INTRODUCTION
Madang District is situated on the north-eastern mainland coast of Papua New Guinea. Its dominant geographical feature is an extensive, unusual lagoon system north of its capital, Madang. The fish fauna of the district has been studied for about 100 years. In a recent checklist of the fishes of Madang District, a total of 1337 species in 129 families was recorded from the region (Fricke et al., Reference Fricke, Allen, Andréfouët, Chen, Hamel, Laboute, Mana, Tan and Uyeno2014). After the manuscript was completed, some additional shallow and deep water material from Madang and other parts of the north coast of Papua New Guinea became available.
The present paper is an another outcome of the PAPUA NIUGINI Expedition, which surveyed the marine fauna and flora of Madang district, Papua New Guinea, between 24 October and 26 December 2012. The materials were collected during the deep-sea part of the PAPUA NIUGINI Biodiversity Expedition (see Samadi et al., in press), which were not yet available for the checklist of Fricke et al. (Reference Fricke, Allen, Andréfouët, Chen, Hamel, Laboute, Mana, Tan and Uyeno2014). Several new records of fish species from the region are reported in the present paper.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The material described in the present paper is deposited in the National Taiwan University Museum (NTUM), Taipei, Taiwan.
The family classification and arrangement follows Nelson (Reference Nelson2006), updated according to Eschmeyer (Reference Eschmeyer2014). The genus and species classification also follows Eschmeyer (Reference Eschmeyer2014), unless otherwise noted. In addition to the scientific name of a species, English vernacular names are provided. For the new records, information on the source is provided, as well as short diagnostic descriptions and, if available, illustrations. The fin-ray counts follow the method of Fricke (Reference Fricke1983). References follow Fricke (Reference Fricke2014). The descriptions also include detailed information on the general distribution of the species, especially the distribution in the Pacific. Information on the depth range of the species is provided as well; in some cases, new minimum or maximum depth records are provided.
RESULTS
MURAENIDAE
Gymnothorax angusticauda Weber & Beaufort 1916 – Narrowtail moray (Figure 1).
Gymnothorax angusticauda Weber & Beaufort 1916, NTUM 10687, one specimen, ca. 112.5 mm SL, Papua New Guinea, Madang Province, Madang (fresh specimen; photograph: Sarah Samadi).
MATERIAL
NTUM 10687, one specimen, ca. 112.5 mm standard length (SL), Papua New Guinea, Madang Province, Madang, University Road, 5°13′48″S 145°48′E, 15 m depth, St. PB 14, NIUGINI 2012 team, 12 November 2012.
DIAGNOSIS
Body depth at gill opening 18 total length (TL); dorsal fin origin midway between corner of mouth and gill opening; anus anterior to middle of body. Head and body plain greyish brown.
DISTRIBUTION
New record from Madang. Outside the area, Red Sea; Indonesia (Bali, West Papua). Known from depths of 1–15 m.
COLOCONGRIDAE
Coloconger scholesi Chan 1967 – Indo-Pacific short-tail conger (Figure 2).
Coloconger scholesi Chan 1967, NTUM 10639, one specimen, ca. 365 mm SL, Papua New Guinea, Madang Province, west of Karkar Island (fresh specimen; photograph: Sarah Samadi).
MATERIAL
NTUM 10639, one specimen, ca. 365 mm SL, Papua New Guinea, Madang Province, west of Karkar Island, 67 km north of Madang, 4°37′S 145°51′E, 832 m depth, St. CP3971, Sarah Samadi, R/V Alis, 4 December 2012.
DIAGNOSIS
72 lateral-line pore before the anus; body depth 7.7 TL. Head and body plain blackish.
DISTRIBUTION
New record from Madang and New Guinea. Outside the area, KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa) east to New Caledonia, north to Taiwan. Known from depths of 454–832 m.
REMARKS
The present specimen expands the previous lower depth record to 832 m (previously 810 m).
CONGRIDAE
Acromycter longipectoralis Karmovskaya 2004 – Southern dwarf conger (Figure 3).
Acromycter longipectoralis Karmovskaya 2004, NTUM 10627, one specimen, ca. 112.5 mm SL, Papua New Guinea, Madang Province, east of Matukar (preserved specimen; photograph: Wei-Jen Chen).
MATERIAL
NTUM 10627, one specimen, ca. 112.5 mm SL, Papua New Guinea, Madang Province, east of Matukar, 36 km north of Madang, 4°53′S 145°49′E, 370 m depth, St. DW 4031, Sarah Samadi, R/V Alis, 16 December 2012.
