Notes on New Zealand Fishes.

In his record of deep-sea fishes of Challenger (vol. 22, pl. 29, fig. a. 1887), Guenther recorded Coelorhynchus parallelus from the Kerdamecs. The type of this species was, however; taken in Japan, so Jordan and Gilbert (Bull. U.S. Fish Comm., vol. 22, p. 619, 1902) have suggested the new name, Coelorhynchus kermadecus.

The following key will serve to separate the four species already mentioned:—

Family Serranidae.
Genus Polyprion Cuvier, 1829.

Two species of Polyprion have been identified in our waters. These are oxygeneios and americanus. The first is peculiar to New Zealand, and the second is widely distributed. On attempting to formulate a table for the ready identification of the indigenous species of Polyprion, I found that the species hitherto regarded as identical with americanus differed from the northern form in one or more important respects. In particular the relations of the pectoral fin, 6th dorsal spine, anal fin and head showed the New Zealand bass to be in a different class to the stone bass of Europe. After examination of numerous hapuku and bass in our local markets my conclusion is that we have in the indigenous bass a new species. This has already been well described by Waite, (Trans. N.Z. Inst., 45, p. 215, pl. 5, 1913), who regarded it as identical with Polyprion americanus. I suggest that Waite's example be regarded as the type of a new species to be known as moeone, the present name in common use among the Maori.

Discussion.—Boulenger (Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., vol. 1, p. 150, 1895), has given a good description of Polyprion americanus. The scales in the lateral line are here 82–90, while in Polyprion moeone this number is generally 96. Both Boulenger and Goode and Bean (Ocean Ichth., p. 238, fig. 238, 1895) give the pectoral as shorter than the ventral in americanus. Waite (loc. cit.) gives the ventral as short, one-third the length of the head. The numbers of fin rays in americanus and mocone appear to be almost identical so that Waite's conclusion that the New Zealand and European bass were identical is not unnatural. In moeone the ventral is smaller than the pectoral in relations varying from 1.2 to 1.35, and in oxygeneios the pectoral is smaller than the ventral in relations varying from 1.1 to 1.25. Odd examples of oxygeneios have been examined in which the lengths of pectorals and ventrals were approximately equal. These were fully adult specimens.

The following is a key to the three species of Polyprion already mentioned:—

• A. First dorsal fin high, the 6th dorsal spine being approximately equal to the length of pectoral.
  b. Pectoral fin shorter than or equal to ventral and less than half the length of head oxygeneois.
  AA. First dorsal fin low, the 6th dorsal spine being distinctly less than length of pectoral.
  bb. Pectoral fin shorter than ventral and half length of head americanus.
  c. Pectoral fin longer than ventral and less than half the length of head moeone.

Family Scorpaenidae.
Genus Sebastodes Gill, 1861.

Sebastodes maccullochi n. sp. (Fig. 2.).

D. 11 + 1 + 13;

C. 5 + 12 + 5;

A. 3 + 5; V. 1 + 5;

P. 11 + 7.

Head is 3.31 in total length or 2 in distance snout to anal. Body compressed and head a little flattened; lower jaw slightly the longer. Maxillary reaches back to posterior margin of eye diameter of which is 4.25 and interorbital space 6.44 in head. Opercular edge clear. Depth at operculum is 4.08 in total length.

Spines: Towards ventral surface posterior to eye are 4 small backwardly directed spines, the topmost being largest. Posterior to the eye and well in from the opercular edge are three more small spines while a further series is on top of head. This latter consists of seven pairs of small spines running above eyes and turning outwards towards the commencement of lateral line. In relation to eye one pair is in front of the anterior edge, three pairs above, one pair above posterior margin, and two behind.

Fins: Dorsal commences above base of the most posteriorly placed spine. Pectoral has a wide scaly base, and is approximately equal to the ventral which commences slightly further back. Caudal is slightly emarginate.

Lateral line commences at upper opercular angle distinctly in advance of dorsal. As far as can be ascertained there are some 36 scales to a point below last dorsal spine and about 60 in lateral line.

Discussion: I place this species provisionally in the genus Sebastodes Gill; but it differs from described examples in that genus in the size of eye and the fewer number of spines in the first dorsal. The arrangement of the spines and general appearance is similar to that of Sebastodes schlegelli (Hilgendorf) figured by Jordan, Tanaka, and Snyder, (Cat. Fish. Japan., Journ. Coll. Sci., Tokyo, p. 233, fig. 167, 1913).

Type: The type was taken from the stomach of a red cod Physciculus bachus secured in Cook Strait in April. The specific name macculochi is given in recognition of help which I have received from the late A. R. McCulloch, of Sydney Museum.

Family Carangidae.
Genus Seriola Cuvier.

Seriola grandis Castlenau. King-fish.

Seriola grandis Castelnau, Proc. Zool. Soc. Vict., 1, p. 114, 1872; ibid., McCulloch, Endeavour. Res. Aust., 3, p. 121, pl. 35, fig. 1, 1915.

