Platycephalus grandispinis Cuvier, 1829

Imamura, Hisashi, 2013, Validity of Platycephalus grandispinis Cuvier, 1829, with Priority over Platycephalus longispinis Macleay, 1884 (Actinopterygii: Scorpaeniformes: Platycephalidae), Species Diversity 18 (2), pp. 183-192 : 187-191

Platycephalus grandispinis Cuvier in Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1829

[English name: Longspine Flathead]

( Figs 1–3 , 5–6 , 8–9 )

Platycephalus grandispinis Cuvier in Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1829: 242 (type locality: unknown).

Platycephalus longispinis Macleay, 1884: 170 (type locality: outside Port Jackson, NSW, Australia); McCulloch 1929: 401; Coleman 1980: 108, an unnumbered color fig.; Hutchins and Thompson 1983: 78, fig. 111; Hutchins and Swainston 1986: 127, fig. 199; May and Maxwell 1986: 276, an unnumbered fig.; Paxton and Hanley 1989: 469; Knapp 1991: 29, tab. 3; Kuiter 1993: 102, one unnumbered fig.; Hoese et al. 2006: 942; Imamura 2006: 305, tab. 1; Gomon, 2008: 517, fig. 12.

Longitrudis longispinis: Whitley 1931a: 327 ; Whitley 1931b: 159; Whitley 1964: 57.

Material examined. Holotype: MNHN 6844 , 212 mm SL, locality unknown.

Other type: AMS I. 16355-001, 233 mm SL, holotype of Platycephalus longispinis Macleay, 1884 , outside Port Jackson , NSW, Australia (33°50′S, 151°20′E), 91 m depth, 1884 .

Non-types (44 specimens, 120–286 mm SL, from southeastern to southwestern Australia): AMS E . 1604, 177 mm SL, Fraser Island , Qld (25°38′S, 153°20′E), coll . Endeavour; AMS E . 2312, 189 mm SL, Doubtful Islands , WA (34°37′S, 119°58′E), coll . Endeavour; AMS E . 2424, 216.9 mm SL, Investigator Strait , SA (35°37′S, 137°45′E), coll . Endeavour; AMS I . 11020, 175 mm SL, off Boomerang Hill , Fraser Island, Qld (25°20′S, 153°17′E), 27 m depth, 29 June 1910; AMS I . 12305, 178 mm SL, AMS I. 12306, 260 mm SL, Doubtful Islands , WA (34°S, 119°E), 37–46 m depth, 30 November 1911; AMS I . 12395, 136 mm SL, Investigator Strait , SA (35°25′S, 137°22′E), 1912, coll . Endeavour; AMS I . 41259- 001, 3 specimens, 180–204 mm SL, southeast of Harrington , NSW (31°52′S, 152°42′E), 50 m depth, 29 March 2002; AMS I . 16887-001, 7 specimens, 120–190 mm SL, Jervis Bay , NSW (35°03′S, 150°44′E), 16–24 m depth, 22 September 1971; AMS I.19832-001, 2 specimens, 191–212 mm SL, 6 km off Whale Beach , Sydney, NSW (33°39′S, 151°23′E), 55 m depth, 10 October 1976; AMS IB . 2750, 179 mm SL, off Point Lookout , Qld (27.4°S, 153.5°E); AMS I.20194-015, 4 of 6 specimens, 159–236 mm SL, Investigator Strait , SA (35°20′S, 137°50′E), 20 m depth, 14 March 1978; CSIRO CA 3689, 230 mm SL, Great Australian Bight , WA (32°30′S, 126°43′E), 36.0 m depth, 1 December 1981; CSIRO H5316- 01 , 213 mm SL, Great Australian Bight , SA (31°49′S, 130°45′E– 31°50′S, 130°45′E), 54 m depth, 14 May 2000; CSIRO H4216-01 , 260 mm SL, south of Newcastle , NSW (33°04′S, 151°44′E), 33 m depth, 26 March 1996; NMV A 3395, 250 mm SL, eastern Bass Strait, Vic (37°51′06″S, 149°09′00″E), 15.5 m depth, 15 September 1983; NMV A29360-011 , 204 mm SL, northeast of Rottnest Island, WA (31°56′45″– 31°56′08″S, 115°28′03″– 115°30′49″E), 20–34 m depth, 9 April 2006; WAM P.16495-001, 4 of 11 specimens, 153–193 mm SL, Rottnest Island , WA (32°00′S, 115°30′E); WAM P . 22181-001, 1 of 2 specimens, 164 mm SL, Cockburn Sound , WA (32°11′S, 115°43′E), 25 September 1972; WAM P . 27009-002, 286 mm SL, Perth , WA (31°30′S, 115°35′E), 16 November 1980; WAM P.27450-001, 244 mm SL, West End , WA (32°00′S, 115°30′E), 30 December 1981; WAM P.277219-007, 162 mm SL, WA (28°48′S, 114°03′E), 22 Nov. 1980; WAM P.28613-011, 157 mm SL, King George Sound , WA (35°01′S, 117°57′E), 14–18 m depth, 4 March 1986; WAM P.28614-002, 2 specimens, 201–207 mm SL, King George Sound , WA (35°03′S, 117°57′E), 50 m depth, 4 March 1986; WAM P.31696-002, 146 mm SL, Dorre Island , Shark Bay, WA (25°01.48′S, 113°17.53′E), 26 November 1997; WAM P.32269-002, 123 mm SL, Cape Peron North , Shark Bay, WA (25°30.604′S, 113°33.913′E– 25°31.115′S, 113°33.937′E), 12.6–13.2 m depth, 2 October 2002; WAM P.32278-008, 128 mm SL, Cape Peron North , Shark Bay, WA (25°23.667′S, 113°26.082′E– 25°23.097′S, 113°26.057′E), 16.9– 16.7 m depth, 3 October 2002; QM I . 32902, 148 mm SL, east of Fraser Island , Qld (25°26′S, 153°15′E), 30.2 m depth, 21 April 2001 .