DIAGNOSIS
Pectoral rays 12; lateral line scales 40. Pectoral length 2.3 in head length. Head and body brownish grey, eye dark grey, belly whitish.
DISTRIBUTION
New record from Madang. Outside the area, New Caledonia. Known from depths of 370–580 m.
SYNGNATHIDAE
Doryrhamphus melanopleura (Bleeker, 1858) – Bluestripe pipefish (Figure 4).
Doryrhamphus melanopleura (Bleeker, 1858), NTUM 10602, one specimen, 33.3 mm SL, Papua New Guinea, Madang Province, Madang Lagoon, Riwo Island (preserved specimen; photograph: Wei-Jen Chen).
MATERIAL
NTUM 10602, one specimen, 33.3 mm SL, Papua New Guinea, Madang Province, Madang Lagoon, Riwo Island, 1–15 m depth, St. PR 114, NIUGINI 2012 team, 27 November 2012.
DIAGNOSIS
Dorsal rays 22; anal rays four; pectoral rays 22; caudal-fin rays ten; rings 19 + 14. Superior trunk and tail ridges discontinuous; inferior trunk ridge ending on anal ring; lateral trunk ridge conflouent with inferior tail ridge; snout length 2.4 in head length; snout depth 5.9 in snout length; head length 3.9 in SL. Orange, with a dark lateral stripe; caudal fin dark, bordered with white and irregularly diffused markings in centre.
DISTRIBUTION
New record from Madang. Outside the area, Indonesia east to Line and Tuamotu Islands, north to southern Japan and Ogasawara Islands, south to northern Australia and New Caledonia. Known from depths of 0–45 m, including tidal pools.
Festucalex gibbsi Dawson 1977 – Gibbs's pipefish.
MATERIAL
NTUM 10606, one female, 31.0 mm SL, Papua New Guinea, Madang Province, Madang Lagoon, Tab Island, inner slope, 5°06′12″S 145°50′18″E, St. PR 39, NIUGINI 2012 team, 15 November 2012; NTUM 10610, one male, 44.9 mm SL, Papua New Guinea, Madang Province, Madang Lagoon, south of Sek Island, inner slope, 5°06′18″S 145°49′03″E, St. PR 35, NIUGINI 2012 team, 15 November 2012.
DIAGNOSIS
Dorsal rays 22; pectoral rays 12; rings 18 + 32. Superior trunk and tail ridges continuous; pectoral-fin base with two distinct ridges. Head and body pale, sides with brown bars.
DISTRIBUTION
New record from Madang and Papua New Guinea. Outside the area, Queensland (Australia) to West Papua. Known from depths of 22–91 m.
SETARCHIDAE
Lioscorpius longiceps Günther 1880 – Slender scorpionfish (Figure 5).
Lioscorpius longiceps Günther 1880, NTUM 10616, one specimen, 37.5 mm SL, Papua New Guinea, Morobe Province, Dampier Strait (preserved specimen; photograph: Wei-Jen Chen).
MATERIAL
NTUM 10616, one specimen, 37.5 mm SL, Papua New Guinea, Morobe Province, Dampier Strait between Umboi Island and New Britain, 5°39′S 148°14′E, 280–315 m depth, St. CP 4017, Sarah Samadi, R/V Alis, 12 December 2012; NTUM 10689, one specimen, 131.8 mm SL, Papua New Guinea, Madang Province, north of Bagabag Island, 67 km northeast of Madang, 4°45′S 146°12′E, 456–582 m depth, St. CP 3978, Sarah Samadi, R/V Alis, 5 December 2012.
DIAGNOSIS
Preorbital bone with first spine greatly reduced; a long dorsal projection covers dorsal articulating surface of preorbital; anal rays II, six; pectoral rays 24; interorbital region narrow. Body pale yellowish, posterior part with three large grey blotches.
DISTRIBUTION
New record from New Guinea (Papua New Guinea: Madang and Morobe provinces). Outside the area, Vietnam east to Philippines and Mariana Islands, south to eastern Indonesia and New Caledonia. Known from depths of 256–456 m.
REMARK
The specimen from Madang Province extends the lower depth record of the species to at least 456 m (previously 406 m). This species was described by Eschmeyer & Collette (Reference Eschmeyer and Collette1966, p. 365).
