Kuiterichthys pietschi, Arnold, 2013

Arnold, Rachel J., 2013, A new species of frogfish of the genus Kuiterichthys (Lophiiformes: Antennariidae: Histiophryninae) from New South Wales, Australia, Zootaxa 3718 (5), pp. 496-499 : 496-499

Kuiterichthys pietschi sp. nov.

Holotype. AMS I.33555-004, 25.8 mm SL, female, Crowdy Head, NSW, 31.9°S, 152.9°E ( Fig. 1 ).

Paratypes. AMS I.32163-002, 19.1–24.2 mm SL, two specimens, off Crowdy Head, NSW, 31.9°S, 152.9°E, 89 m ; AMS I.26229-001, 19.3 mm SL, SE Evans Head, off Iluka, NSW, 29.3°S, 153.6°E ; AMS I.33548-002, 25.1–32.4 mm

SL, four specimens, off Crowdy Head, NSW, 31.9°S, 152.9°E; AMS I.38410-004, 25.7 mm SL, Clarence River , NSW , 29.4°S, 153.6°E, 68 m; AMS I.38477-001, 26.4 mm SL, off Newcastle, NSW, 33.1°S, 151.8°E, 67 m; AMS I.43908-001, 21.1 mm SL, off Broken Bay , NSW , 33.472°S, 151.542°E, 60 m; AMS I.33675-003, 30.4 mm SL, off Crowdy Head , NSW , 31.9°S, 152.8°E, 84 m; AMS I.26451-003, off Broken Bay , 27.2 mm SL, NSW , 33.6°S, 151.7°E; AMS I. 32166- 002, 27.4 mm SL, off Crowdy Head , 32.0°S, 152.8°E, 86 m; AMS I.33551-006, 29.1 mm SL, off Yamba , NSW , 29.4°S, 153.6°E; AMS I.33555-002, 26.5–27.8 mm SL, two specimens , off Crowdy Head , NSW, 31.9°S, 152.9°E; UW 151890, 23.6 mm SL, Clarence River , NSW, 29.4°S, 153.6°E, 68 m; UW 151891 (cleared and stained), 37.1 mm SL, off Broken Bay , NSW, 33.6°S, 151.7°E; UW 151892, 25.6 mm SL, off Crowdy Head , NSW, 31.9°S, 152.8°E, 84 m.

Diagnosis. A frogfish of the lophiiform family Antennariidae , genus Kuiterichthys , unique in having the following combination of character states: skin covered with close-set bifurcate dermal spinules; esca distinct; illicium naked, without dermal spinules; second dorsal-fin spine long (17.0–22.5% SL), pectoral-fin lobe broadly attached to side of body; caudal peduncle present, membranous posteriormost margins of dorsal and anal fins attached to body distinctly anterior to base of outermost rays of caudal fin; outermost rays of caudal fin simple, innermost seven rays bifurcate; mesopterygoid absent; pharyngobranchial I present; epural absent; pseudobranch absent; swimbladder absent; ovaries lobular and joined at midline; no basidorsal spot or intricate network of white interconnecting lines; dorsal-fin rays 11 (rarely 10); anal-fin rays seven; pectoral-fin rays eight (rarely seven).

Description. Esca a single, tapering appendage bearing filaments along its lateral margins and within a “V-shaped” depression along its inner margin, with a tight cluster of slightly longer filaments arising from its base; illicium naked, without dermal spinules or groove alongside second dorsal-fin spine, approximately equal to length of second dorsal-fin spine; second dorsal-fin spine 17.0–22.5% SL, not connected to head by membrane, covered with close-set dermal spinules; third dorsal-fin spine 23.9–29.3% SL; dorsal-fin rays 11 (rarely 10), as many as seven posteriormost rays bifurcate, rays supported by 10 pterygiophores; anal-fin rays seven, as many as three posteriormost rays bifurcate, supported by six pterygiophores; pectoral-fin rays eight (rarely seven), all simple; all five rays of pelvic fin simple; eye diameter 8.0–12.1% SL; skin covered with close-set, bifurcated dermal spinules, extending onto fins and outer margins of the sclera, length of spines of each spinule not more than twice distance between tips of spines; anterior end of pterygiophore of illicium terminating at or slightly anterior to symphysis of upper jaw ( Table 1).

Color in preservation. Body light brown with darker brown marbling, lighter on ventral parts of head and body; a wide light vertical band posterior to midpoint of body; caudal fin with light brown spotting on rays, interradial membranes clear; paired fins light brown to dark brown dorsally, light ventrally; dorsal, anal, and caudal fins of some specimens with light bands.

Etymology. The specific name pietschi is given in honor of Theodore W. Pietsch of the University of Washington, Seattle, in recognition of his many contributions to the evolutionary biology of lophiiform fishes, and for his dedication to guiding and inspiring future generations of ichthyologists.

Distribution. Specimens were collected in waters off New South Wales, Australia, from SE Evans Head, off Iluka, to Broken Bay, at depths of 60–89 m (average 73 m).

Comparative remarks. Coloration in preservation of Kuiterichthys pietschi is similar to that of K. furcipilis . Some specimens of K. furcipilis , however, have a prominent basidorsal spot or a complex network of white, interconnecting lines ( Pietsch and Grobecker, 1987: plate 41), but these markings have not been observed in K. pietschi . The escal morphology is different between species: K. pietschi has a single, tapering appendage bearing filaments along its lateral margins and within a “V-shaped” depression, whereas K. furcipilis has nine filaments arising in a single plane from a common base with additional filaments arising from anterior surface of the base ( Pietsch and Grobecker, 1987: fig. 87). Mature specimens of K. pietschi also appear to be smaller than those of K. furcipilis (19.1–32.4 vs. 27.5–96.5 mm SL). Although the narrow distribution of K. pietschi overlaps with that of K. furcipilis , the latter is found below approximately 32°S in New South Wales, and extends to off Victoria and the east coast of Tasmania ( Pietsch and Grobecker, 1987). Kuiterichthys pietschi is also found in New South Wales, but the southernmost record for the species is 33.6°S (AMS I.26451-003 and UW 151891). The depth range of both species overlaps, and the average collection depths are similar (73 vs. 90 m).

Pietsch and Grobecker (1987) identified seven specimens of Kuiterichthys that did not conform to the diagnosis of K. furcipilis , differing solely on the length of the illicium (9.7–15.5% vs. 18.8–24.6% SL for K. furcipilis ). Three of these specimens were examined in the course of this study (UW 20986), but they also do not conform to the diagnosis given here for K. pietschi (second dorsal-fin spine 27.9–33.2% SL vs. 17.0–22.5% for K. pietschi ; pectoral-fin rays 9–10 vs. 7– 8 for K. pietschi ; Table 1). Additional specimens of this third, potentially undescribed species could not be found in collections of the Australian Museum (AMS), South Australian Museum (SAM), and the Museum Victoria (NMV).

Additional material examined. Kuiterichthys furcipilis, AMS I. 26237-001, AMS I.29733-003, AMS I.34506-001, AMS I.35914-002, AMS I.40311-002, AMS I.40311-003, AMS I.40320-002, AMS I.40810-004, UW 020985, UW 020987, NMV A1529, NMV A16657 , NMV A3451, NMV A525. Kuiterichthys sp. , UW 20986.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Kuiterichthys pietschi, new species, holotype, AMS I.33555-004, 25.8 mm SL, Crowdy Head, NSW, 31.9°S, 152.9°E.