bloch, 1785 (Teleostei: Platycephalidae) from Australia, with description of a new species

distribution

Distribution. Known from Australia, from Cliff Point, Qld (ca. 22 ° 32 ’ S) to St. Helens, Tas (41 ° 16 ’ S), and from Hamelin Bay, WA (ca. 34 ° 10 ’ S) to Port Hedland (20 ° 0 ’ S) and Bali, Indonesia, in estuaries and coastal bays on clean sand in depths from 1 – 60 m (e. g., Hutchins & Swainston, 1986; Kuiter, 1993; Knapp, 1999; Hoese et al., 2006; Imamura, 2008; this study). Size. Maximum length 45 cm (e. g., Hutchins & Swainston, 1986; Kuiter, 1993). The largest specimen examined during the present study was 330 mm SL (362 mm TL) (Fig. 28).

Taxonomic revision of the flathead fish genus Platycephalus Bloch, 1785 (Teleostei: Platycephalidae) from Australia, with description of a new species