Parapercis algrahami, 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 : 159-163

Parapercis algrahami sp. nov.

New English name: Al Graham’s Sandperch Figures 1 , 2A–D , 8 ; Tables 1–2, 4–5

Parapercis sp. 3: Johnson & Randall, 2006: fig. 3 (opercle).

Parapercis sp. 1: Last et al., 2014: appendix 1 (listed in table).

Holotype. QM I.40814, male, 121 mm, east of Coolum , Qld, 26°32’S 153°39’E, 123 m, trawl, Queensland Fisheries Service, 8 Aug 2001.

Paratypes. (n = 35) AMS I.25800-022, 11: 53.6–87.5 mm, NE of Hinchinbrook Island , Qld, 17°57’S 146°59’E to 18°00’S 147°02’E, 220 m, lobster trawl, S.E. Reader on RV Soela, 8 Jan 1986 ; AMS I.34070-001, 112 mm, off Newcastle , NSW, 32°52’S 152°00’E to 32°54’S 152°02’E, 67–77 m, trawl, K. Graham on FRV Kapala , 26 Nov 1991 ; AMS I.34211-002, 120 mm, off Newcastle , NSW, 33°01’S 151°56’E to 33°07’S 151°59’E, 115–121 m, trawl, K. Graham on FRV Kapala , 2 Mar 1993 ; AMS I.35676-001, 114 mm, off Newcastle , NSW, 33°06’S 151°54’E to 33°05’S 151°57’E, 115–119 m, trawl, K. Graham on FRV Kapala , 21 Jul 1994 ; AMS I.38248-001, 125 mm, east of Mooloolaba , Qld, 26°35’S 153°41’E, 204 m, trap, J. Lowry & K. Dempsey on FV Seadar Bay, 3 Aug 1994 ; CSIRO H.594-05, 102 mm, NE of Townsville, Qld, 18°05.9’S 147°10.8’E to 18°10’S 147°13.2’E, 248– 240 m, lobster trawl, CSIRO on RV Soela, 8 Dec 1985; CSIRO H. 5635-28, 102 mm, east of Rockingham Bay , Qld, 18°08’S 147°09’E, 223–248 m, trawl, FV Rebecca Mae , 21 Aug 2000 ; QM I.22043, 2: 81.7–88.0 mm, east of Swain Reefs , Qld, 22°03’S 153°05’E, 170 m, trawl, Queensland Fisheries Service, 28 Aug 1983 ; QM I.23106, 82.0 mm, off Swain Reefs, Qld, 20°49.9’S 151°52.8’E, 288 m, trawl, Queensland Fisheries Service, 20 Sep 1986; QM I. 23424, 111 mm, east of Capricorn Group , Qld, 23°33’S 152°23’E, 240 m, trawl, Queensland Fisheries Service, 1 Dec 1983 ; QM I.25692, 6: 62.5–105 mm, off Swain Reefs, Qld, 21°42’S 152°55’E, 185–190 m, trawl, Raptis, Apr 1988; QM I.28299, 3: 75.4–117 mm, ESE of Cape Moreton, Qld, 27°03’S 153°37’E, 137 m, trawl, S. Cook, 1 Jul 1993; QM I. 33176, 101 mm, NNE of Cape Moreton, Qld, 26°45’S 153°35’E, 130 m, trawl, Queensland Fisheries Service, 14 Mar 2001; QM I. 33180, 114 mm, same data as holotype; QM I. 38549, 109 mm, east of Moreton Island , Qld, 27°09.79’S 153°38.4’E, 135 m, trawl, Queensland Fisheries Service, 29 Jul 2002 ; QM I. 38601, 101 mm, SE of Swain Reefs, Qld, 22°40’S 153°09’E, 210 m, trawl, Queensland Fisheries Service, 7 May 2009; QM I.38602, 85.3 mm, east of Caloundra , Qld, 26°44.784’S 153°32.934’E, 112 m, trawl, Queensland Fisheries Service, 28 Apr 2009 .