SCORPAENIDAE
Neomerinthe megalepis Fowler 1938 – Yellow deepwater scorpionfish (Figure 6).
Neomerinthe megalepis Fowler 1938, NTUM 10560, one specimen, 64.6 mm SL, Papua New Guinea, Madang Province, south of Massas Island (preserved specimen; photograph: Wei-Jen Chen).
MATERIAL
NTUM 10560, one specimen, 64.6 mm SL, Papua New Guinea, Madang Province, south of Massas Island, 5°14′S 145°49′E, 120–200 m depth, St. PP 3, NIUGINI 2012 team, 16 November 2012.
DIAGNOSIS
Dorsal fin rays XII, nine, anal fin rays III, four, pectoral fin rays 18; four spines in suborbital row. Body pale yellowish, with scattered brown spots along the back.
DISTRIBUTION
New record from Madang and New Guinea. Outside the area, eastern South China Sea east to Wallis and Futuna, south to New Caledonia. Known from depths of 200–505 m.
REMARKS
This specimen expands the previous shallow depth record to at least 200 m (previously 215 m).
Pontinus rhodochrous (Günther 1872) – Red deepwater scorpionfish (Figure 7).
Pontinus rhodochrous (Günther 1872), NTUM 10249, one specimen, 74.0 mm SL, Papua New Guinea, Madang Province, Madang Lagoon, off Wongad Island (preserved specimen; photograph: Wei-Jen Chen).
MATERIAL
NTUM 10249, one specimen, 74.0 mm SL, Papua New Guinea, Madang Province, Madang Lagoon, off Wongad Island, 5–20 m depth, 05°08′06″S 145°49′18″E, St. PR 221, NIUGINI 2012 team, 10 December 2012.
DIAGNOSIS
Dorsal fin rays XII, nine, anal fin rays III, five, pectoral fin rays 19, unbranched. Body pale yellowish (reddish in life), with scattered brown spots and blotches.
DISTRIBUTION
New record from Madang and New Guinea. Outside the area, eastern Indonesia east to Marshall Islands and Wallis and Futuna, north to Philippines, south to New Caledonia. Known from depths of 20–310 m.
REMARKS
The present specimen expands the upper depth range of this species to at least 20 m (previously 25 m).
PARABEMBRIDAE
Parabembras curtus (Temminck & Schlegel 1843) – Short sprat flathead (Figure 8).
Parabembras curtus (Temminck & Schlegel 1843), NTUM 10690, one specimen, 147.8 mm SL, Papua New Guinea, Morobe Province, 28 km east of Lae (fresh specimen; photograph: Sarah Samadi).
MATERIAL
NTUM 10690, one specimen, 147.8 mm SL, Papua New Guinea, Morobe Province, 28 km east of Lae, 6°45′S 147°14′E, 360 m depth, St. CP 3999, Sarah Samadi, R/V Alis, 10 December 2012.
DIAGNOSIS
Dorsal fin rays X + I, seven; anal fin rays III, five; pectoral fin rays 22. Body pale yellowish, eyes dark grey.
DISTRIBUTION
New record from Morobe Province and New Guinea. Outside the area, Japanto Taiwan and China. Known from depths of 60–360 m.
REMARKS
The finding of this species is very unusual, as it was previously thought to be restricted to the north-western Pacific Ocean.
PERCOPHIDAE
Chrionema chryseres Gilbert 1905 – Spotted duckbill (Figure 9).
Chrionema chryseres Gilbert 1905, NTUM 10632, one specimen, 39.7 mm SL, Papua New Guinea, Madang Province, east of Maraga Hook (preserved specimen; photograph: Wei-Jen Chen).
MATERIAL
NTUM 10632, 1 specimen, 39.7 mm SL, Papua New Guinea, Madang Province, east of Maraga Hook, 15 km south of Madang, 5°21′S 145°49′E, 520–575 m depth, St. CP 4025, Sarah Samadi, R/V Alis, 14 December 2012.
DIAGNOSIS
Dorsal fin rays VI, 16; anal fin rays 24; pectoral fin rays 22. Body pale yellowish, with a series of irregular grey blotches, caudal fin base with 2 black blotches, first dorsal fin pale, with spots.
DISTRIBUTION
New record from Madang and New Guinea. Outside the area, Japan; Hawaiian Islands; Chesterfield Islands (Coral Sea). Known from depths of 335–520 m.
REMARKS
This specimen expands the lower depth record of this species to at least 520 m (previously 490 m).
