Bolin's Blindfish

diagnosis

Diagnosis. Paraphyonus bolini differs from the other species in the genus by the following combination of characters: long rakers on anterior gill arch 11 – 15, number of pectoral fin rays 13 – 17, anterior anal fin ray below dorsal fin ray 14 – 19, dorsal fin origin above vertebra 18 – 22, precaudal vertebrae 26 – 30, preanal length 49.5 – 60 % SL; no black pigmentation laterally in roof of mouth. Size. The largest known specimen (155 mm SL) is a ripe male.

Aphyonid-clade species of Australia (Teleostei, Bythitidae) with four species new to Australian waters and a new species of Barathronus

discussion

Remarks. The comparison (Table 1) between the present six specimens and the six earlier known specimens (Nielsen 2015: 332) shows full agreement in all meristic characters. In morphometric characters there is a variation in preanal length, base of pelvic fin to anal fin and head length and furthermore, the Australian specimens occur deeper than the non-Australian specimens (3754 – 4280 m vs 1075 – 1300 m). However, we do not consider the differences enough to justify establishing of a new species. Nielsen (2015: 332) considered a specimen as tentatively identified to P. bolini based on differences in number of vertebrae and rays in dorsal and anal fins. However, the Australian material levels out these differences.

Aphyonid-clade species of Australia (Teleostei, Bythitidae) with four species new to Australian waters and a new species of Barathronus

distribution

Distribution (Fig. 1). The present six specimens were caught off NSW and southern Qld at depths of 3754 – 4280 m. The six earlier known specimens are from off Madagascar, South China Sea and off Vanuatu at depths of 1075 – 1300 m.

Aphyonid-clade species of Australia (Teleostei, Bythitidae) with four species new to Australian waters and a new species of Barathronus

materials_examined

Material examined. (6 specimens, 101 – 155 mm SL) NMV A 31819 - 002, male, 129 mm SL, off Newcastle, NSW, 33 ° 26.10 ’ S, 152 ° 39.90 ’ E, RV Investigator, st. IN 2017 _ VO 3 / 065, beam trawl, 4173 – 4280 m, 30 May 2017. CSIRO H 8125 - 03 (GenBank Accession MH 491990), female, 145 mm SL, Hunter Commonwealth Marine Reserve, NSW, 32 ° 08.28 ’ S, 153 ° 31.62 ’ E, RV Investigator, st. IN 2017 _ V 03 / 078, beam trawl, 3980 – 4029 m, 4 June 2017. NMV A 31832 - 001, male, 155 mm SL, off Byron Bay, NSW, 28 ° 21.30 ’ S, 154 ° 38.16 ’ E, RV Investigator, st. IN 2017 _ VO 3 / 0 97, beam trawl, 3762 – 3803 m, 8 June 2017. CSIRO H 8129 - 02 (GenBank Accession MH 491991), female, 124 mm SL, off Byron Bay, NSW, 28 ° 22.26 ’ S, 154 ° 38.92 ’ E, RV Investigator, st. IN 2017 _ V 03 / 099, beam trawl, 3825 – 3754 m, 9 June 2017. NMV A 31836 - 003, female, 126 mm SL, east of Moreton Bay, Qld, 27 ° 00.47 ’ S, 154 ° 13.89 ’ E, RV Investigator, st. IN 2017 _ VO 3 / 102, beam trawl, 4264 – 4274 m, 10 June 2017. NMV A 31838 - 0 0 2, male, 101 mm SL, off Fraser Island, Qld, 25 ° 15.18 ’ S, 154 ° 11.52 ’ E, RV Investigator, st. IN 2017 _ VO 3 / 109, beam trawl, 4005 – 4006 m, 11 June 2017.

Aphyonid-clade species of Australia (Teleostei, Bythitidae) with four species new to Australian waters and a new species of Barathronus