Non-types. (n=28) AMS I.25801-008, 6: 75.2–104, NE of Hinchinbrook Island, Qld, 18°00’S 147°02’E to 17°57’S 146°59’E, 220 m, trawl, M. McGrouther & S.E. Reader on RV Soela, 9 Jan 1986 ; AMS I.38089-008, 2: 74.5–104, off Swain Reefs, Qld, 22°55’S 153°20’E to 22°11’S 153°11’E, 181 m, trawl, J. Lowry & K. Dempsey on FV Seadar Bay, 9 Sep 1995; CSIRO H.617-04, 2: 122–126 mm, south of Saumarez Reef , Qld, 22°14.1’S 153°31.7’E to 22°10.1’S 153°29.1’E, 303–333 m, lobster trawl , CSIRO on RV Soela, 19 Nov 1985; CSIRO H.643- 0 6, 4: 83.0– 115 mm, NE of Whitsunday Group, Qld, 19°38.1’S 150°32.7’E to 19°37.6’S 150°30.3’E, 312–318 m, trawl, CSIRO on RV Soela, 15 Nov 1985; CSIRO H.7257-03, 4: 84.0– 102 mm, off Swain Reefs, Qld, 22°36.94’S 153°11.71’E to 22°40.28’S 153°05.71’E, 189– 187 m, trawl, C. Rigby on FV Benjamin, 8 Jun 2011; QM I.25302, 63.0 mm, off Swain Reefs, Qld, 21°21’S 153°05’E, 300 m, trawl, Raptis, Apr 1988; QM I.28285, 2: 92.1–99.5 mm, ENE of Cape Moreton, Qld, 26°58’S 153°36’E, 137 m, trawl, S. Cook, 1 Jul 1993; QM I. 33177, 106 mm, NNE of Cape Moreton, Qld, 26°41’S 153°36’E, 135 m, trawl, Queensland Fisheries Service, 2 Aug 2001; QM I.33178, 87.2 mm, east of Coolum , Qld, 26°34’S 153°36’E, 114 m, trawl, Queensland Fisheries Service, 17 May 2001 ; QM I.33238, 2: 85.2–85.4 mm, NNE of Cape Moreton, Qld, 26°41’S 153°36’E, 135 m, trawl, Queensland Fisheries Service, 2 Aug 2001; QM I.34044, 87.0 mm, east of South Stradbroke Island , Qld, 27°49’S 153°50’E, 161–165 m, trawl, Queensland Fisheries Service, 24 Jul 2002; QM I.34338, 47.5 mm, same data as previous; QM I. 36876, 118 mm , same data as previous (dried skeleton).

Diagnosis. A species of Parapercis with dorsal-fin rays V, 22–23 (rarely 22); anal-fin rays I, 18–19 (rarely 18); pectoral-fin rays 19–22 (modally 21, rarely 19 or 22); lateral-line scales 50–57 (usually 52 or 53); gill rakers 5–7 + 8–10 = 13–16 (modally 14); predorsal scales 14–16, ctenoid, extending forward to posterior portion of interorbital region; scales on cheek large and ctenoid, in about 12 horizontal rows posterior to tip of maxilla; 6 canine teeth in outer row at front of lower jaw; vomer with 2–3 rows of robust conical teeth; palatines with 1–2 rows of small teeth; angle of subopercle usually with 6–8 feeble, close-set spinules; hind margin of preopercle entire; 10 abdominal and 22 caudal vertebrae; fifth dorsal-fin spine longest, pelvic-fin tips reaching from just posterior to vent to base of second anal-fin ray; and colouration including 5 narrow slightly oblique dark bars across upper body and a dark spot dorsally on the caudal-fin base.