Diagnosis. A species of Platycephalus with the following combination of characters: 14 second dorsal and anal fin rays; 73–82 lateral line scales; 19–26 total gill rakers; interorbit becoming wider with growth, narrower than orbital diameter; no distinct interopercular flap (sometimes a small flap or weak convexity present); supraoccipital with a ridge; lower preopercular spine much longer than upper, usually extending nearly to posterior margin of opercle, length ratio of lower:upper spines 1.9–3.3: 1, this ratio tending to become smaller with growth; absence of large canine teeth on anteromedial portion of upper jaw; head and body without small dark dots; and posteroventral portion of caudal fin with a blackish or dark-brownish marking.

Description. Counts and proportional measurements as given in Table 1 . Below, data ranges for all specimens presented first, followed by value for holotype (in parentheses).

Body depressed, mostly covered with ctenoid scales, but some cycloid scales on undersurface. Interorbital, occipital, postorbital, and opercular regions scaled; snout and area anteroventral to eye naked (including holotype) or scaled; lower half of suborbital region naked. Head moderately flattened; its length 2.8–3.4 (2.9) in SL. Snout slender; its length 3.4–3.9 (3.5) in HL, longer than orbital diameter. Upper surface of eye without papillae. Iris lappet triangular, simple, and well expanded dorsally, and small, simple, and weakly convex ventrally ( Fig. 9 ). Interorbital width 8.1–14.5 (11.4) in HL, becoming wider with growth but always less than orbital diameter. Spines and ridges weakly developed on top and side of head ( Fig. 9 ). Nasal lacking spines. Lachrymal usually with two (including holotype), rarely three or four antrorse spines. Preorbital spine absent. Single preocular spine present. Suborbital spines usually absent (including holotype); one suborbital spine sometimes present below posterior margin of eye; one suborbital spine rarely present below middle of eye. Supraorbital ridge weakly serrated posteriorly. Single postorbital spine usually present (including holotype), rarely two spines present or spines absent. Pterotic ridge usually with single spine (including holotype), rarely entirely smooth or with two spines. Frontal ridges lacking spines. Parietal usually with single spine, rarely with two spines or spines absent (including holotype). Supraoccipital with single ridge on midline, usually ending in spine posteriorly, rarely lacking spine (including holotype). Supratemporal and posttemporal usually lacking spines (including holotype), but sometimes with single spine. Supracleithrum with single spine. Preopercle with two spines; lower spine much longer than upper, usually not quite reaching posterior margin of opercle (including holotype), rarely just reaching it or extending slightly beyond it; length ratio of lower:upper spines 1.9–3.3: 1 (unmeasured), this ratio tending to become smaller with growth ( Fig. 10 ); upper lacking supplementary spine. Opercle with two indistinct spines, lacking prominent ridge. Interopercular flap usually absent (as in holotype), sometimes small flap or weak convexity present; margin of interopercle smooth. Maxilla extending beyond anterior margin of eye; length 2.7–3.2 (2.8) in HL. Teeth in bands on jaws and palatine, and in V-shaped patch on vomer; tooth band on upper jaw lacking distinct notch anteromedially. Upper jaw with some small, moderate, or large conical teeth, or small canine teeth (moderate conical teeth) anteromedially; remainder of jaw with small conical and/or villiform teeth (small conical teeth). Lower jaw teeth arranged in narrow band; innermost row formed by small or moderate conical teeth (moderate teeth); other teeth villiform or small conical (small conical). Palatine teeth villiform or small conical (villiform) to small or moderate conical (small), irregularly arranged in two to five rows (three rows), tending to become larger medially; tooth row number tending to increase with growth. Anterior vomerine teeth villiform or small conical (small conical), irregularly arranged in one to three (one) rows; posterior vomerine teeth moderate and/or large conical (large conical) in