Memoirs of the Museum of Victoria 48(1): 83-84 (1987)
ISSN 0814-1827
NEW AUSTRALIAN FISHES. PART 19.
A NEW SPECIES OF LEPIDOPERCA (SERRANIDAE)
By Clive D. Roberts
Department of Zoology, Victoria University of Wellington,
Private Bag, Wellington, New Zealand
Abstract
Roberts, CD., 1987. New Australian fishes. Part 19. A new species of Lepidoperca (Serrani-
dae). Mem. Mus. Vict. 48: 83-84.
Lepidoperca filamenta sp. nov. is described from 15 specimens collected off southern and south-
western Australia. It can be distinguished by dark blotches on the anterior base of soft dorsal,
anterior soft anal and pectoral fins, and a lunate caudal fin.
Introduction
Part of an ongoing study (Roberts, in prep.) on
the taxonomy of anthiine serranids of the genus
Lepidoperca Regan has focussed on the orange
perches of Australia and New Zealand currently
referred to the species L. pukhella Waite. It is
now apparent that at least four species are
represented in the complex. The purpose of this
paper is to name and diagnose a new species be-
longing to this complex from southern and south-
western Australia.
Counts and measurements (to the nearest 0.1
mm with dial calipers) were made following the
methods of Hubbs and Lagler (1964). Counts of
scale rows exclude the small, often irregular scales
sheathing the fin bases; the last ray of the dorsal
and anal fin usually branches to its base and was
counted as one ray; fin ray counts were confirmed
from radiographs; lengths of specimens are all
standard lengths unless otherwise stated. Stan-
dard length and upper jaw length were measured
from the anterior median point on the upper lip;
bony orbit diameter is the horizontal distance be-
tween bony margins; length of dorsal lobe of cau-
dal fin is the oblique distance from the base of
the shortest caudal ray to the distal tip of the lon-
gest dorsal caudal ray.
Abbreviations are as follows: Australian
Museum, Sydney (AMS); Western Austahan
Museum, Perth (WAM); standard length (SL);
total length (TL); head length (HL).
Lepidoperca filamenta sp. nov.
Anthias pulchellus pulchellus. -G\over & Branden, 1978: 57,
fig. 3, South Australia, off Port Lincoln (not Waite).
Material examined. Holotype: Western Australia, west of
Eucla, Great Australian Bight (32°20'S, 128°00'E), trawled
128-200 m depth, F.l.V. "Endeavour", Mar 1912, AMS 1.12339
(116.4 mm SL, 165.5 mm TL).
Paratypes: Western Australia, type locality, 14 specimens:
AMS E.2356 (129.0 mm), AMS E.2357 (134.5 mm); AMS
E 2358 (128.5 mm), AMS E.2359 (127.4 mm), AMS E.2360
(128.0 mm), AMS E.2361 (128.0 mm), AMS 1.12335 (126.5
mm), AMS 1.12336 (124.8 mm), AMS 1.12337 (133.0 mm),
AMS 1.12338 (132.1 mm), AMS 1.12340 (119.0 mm). Between
Cape Naturaliste and Geraldton, trawled 137-220 m depth,
F.l.V. "Endeavour", 1912, AMS E.2489 (103.0 mm), c. 150 km
south-west of Eucla, Great Australian Bight (33°17'S,
128°32'E), trawled, depth unknown, F.V. "Orsino", 21 Apr
1978 WAM P.26804-001 (106.9-127.4 mm).
Diagnosis. Dorsal fin rays X,16-17 (X,17 in holo-
type); anal fin rays III, 8; pectoral fin rays 15;
pored lateral line scales 39-43 (41); upper trans-
verse scale rows 4, lower transverse scale rows 12-
14 (14); gill rakers 9-10 + 24-27 = 33-37
(9+26=35). Upper jaw length 2.08-2.43 (2.08)
in HL; maxilla reaching to below middle of pupil.
Caudal fin lunate, its dorsal lobe 0.83-1.10 (0.83)
in HL. Pelvic fin long, 2.44-2.90 (2.66) in SL.
Basal part of spinous dorsal fin scaled; axil of
pectoral fin scaled. Large, dark blotch on anterior
of soft dorsal fin; a small dark blotch at centre
of pectoral fin and on anterior of soft anal fin.
Etymology. From the latin filum (thread) and -
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