Description. Morphometrics and meristics are presented in Tables 4–5. Dorsal-fin rays V, 23 (22–23, usually 23, only 1 of 59 specimens with 22); anal-fin rays I, 19 (18–19, usually 19, only 1 of 59 specimens with 18); all dorsal- and anal-fin rays branched, last to base; pectoral-fin rays 20 (19–22, modally 21; only specimen with 19 having 20 on opposite side; only one specimen with 22), upper ray unbranched, others including lowermost branched; pelvic-fin rays I, 5; branched caudal-fin rays 15; lateral-line scales 51 (50–57, modally 52 or 53), plus usually 2 or 3 smaller pored scales on caudal-fin base; scales above lateral line to origin of dorsal fin 5, to base of anterior soft rays of dorsal fin 3 ½; scales below lateral line to origin of anal fin 11 (10–11); circumpeduncular scales 17 (16–17); predorsal scales 15 (14–16), extending forward to posterior portion of interorbital region; cheek scales large, horizontal row from preorbital across cheek to edge of preopercle with about 15 scales, from tip of maxilla with about 12 scales, vertical row below middle of eye with about about 5 scales; gill rakers on first arch 5 + 8 = 13 (5–7 + 8–10 = 13–16); branchiostegal rays 6; vertebrae 10 + 22 = 32.

Body depth 4.4 (4.4–5.2) in SL, larger males more robust and deep-bodied than smaller females; body subcylindrical, greatest width 1.2 (1.0–1.2) in body depth; head length 3.9 (3.6–4.0) in SL; snout bluntly rounded, its length 4.6 (4.0–5.4) in HL; orbital diameter 3.0 (2.7–3.3) in HL; eyes directed more laterally than dorsally, bony interorbital space narrow, 9.7 (9.7–13.8) in HL; caudal-peduncle depth 2.4 (2.5–2.8) in HL; caudal-peduncle length 2.7 (2.7–3.1) in HL.

Mouth oblique, jaws terminal; curved canine teeth at front of lower jaw slightly projecting, visible when mouth fully closed; upper jaw extending to vertical from about posterior margin of pupil, tip of maxilla bearing fleshy flap with crenulate margin, upper-jaw length 2.0 (1.9–2.2) in HL; upper jaw with 17 or 18 (17–22) outer curved canines on each side, first 6 clearly largest, of these first or second then sixth largest, those following gradually reducing in size posteriorly, broad inner band of small villiform teeth anteriorly, narrowing gradually to form only single row at rear of jaw; front of lower jaw on each side with 3 enlarged curved canines in distinctly separate outer row, tooth third from symphysis clearly largest, followed in outer row by 4 or 5 small canine teeth, then 3 abruptly larger strongly curved canines of which second and third subequal and distinctly largest, remaining teeth in outer row subequal, of moderate length, in single row of 12 on left side and 9 on right side (8–13), broad inner band of small villiform teeth extending posteriorly from symphysis to side of jaw just anterior to second of 3 abruptly larger teeth in side of outer row. Vomer with 2 (2–3, rarely 3) irregular crescentic rows of robust conical teeth, medial teeth largest, anterior row with 6 (4–7) teeth, second posterior row comprised of 4 (2–12) smaller teeth; palatines with 2 (1–2) rows of subequally small teeth, 6 or 7 (4–8) in outer row and 2 or 3 (0–4) smaller teeth at middle of inner row. 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, longest about 4 (4–5) 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 well-developed membranous tube, often lying flat against snout in preserved specimens. Posterior nostril about half distance from anterior margin of eye to anterior nostril, dorsoposterior to, and slightly wider than anterior nostril, opening rounded, with slightly raised rim (some paratypes with more distinctly raised rim, or with low membranous flap on anteroventral edge of nostril); internarial distance twice (2–3 times) width of posterior nostril.

Opercle with short, robust, bluntly-pointed spine (spine more exposed and sharply pointed in smaller paratypes); angle of subopercle with 6 (6–8) tiny, feeble, close-set spinules, remaining edge entire; preopercle entire, margins partially obscured by large overlapping ctenoid scales.