Pteropsaron levitoni Iwamoto Reference Iwamoto, Williams and Gosliner2014 – Leviton's duckbill (Figure 10).
Pteropsaron levitoni Iwamoto Reference Iwamoto, Williams and Gosliner2014, NTUM 10673, one specimen, 87.9 mm SL, Papua New Guinea, Morobe Province, Dampier Strait (fresh specimen; photograph: Sarah Samadi).
MATERIAL
NTUM 10673, one specimen, 87.9 mm SL, Papua New Guinea, Morobe Province, Dampier Strait between Umboi Island and New Britain, 5°40′S 148°14′E, 280–285 m depth, St. CP 4016, Sarah Samadi, R/V Alis, 12 December 2012.
DIAGNOSIS
Dorsal fin rays IV, 20; anal fin rays 25; pectoral fin rays 19; lateral-line scales ca. 29. Colour in preservative: body pale yellowish, head and anterior back dark brown, eye dark grey, first dorsal fin black, other fins pale. Colour in life: body rose, upper half of eye bluish grey, lower half silver; head dorsally dark grey. Opercle with two yellow blotches; sides of body with a horizontal yellow lines; back with a row of 15 yellow blotches. Membranes of first dorsal fin black; anal fin orange, distally yellow; lower margin of caudal fin yellow.
DISTRIBUTION
New record from Morobe and New Guinea. Outside the area, Philippines. Known from depths of 82–280 m.
REMARKS
This specimen expands the lower depth record of this species to at least 280 m (previously 86 m). The species was described in detail by Iwamoto (Reference Iwamoto, Williams and Gosliner2014, p. 255). The live colouration is described and illustrated for the first time in the present paper.
BLENNIIDAE
Blenniella caudolineata (Günther, 1877) – Line-tailed blenniella (Figure 11).
Blenniella caudolineata (Günther, 1877), NTUM 10601, one specimen, 34.9 mm SL, Papua New Guinea, Madang Province, Yabob Village (preserved specimen; photograph: Wei-Jen Chen).
MATERIAL
NTUM 10601, one specimen, 34.9 mm SL, Papua New Guinea, Madang Province, Yabob Village, 4.5 km southwest of Madang, 5°15′18″S 145°46′36″E, 0–1 m depth, intertidal rocks and logs, NIUGINI 2012 TEAM, St. PM 8, 12 November 2012.
DIAGNOSIS
Dorsal rays XII, 20; anal rays II, 21; pectoral rays 14; pelvic rays I, three; segmented caudal-fin rays 13. No cirri on nape; supraorbital tentacle forming a simple filament; nasal cirrus small, simple; lateral line ending below eighth dorsal-fin spine; four mandibular pores on each side; margin of lips smooth; depth at anal-fin origin 6.1 in SL. Brownish, grading to whitish yellow on ventral parts; indistinct brownish bars, and three dark stripes breaking posteriorly into small spots and dashes on sides of body.
DISTRIBUTION
New record from Madang. Outside the area, eastern Indonesia east to Society Islands, north to southern Japan, south to Solomon Islands. Known from depths of 0–3 m.
Petroscirtes xestus Jordan & Seale, 1906 – Smooth fangblenny (Figure 12).
Petroscirtes xestus Jordan & Seale, 1906, NTUM 10024, one specimen, 21.7 mm SL, Papua New Guinea, Madang Province, Madang Lagoon, Wongad Island (preserved specimen; photograph: Wei-Jen Chen).
MATERIAL
NTUM 10024, one specimen, 21.7 mm SL, Papua New Guinea, Madang Province, Madang Lagoon, Wongad Island, 05°08′12″S 145°49′12″E, 2–5 m depth, St. PD 49, NIUGINI 2012 team, 26–27 November 2012.
DIAGNOSIS
Dorsal rays XI, 15; anal rays II, 15; pectoral rays 13; pelvic rays I, three. Body depth at anal origin 6.3 in SL. Whitish, finely and densely mottled and spotted with pearl and brown; a dark irregular stripe from eye to caudal-fin base.
DISTRIBUTION
New record from Madang. Outside the area, East Africa to Micronesia, Line Islands and Samoa, north to Philippines, south to northern Australia. Known from depths of 1–5 m.
CALLIONYMIDAE
Synchiropus orstom Fricke 2000 – Orstom bigeye dragonet (Figure 13).