two to four (three) rows, becoming larger posteriorly; anterior and posterior row numbers tending to increase with growth. Lip margins without papillae. Skinny sensory tubes arising from suborbitals undeveloped, not extending to cheek region ( Figs 5–6 ). Tubes arising from preopercle tending to develop with growth and to show geographic cline (see discussion above): in western population from Great Australian Bight, SA, to Shark Bay, WA, extending anterodorsally and dorsally with growth (including holotype), well developed and mostly completely covering this region in largest specimen; in eastern population from Fraser Island, Qld, to Jervis Bay, NSW, extending dorsally with growth, moderately developed and only covering lower half of this region in largest specimen ( Figs 5–6 ). Pored scales in lateral line each with one exterior opening posteriorly; opening in most pored scales directed posteroventrally, but in several scales posterodorsally. First dorsal fin originating posterior to opercular margin. First and second dorsal fins narrowly separated. Pectoral fin rounded posteriorly, length 5.9–7.8 (6.3) in SL. Posterior tip of pelvic fin situated between anus and second anal fin ray; length 3.9–4.8 (broken) in SL. Caudal fin slightly concave posteriorly; length 5.4–7.4 (6.0) in SL.

Color in alcohol.—Color considerably faded in holotype, retaining only white spots on dorsal surface of body, pale brown spots on first and second dorsal, pectoral, and pelvic fins, and brownish spots on dorsal portion and dusky marking on posteroventral portion of caudal fin ( Fig. 1 ). In non-types ( Fig. 8 ), head and body pale brown, with scattered small brown and sometimes white spots (but without small dark dots) dorsally, paler ventrally. Dorsal surface of body with or without narrow brownish bands. Lateral side of body with brownish and/or grayish spots tending to persist in preservative. First and second dorsal fins with small brown or dark brown spots. Pectoral and pelvic fins pale brown, with small brown or dark brown spots; those on pectoral fin tending to form narrow bands; ventral margin of pectoral fin and outer margin of pelvic fin paler. Anal fin pale. Caudal fin with brown or pale brown spots dorsally; posteroventral portion of caudal fin with single irregular, blackish or dark-brownish marking; posterior margin of caudal fin pale.

Distribution. Known from southwestern to southeastern Australia, ranging from Shark Bay, WA (ca. 25°S), to Fraser Island, Qld (ca. 25°S), across SA, Vic, and NSW (e.g., Hutchins and Thompson 1983; Kuiter 1993; Hoese et al. 2006; this study) ( Fig. 4 ).

Comparison. In addition to Platycephalus grandispinis , the following seven species of the genus Platycephalus are known usually to have 14 second dorsal and anal fin rays: Platycephalus aurimaculatus Knapp, 1987 , Platycephalus bassensis Cuvier in Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1829, Platycephalus caeruleopunctatus McCulloch, 1922 , Platycephalus conatus Waite and McCulloch, 1915 , Platycephalus laevigatus Cuvier in Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1829, Platycephalus richardsoni Castelnau, 1872 , and Platycephalus speculator Klunzinger, 1872 (e.g., Knapp, 1991; Imamura, 2006). Of these seven species, P. longispinis is most similar to P. bassensis in having the lower preopercular spine much longer than the upper, usually extending nearly to the posterior margin of the opercle, the posteroventral portion of the caudal fin with a blackish or dark-brownish marking, no large canine teeth on the anteromedial portion of the upper jaw, and a distinct interopercular flap. The present species differs from P. bassensis in having a ridge on the supraoccipital, usually ending in a spine (vs both ridge and spine absent) and in having no small, dark dots on the dorsal surface of the head and body (vs many such dots). The utility of the supraoccipital ridge as a taxonomic character separating P. grandispinis and P. bassensis is demonstrated for the first time in this study. The number of total gill rakers is also helpful to separate the two species, although a partial overlap is recognized between them (19–26 in P. grandispinis vs 17–20 in P. bassensis ).