Lateral line continuous, ascending smoothly from opercle to below about 2nd or 3rd soft dorsal-fin ray, dipping ventrally to below about 15th soft dorsal-fin ray, then straightening to caudal-fin base (lateral line dipping more gradually in smaller, more narrow-bodied paratypes); scales ctenoid, except for few cycloid scales on midline of belly, those on middle of sides with up to about 70 cteni; scales on cheek extending forward to vertical from anterior margin of orbit (anterior margin of orbit to midway between anterior margin of orbit and anterior margin of pupil); no scales on dorsal, anal or pelvic fins; small feebly ctenoid scales on basal third of pectoral fins; elongate ctenoid scales densely arranged on proximal two-thirds of caudal fin.

Origin of dorsal fin slightly posterior (at or slightly posterior) to vertical from axil of pectoral fin, predorsal length 3.5 (3.5–3.8) in SL; dorsal-fin spines progressively longer, first spine 7.9 (7.3–12.9) in HL; fifth spine longest, 3.5 (3.0–4.3) in HL; membrane from fifth spine to first soft ray attached near tip of fifth spine and only slightly incised; 19th (18th to 20th, usually19th) soft dorsal-fin ray longest, 1.5 (1.5–1.7) in HL. Origin of anal fin below base of fifth soft dorsal-fin ray, preanal length 2.1 (2.1–2.3) in SL; anal-fin spine slender, closely attached to first soft ray, 4.5 (3.3–5.0) in HL; 17th (16th or 17th, usually 17th) soft anal-fin ray longest, length 1.9 (1.9–2.0) in HL. Caudal fin slightly rounded, length 5.0 (4.6–5.0) in SL. Pectoral fins rounded, 10th (10th or 11th) ray longest, 4.1 (3.8–4.2) in SL, slightly longer than pelvic fins. Origin of pelvic fins in advance of upper base of pectoral fins, on vertical just anterior to tip of opercle (upper corner of opercular opening to tip of opercle), prepelvic length 3.9 (3.6–4.2) in SL; pelvic-fin spine closely attached to first soft ray, its termination fleshy and attenuated, reaching about three fourths distance to tip of first ray; fourth soft pelvic-fin ray longest, almost reaching base of anal-fin spine (midway between vent and base of anal-fin spine to base of second anal-fin ray), length 4.3 (4.1–4.7) in SL.

Colour when fresh. Based on fresh specimens and colour photographs, ground colour of upper head and body in holotype (fig. 2B) and paratypes (e.g. fig. 2C–D) pale orange-pink, with series of five narrow, slightly oblique, chocolate-brown transverse bars directed posteroventrally across sides. Bars dark above, fading to diffuse dusky orange-yellow below; dark portion of bars 1–2 terminating beneath pectoral fins, bars 2–5 terminating on lateral line; lower pale portion of bars 1–2 terminating at lower edge of pectoral fins, bars 3–5 just above anal-fin base. Above lateral line, interspaces between bars each with vague, poorly-defined yellowish blotch; scales within blotch with narrow brownish edges, producing faint reticulate pattern. Small dark brown spot on upper caudal-fin base, midway between lateral line and dorsal edge of fin. Body above axil of pectoral fin with diffuse dusky yellow blotch. Body below lateral line gradually becoming paler shade of orange-pink (becoming creamy white on breast and belly in some paratypes). Head below eye pale creamy yellow. Upper lip and anterior portion of opercle adjacent to hind margin of preopercle bright lemon-yellow. Lower lip white. Iris yellow, with some pale red infusions. Fleshy base of pectoral fin creamy white. Dorsal-fin membrane semitranslucent, with pale yellow blush. Basal third of anal fin white, distal two-thirds of fin pale yellow. Caudal fin with 5 broad strongly curved yellow bands, alternating with 5 narrower semitranslucent blue-grey bands. Pectoral fins faintly yellowish. Pelvic fins white, with proximal half of inner rays diffusely dusky.