Synchiropus orstom Fricke 2000, NTUM 10611, two specimens, 52.0–72.8 mm SL, Papua New Guinea, Sandaun Province, northwest of Aitape (preserved specimen; photograph: Wei-Jen Chen).
MATERIAL
NTUM 10611, two specimens, 52.0–72.8 mm SL, Papua New Guinea, Sandaun Province, north-west of Aitape, 3°01′S 142°16′E, 400–460 m depth, sand bottom, St. CP4056, Sarah Samadi, R/V Alis, 20 December 2012; NTUM 10691, 51.8 mm SL, male, Papua New Guinea, West Sepik Province, 13.5 km north-west of Aitape, 3°03′S 142°18′E, 370–374 m depth, St. CP 4055, Sarah Samadi, R/V Alis, 20 December 2012.
DIAGNOSIS
Dorsal spines four, dorsal rays eight (branched, last divided at base); anal rays seven (unbranched, last divided at base), pectoral rays 20. Eye large. Body rose; second dorsal fin with a row of basal dark spots; pelvic fin distally dusky.
DISTRIBUTION
New record from New Guinea (West Sepik and Sandaun provinces). Outside the area, Jumeau Seamount south of New Caledonia. Known from depths of 374–400 m.
REMARKS
The specimen from West Sepik Province expands the upper depth record of the species to 374 m (previously 380 m).
GEMPYLIDAE
Rexea antefurcata Parin Reference Parin1989 – Longfinned escolar (Figures 14 & 15).
Rexea antefurcata Parin Reference Parin1989, NTUM 10613, 136.5 mm SL, Papua New Guinea, Madang Province, Astrolabe Bay, east of Maraga Hook (fresh specimen; photograph: Sarah Samadi).
Rexea antefurcata Parin Reference Parin1989, NTUM 10613, 136.5 mm SL, Papua New Guinea, Madang Province, Astrolabe Bay, east of Maraga Hook (preserved specimen; photograph: Wei-Jen Chen).
MATERIAL
NTUM 10613, 136.5 mm SL, Papua New Guinea, Madang Province, Astrolabe Bay, east of Maraga Hook, 16 km south of Madang, 5°22′S 145°48′E, 340–385 m depth, grey mud bottom, St. CP4023, Sarah Samadi, R/V Alis, 14 December 2012.
DIAGNOSIS
Dorsal spines 19 + 2, dorsal rays 15 + 2 finlets; anal spines I + I, anal rays 14 + 2 finlets, pectoral rays 14, caudal rays (ix), i, 15, i, (ix). Two lateral lines, the lower running along mid-body, separating slightly anterior to level of fifth dorsal-fin spine. Body brownish, eye dark grey, peritoneum black; first dorsal fin with distal black margin, anteriorly with large black blotch; caudal-fin lobes distally dark grey.
DISTRIBUTION
New record from Madang. Outside the area, Nazca and Sala-y-Gomez ridges, south-eastern Pacific Ocean; south-eastern Australia to Norfolk Ridge (New Caledonia) and Fiji. Known from depths of 80–800 m.
REMARKS
This species was described by Parin (Reference Parin1989, p. 19), Nakamura & Parin (Reference Nakamura and Parin1993, p. 44: Reference Nakamura, Parin, Carpenter and Niem2001, p. 3707) and Roberts & Stewart (Reference Roberts, Stewart and Séret1997, p. 128).
CITHARIDAE
Lepidoblepharon ophthalmolepis Weber 1913 – Scale-eyed flounder (Figure 16).
Lepidoblepharon ophthalmolepis Weber 1913, NTUM 10614, one specimen, 86.6 mm SL, Papua New Guinea, Madang Province, east of Kranket Island (preserved specimen; photograph: Wei-Jen Chen).
MATERIAL
NTUM 10614, one specimen, 86.6 mm SL, Papua New Guinea, Madang Province, east of Kranket Island, 05°12′S 145°51′E, 363–388 m depth, St. CP 3948, Sarah Samadi, R/V Alis, 26 November 2012.
DIAGNOSIS
Dorsal rays 67; anal rays 50. Eyes on right side of body; eyes very large, both beginning on the same level. Body pale brown, eyes, cheeks and unpaired fins dark grey, scales on eyed side with grey margins.
Distribution. New record from Madang. Outside the area, Philippines and eastern Indonesia north to southern Japan, south to northern Australia. Known from mud bottoms at depths of 310–435 m.
