Memoirs of the Museum of Victoria 48(1): 51-52 (1987)
ISSN 0814-1827
NEW AUSTRALIAN FISHES. PART 12.
A NEW SPECIES OF EUBALICHTHYS (MONACANTHIDAE)
By J. B. Hutchins
Department of Ichthyology, Western Australian Museum, Francis Street,
Perth, Western Australia, 6000
Abstract
Hutchins, J. B., 1987. New Australian fishes. Part 12. A new species of Eubaikhthys (Monacan-
thidae). Mem. Mus. Vict. 48: 51-52.
Eubaikhthys cyanoura is described as new from south-western Australian seas. It is distin-
guished from the closely related E. gunnii (Gunther) by differences in coloration and several
morphological features.
Introduction
Hutchins (1977) recognised 54 species of
monacanthid fishes from Australian seas. One of
these, Eubaikhthys gunnii, was listed with a dis-
tribution ranging from Victoria to the southern
portion of Western Australia. Subsequently, Hut-
chins and Thompson (1983) restricted E. gunnii
to Victoria, Tasmania, and South Australia. They
recognised the Western Australian form as a dis-
tinct species, its range overlapping with the
former in South Australia. This paper describes
the western form as new.
Methods were given by Hutchins (1977). The
following abbreviations are used: AMS, Aus-
tralian Museum, Sydney; WAM, Western Aus-
tralian Museum, Perth; SL, standard length.
Eubalichthys cyanoura sp. nov.
Figure 1
Eubaikhthys gunnii.-Hulchins, 1977: 55 (in part).
Eubaikhthys species Hutchins & Thompson, 1983: 68, 87,
fig. 326.
Material examined. Holotype: Western Australia, Recherche
Archipelago, Sandy Hook Island, J.B. Hutchins, speared at
20 m, 7 Apr 1977, WAM P.25762-001 (male, 232 mm SL).
Paratypes. Western Australia. Albany, Big, Grove, Depart-
ment of Fisheries and Fauna, 6 May 1974, WAM P.24841-
001 (159 mm SL); Geographe Bay, M. Walkere, fish trap, 18
Nov 1976, WAM P.28393-004 (156 mm SL); Safety Bay, south
of Fremantle, B. Paxman, spear, 13 Apr 1975, WAM P.28865-
002 (299 mm SL); AMS I. 26445-001 (323 mm SL); off
Fremantle, between Garden and Carnec Islands, J. Braun,
handnet, 12 Jan 1977, WAM P.25998-001 (104 mm SL).
South Australia. Yorke Peninsula, Stenhouse Bay, J.B. Hut-
chins, speared at 8 m, 31 Mar 1981, WAM P.27137-001 (2 speci-
mens, 138-238 mm SL).
Description. Dorsal fin rays 31-35; anal fin rays
32-34; pectoral fin rays 12-13 (mostly 13). Body
elongate in male, somewhat deeper in female and
juvenile, depth 2.1-2.9 in SL. Lateral profile of
snout prominently convex in male, straight to
slightly convex in female and juvenile. Ventral
flap small. Caudal peduncle without spines or
bristles. Skin velvety to rather coarse. Dorsal
spine moderate to long (1.4-1.7 in head length),
originating over centre to posterior one-third of
eye, and partly received by a shallow groove in
interdorsal space when depressed; spine with
small downward-directed barbs, barbs decreasing
in size with increasing SL, becoming obsolete in
large individuals. Second dorsal and anal fins
elevated anteriorly in male, outer border concave;
fins not elevated in female and juvenile, outer
border convex. Pelvic fin rudiment small to
minute, consisting of 4 encasing scales, located
about one-half eye diameter in advance of rear
end of pelvis. Reaches a total length of 42 cm (36
cm SL).
Colour in life: Adult-head and body pale
green, pale brown to blackish brown, covered
with close-packed darker spots; dark brown lines
and spots on snout and along anal fin base;
mosaic pattern of dark brown to blackish
blotches often present on side, or mosaic of pale
lines only; 2 whitish bars usually present on
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