Colour in alcohol. Head and body of holotype (fig. 2A) and paratypes pale yellowish brown, with 5 narrow, slightly oblique, dark brown transverse bars directed posteroventrally across sides. Bars 1–2 terminating beneath pectoral fins, bars 2–5 terminating on lateral line. Above lateral line, scales in interspaces between bars with narrow brownish edges, producing faint reticulate pattern. Small faint dark brown spot on upper caudal-fin base, midway between lateral line and dorsal edge of fin. Dorsal, anal and pectoral fins semitranslucent. Caudal fin with 5 narrow curved greyish bands. Pelvic fins pale, with proximal half of inner 3 rays diffusely dusky.

Molecular results. The phylogenetic analyses indicate that P. algrahami is most closely related to, but distinct from P. macrophthalma , P. muronis and P. binivirgata , with average genetic sequence divergences of 8.1%, 8.6% and 9.4%, respectively. Intraspecific divergence between the four samples of P. algrahami was minimal at only 0.5% (fig. 1; Table 1).

Etymology. Named for Alastair (Al) Graham, Collection Manager at CSIRO Marine Research, Hobart, in honour of his longstanding efforts in building and maintaining Australian ichthyological collections and helpful cooperation with taxonomic research.

Distribution and abundance. Collected by demersal trawl from east of Dunk Island, Qld (17°57’S 146°59’E) to off Newcastle, NSW (33°07’S 151°59’E), at depths of 67–333 m (fig. 8). Parapercis algrahami appears scattered, but relatively common where suitable habitat exists, with 64 specimens collected by trawl from 28 sites. It appears most prevalent at depths of 112 m or greater, with only one specimen at the southern extremity of its range (AMS I.34070-001, from off Newcastle) collected at a lesser depth, 67– 77 m.

Discussion. Parapercis algrahami (fig. 2A–D) is most similar to P. muronis (fig. 7A–D; Ho & Johnson, 2013, fig. 1D) and P. macrophthalma ( Ho & Johnson, 2013, Fig. 1A–C ), sharing similar morphology, meristic formulae, and colouration, including 5 dark transverse bars dorsally on the sides. It differs most obviously from both in having a higher predorsal scale count (14–16, versus 9), with predorsal scales extending far forward to the posterior portion of the interorbital, versus only to a vertical from the hind margin of the preopercle. It also usually has fewer teeth in the outer row of the lower jaw (6, versus 6–8, usually 8 in P. muronis and P. macrophthalma ), a modally higher pectoral-fin ray count (19–22, modally 21, rarely 19 or 22, versus 18–20, modally 19 in P. muronis and 19– 21, modally 20, rarely 21 in P. macrophthalma ). Fresh specimens usually have a bright yellow vertical bar anteriorly on the opercle and a dusky-yellow spot above the pectoral-fin axil (opercle may have a diffusely yellowish blotch, but no vertical bar present, and no spot above pectoral-fin axil in either P. muronis , or P. macrophthalma ). Parapercis algrahami can be further distinguished from P. macrophthalma by its slightly oblique (versus vertical) transverse bars on the sides of the body and the dark portion of the third to fifth bars not extending below the lateral line (versus all 5 bars extending well below the lateral line in P. macrophthalma ).

Among the other species of Parapercis with well-defined dark transverse bars on the upper body, P. algrahami is readily distinguished from P. binivirgata ( Waite, 1904) and P. nigrodorsalis Johnson, Struthers & Worthington Wilmer, 2014 by its fewer bars (5, versus 13 single bars in P. binivirgata and 7 double bars in P. nigrodorsalis ) and from P. sexlorata Johnson, 2006 by its greater number of dorsal-fin spines (5, versus 4 in P. sexlorata ) and fewer bars (5, versus 6 in P. sexlorata ).

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 2. Type specimens of Parapercis algrahami sp. nov. A. Holotype, QM I.40814, 121 mm SL, male, east of Coolum, Qld, Australia, preserved (Photo: M. Ekins); B. Holotype, fresh; C. Paratype, CSIRO H.5635-28, 102 mm SL, east of Rockingham Bay, Qld, Australia, fresh (Photo: CSIRO); D. Paratype, CSIRO H.594-05, 102 mm SL, NE of Townsville, Qld, fresh (Photo: CSIRO).

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).