Gomon (2008) considered P. grandispinis (as P. longispinis ) to be separable from P. bassensis in having the lower preopercular spine 2–3.5 times as long as the upper (vs up to twice as long as the upper). It was newly shown in the present study that the length ratio of the lower:upper spines is 1.9–3.3: 1 and tending to become smaller with growth in P. grandispinis , but it is 1.6–2.2 and tending to become larger with growth in P. bassensis ( Fig. 10 ). Only specimens of P. grandispinis with a ratio of more than 2.2: 1 are distinguishable from P. bassensis using this character.

Comparative material. Platycephalus bassensis (22 specimens, 114–418 mm SL, from southeastern Australia): MNHN 1437, holotype, 233 mm SL; AMS A. 16458, 242 mm SL; AMS A. 16459, 274 mm SL; AMS E. 4953, 267 mm SL; AMS E. 5457, 358 mm SL; AMS I. 6274, 272 mm SL; AMS I. 7541, 401 mm SL; AMS I. 7542, 324 mm SL; AMS I. 12794, 197 mm SL; AMS I.12796, 1 of 2 specimens, 176 mm SL; AMS I.14150–14151, 2 specimens, 114–201 mm SL; AMS I.17561-001, 155 mm SL; AMS I.19832-004, 212 mm SL; AMS I.20194-050, 2 specimens, 213–218 mm SL; AMS I.34823-001, 303 mm SL; CSIRO A 741, 137 mm SL; CSIRO CA 3690, 283 mm SL; NSMT-P 112668, 418 mm SL; NMV A29215-018 , 215 mm SL; QM I. 22312, 368 mm SL.

Figures

Fig. 1. Lateral (upper) and dorsal (lower) views of Platycephalus grandispinis, MNHN 6844, 212mm SL, holotype, locality and date for collection unknown.

Fig. 2. Lateral (upper) and dorsal (lower) views of Platycephalus longispinis, AMS I.16355-001, 233mm SL, holotype, outside Port Jackson, NSW, Australia.

Fig. 3. Ventrolateral views of cheek region. A, Platycephalus grandispinis, MNHN 6844, 212mm SL, holotype; B, Platycephalus longispinis, AMS I.16355-001, 233mm SL, holotype. Arrows indicate skinny sensory tubes arising from preopercle.

Fig. 5. Ventrolateral views of cheek region in Platycephalus grandispinis. A, WAM P.28613-011, King George Sound, WA; B, WAM P.28614–002, King George Sound; C, AMS I.20194-015, Investigator Strait, SA; D, AMS I.20194-015, Investigator Strait; E, AMS E.1604, Fraser Island, Qld; F, CSIRO H4216-01, from Newcastle, NSW.

Fig. 6. Ventrolateral view of cheek region in Platycephalus grandispinis, CSIRO CA3689, 230mm SL, western coast of Great Australian Bight, SA, Australia.

Fig. 8. Lateral (upper) and dorsal (lower) views of Platycephalus grandispinis, CSIRO H4216-01, 233mm SL, outside Port Jackson, NSW, Australia.

Fig. 9. Dorsal view of head (left) and lateral view of iris lappet on left eye (right) in Platycephalus grandispinis, CSIRO H4216-01, 260mm SL, south of Newcastle, NSW, Australia. LA, lachrymal spines; LO, lower opercular spine; PA, parietal spine; PO, postocular spine; POC, preocular spine; POP, preopercular spines; PT, posttemporal spine; PTE, pterotic spines; RS, ridge on supraoccipital (with spine); SC, supracleithral spine; SO, supraocular spines; ST, supratemporal spine; UO, upper opercular spine.

Fig. 10. Relationship of length ratio of lower:upper preopercular spines and standard length (mm) in Platycephalus grandispinis (solid circles) and P. bassensis (open circles). H, holotype of P.longispinis.

Fig. 4. Map showing sampling localities of Platycephalus grandispinis. 1, western population; 2–4, southern population (2 and 3 from Great Australian Bight, 4 from Investigator Strait); 5, eastern population; H, holotype of P.longispinis.