BOTHIDAE
Engyprosopon macrolepis (Regan, 1908) – Largescale dwarf flounder (Figure 17).
Engyprosopon macrolepis (Regan, 1908), NTUM 10600, two specimens, 18.0–21.0 mm SL, Papua New Guinea, Madang Province, west of Kranket Island (preserved specimen; photograph: Wei-Jen Chen).
MATERIAL
NTUM 10600, two specimens, 18.0–21.0 mm SL, Papua New Guinea, Madang Province, west of Kranket Island, 05°11′42″S 145°48′48″E, 16–28 m depth, St. PD 10, NIUGINI 2012 team, 9–10 November 2012.
DIAGNOSIS
Dorsal rays 76–85; anal rays 58–63; prectoral rays 11–13 on eyed side; pelvic rays six; lateral-line scales 43–51. Eyes large, 2.8–3.8 in head length; teeth in jaws uniserial. Body pale yellow, mottled with brown and white; caudal fin with a pair of large dark spots in basal portion.
DISTRIBUTION
New record from Madang. Outside the area, Red Sea and Saint Brandon's Shoals east to Papua New Guinea and New Caledonia, north to Philippines. Known from depths of 3–91 m.
SOLEIDAE
Aseraggodes kimurai Randall & Desoutter-Meniger 2007 – Kimura's sole.
MATERIAL
NTUM 10605, one specimen, 31.1 mm SL, Papua New Guinea, Madang Province, Meiro River estuary, 5°12′S 145°47′48″E, 2 m depth, St. PD 16, NIUGINI 2012 team, 12 November 2012.
DIAGNOSIS
Dorsal rays 70; anal rays 48; lateral-line scales 72. Caudal peduncle present; lateral line on ocular side of head without branches; dorsal and anal rays branched; pelvic fins not short; caudal fin not short, 3.2 in SL; eye not small, 5.7 in head length. Body cream, irregular dark blotch on gill cover of eyed side; irregular mottled dorsally and ventrally with brown; blind side white.
DISTRIBUTION
New record from Madang. Outside the area, Philippines (Negros). Known from depths of 2 m.
CYNOGLOSSIDAE
Cynoglossus bilineatus (Lacepède, 1802) – Four-lined tongue sole (Figure 18).
Cynoglossus bilineatus (Lacepède, 1802), NTUM 10599, one specimen, 28.0 mm SL, Papua New Guinea, Madang Province, Madang Lagoon, north of Biliau Island (preserved specimen; photograph: Wei-Jen Chen).
MATERIAL
NTUM 10599, one specimen, 28.0 mm SL, Papua New Guinea, Madang Province, Madang Lagoon, north of Biliau Island, 5°11′48″S 145°48′E, 16 m depth, St. PD 17, NIUGINI 2012 team, 12 November 2012.
DIAGNOSIS
Dorsal rays 111; anal rays 82; caudal-fin rays 12. Eyes with a small scaly interorbital space; snout rounded, rostral hook short; corner of mouth reaching posteriorly beyond lower eye, nearer to gill opening than to tip of snout; two lateral lines on both sides of body; midlateral line scales 89; scales ctenoid on eyed side of body, cycloid on blind side; body depth 4.0 in SL. Body cream, irregular dark blotch on gill cover of eyed side; irregular mottled dorsally and ventrally with brown; blind side white.
DISTRIBUTION
New record from Madang. Outside the area, Persian Gulf east to Philippines, north to southern Japan, south to northern Australia. Known from depths of 16 m.
Symphurus multimaculatus Lee, Munroe & Chen, Reference Lee, Munroe and Chen2009 – Many-spotted tongue sole (Figure 19).
Symphurus multimaculatus Lee, Munroe & Chen, Reference Lee, Munroe and Chen2009, NTUM 10638, one specimen, 57.3 mm SL, Papua New Guinea, Madang Province, Astrolabe Bay, 17 km south of Madang (preserved specimen; photograph: Wei-Jen Chen).
MATERIAL
NTUM 10638, one specimen, 57.3 mm SL, Papua New Guinea, Madang Province, Astrolabe Bay, 17 km south of Madang, 5°22′S 145°48′E, 420–490 m depth, St. CP 4024, R/V Alis, 14 December 2012.
DIAGNOSIS
Dorsal rays 94; anal rays ca. 80; caudal-fin rays 14. Eyes small; midlateral line scales 107; body depth 3.7 in SL. Body cream, eyed side with irregular brown spots; vertebral column shining through as dark line; blind side whitish, with vertebral column shining through as dark line; peritoneum black.
DISTRIBUTION
New record from Madang and New Guinea. Outside the area, Taiwan. Known from depths of 420–490 m.
REMARKS
The collecting depth of the type series was unknown, as it was collected by commercial trawlers; Lee et al. (Reference Lee, Munroe and Chen2009, p. 55) estimated it at 300–400 m.
TETRAODONTIDAE
Tylerius spinosissimus (Regan 1908) – Spiny blaasop (Figure 20).
Tylerius spinosissimus (Regan 1908), NTUM 10612, one specimen, 64.6 mm SL, Papua New Guinea, Morobe Province, Dampier Strait (preserved specimen; photograph: Wei-Jen Chen).
MATERIAL
NTUM 10612, one specimen, 64.6 mm SL, Papua New Guinea, Morobe Province, Dampier Strait between Umboi Island and New Britain, 5°39′S 148°14′E, 280–315 m depth, deep reef with numerous invertebrate species, St. CP 4017, Sarah Samadi, R/V Alis, 12 December 2012.
DIAGNOSIS
Dorsal rays eight; anal rays seven; pectoral rays 16; caudal-fin rays 11. Mouth small, terminal; lateral skinfold missing; lateral line fairly distinct; numerous body spines, two-rooted, moderately dense, extending dorsally and laterally from before nasal organs almost to caudal-fin base, and extending ventrally from chin to anal fin. Body brown, ventrally lighter, back and sides with a diffuse reticulated network.
DISTRIBUTION
New record from Morobe and Papua New Guinea. Outside the area, South Africa east to Philippines, north to Taiwan, south to northern Australia. Known from depths of 250–435 m.
DISCUSSION
The present paper adds 14 fish species to the known fish fauna of Madang. The total number of species known from the region is, therefore, raised to 1350 species. The families Colocongridae and Citharidae are also recorded from Madang for the first time; so a total of 131 families are now known from the region. The description of additional (previously undescribed) species is in preparation.
Two of the new records are highly unusual. Parabembras curtus was previously thought to be restricted to the north-western Pacific Ocean, with Taiwan as the southernmost known occurrence. The species has now been found in Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea, at the lower edge of the previously known depth range. The finding, however, may be due to poor knowledge of the deepwater fish fauna of the tropical Western Pacific, so an occurrence of the species in the Philippines is probable.
The record of Synchiropus orstom from the West Sepik and Sandaun provinces of Papua New Guinea is likewise unexpected, as the species is now known only from the warm temperate Jumeau Seamount south of New Caledonia, and the tropical northern slope of Papua New Guinea. The distribution is probably disjunct, as around the mainland New Caledonia, Chesterfield Islands and eastern Australia, the species is replaced by the closely related species Synchiropus richeri, Synchiropus signipinnis and Synchiropus australis. Usually, closely related species in this group have allopatric distributions. The presence of this cool water species in Papua New Guinea may be related to a temporary cool water upwelling along the northern coast of Papua New Guinea (Kuroda, Reference Kuroda2000; Lee et al., Reference Lee, Fukumori, Menemenlis, Xing and Fu2002; Hasegawa et al., Reference Hasegawa, Ando, Mizuno and Lukas2009).
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The “Our Planet Reviewed” PAPUA NIUGINI Biodiversity Expedition was a joint project of Pro-Natura International (PNI), Muséum National d'Histoire Natureelle, Paris (MNHN), Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD) and the University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG) – the principal investigators were Philippe Bouchet, Claude Payri and Sarah Samadi. The organizers acknowledge funding from the Total Foundation, the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, the Fondation EDF, the Stavros Niarchos Foundation and Entrepose Contracting, Fonds Pacifique, Government of New Caledonia, and the kind support from the Divine Word University (DWU). The expedition operated under a permit delivered by the Papua New Guinea Department of Environment and Conservation. I would like to specifically thank Anthony Berberian (Marseille, France), the medical doctor of the expedition, who made more than 1900 underwater fish photographs available for this project. I would also like to thank Wei-Jen Chen (NTUM) for his hospitality during a visit in Taiwan, and for providing access to the material, catalogue numbers, photographs and information. My gratitude to Sarah Samadi (MNHN, Paris) who provided information on station data and photographs of specimens collected during the PAPUA NIUGINI Biodiversity Expedition.