Seriola lalandii Cuv. and Val.: Hutton, Cat. N.Z. Fish., p. 17, 1872l ibid., Sherrin, Hand-Book. Fish. N.Z., p. 39; ibid., Sandager, Trans. N.Z. Inst., 20, p. 129, 1888; ibid., Hutton, Trans. N.Z. Inst., 22, p. 278, 1890; and Index Faunae, N.Z., p. 44, 1904.

Seriola lalandi Cuv. and Val.: Waite, Rec. Cant. Mus., 1, p. 23, 1907; ibid., Phillipps, N.Z. Journ. Sci. and Tech., 4, p. 117, No. 30, 1921, and 5, p. 93, No. 30, 1922.

Jordan and Evermann (Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus., 47, p. 901, pl. 140, 1896) separate the four species of Seriola in North America on relative numbers of dorsal rays (36 to 38 and 30 to 40), the size of the maxilla and relative depths. The species lalandi, has D. 1 + 34 and A. 1+27; head 3 ¾ to 4 ¼; depth 3 ½ to 3 ¾; and maxilla reaching to middle of pupil, while “dumerili” has a deeper body (3 in length) and grows to a smaller size, but is otherwise closely related to lalandi.

McCulloch (1915, loc. cit.) has described Seriola grandis Castelnau. This species has depth 4.6 in the length from the premaxillary symphysis to the end of the middle caudal lobes, and head 3.9 to 4.2 in the same. McCulloch states: This species has been confused with the Atlantic S. lalandi Cuv. and Val.; but it differs from Jordon and Evermann's^* figure of that species in being more slender and in having the proper profile of the head less convex. It is possibly identical with S. aureovittata Schlegel as suggested by McCoy, but the illustrations of that species indicate that the Japanese fish is somewhat deeper in form than the Australian one.

The accompanying figure (Fig. 3) is taken from a drawing by Clarke hitherto unlabelled. This is undoubtedly a representation of the New Zealand species of Seriola. The tail is distinctly yellow and the upper surface deep blue. The iris of the eye is golden and the undersurface white. The following descriptive material is taken from the drawing:—

D. 6 + 1 + 33; C. 18; A. 3 + 21; V. 1 + 5; P. 22. The head is 4.24 in total length or 3.84 in length to caudal constriction. Maxilla reaches to beneath anterior half of eye; but not as far back as centre of pupil. Depth at operculum is 5.15 and depth at 2nd dorsal 4.79 in total length.

in Cook Strait, being rare as far south as Otago. I have recorded it in Wellington markets during January, February and March. It is fairly common in Auckland except from June to October, when it is rare. Sandager (loc. cit.) writes: “Very few are caught during October, November and December. It probably spawns about this time. The largest I have caught measured 4ft. 7 ½ inches in total length.”

Family Sparidae.
Genus Sparus Linn., 1758.

Sparus hamiltoni n. sp. (Fig. 4).

D. 14 + 14; C. 16; A. 3 + 11; V. 1 + 15; P. 18. L. lat 69.

Head is 5; depth at dorsal origin 3.21; depth at anal origin 3.07 in total length. Eye is 4.55 and snout 3.12 in head. Mouth small, maxilla not reaching back as far as anterior margin of orbit; jaws sub-equal, and upper profile rounded. Body compressed.

Dorsal originates at a point behind opercular edge 4.55 in total length, spines increasing to 6th which is three times height of 1st, and is contained 1.48 in 6th soft dorsal ray. Dorsal reaches further back than anal which commences beneath posterior dorsal spines. Caudal deeply emarginate. Pectoral reaches to over half the length of ventral, which is 1.58 in distance from its origin to anal.

Teeth are tri-dentate in outer series in both jaws with smaller similar teeth behind. There are 8–9 scales between lateral line and second dorsal. Total length 250 mm.

This species is common in Hauraki Gulf. Numerous young were collected in rock pools at Poor Knights Islands by Messrs. W. R. B. Oliver and H. Hamilton. In Australia the genus Sparus is represented by the two species australis and sarba. S. australis is the famous black bream which grows to 22 inches and weighs 7 ¼ lbs and of which Stead (Edible Fishes of N.S.W., p. 77, pl. 46, 1908), says:—“A weight of about 1,350,000 pounds is at present sold annually through the fish markets of New South Wales.” The tarwhine, Sparus sarba, more nearly resembles the species above described, but differs in several important respects, some of which are the distinctly longer pectoral, shorter ventral and smaller number of rays in the second dorsal.

Family Gobiesocidae.
Genus Trachelochismus Brisson, 1846.

Trachelochismus melobesia, n. sp. (Fig. 5).

D. 10; C. (about 12); A. 8; V. 3; P. 10.

Teeth in both jaws, those in lower being much larger than in in upper; 3 gills with half a gill in front. Lips thick; angle of mouth in front of anterior margin of eye diameter of which is equal to inter-orbital space and greater than half vert. distance eye to

snout. Eyelids present. Head wide and flattened dorso-ventrally, being 3.11 in total length or 2.64 in length to base of caudal. The greatest width of head 5 mm. from snout is 1.2 in head or 3.73 in total length.

Body flattened dorso-ventrally anteriorly and compressed posteriorly; its width tapering from head to caudal peduncle. Sucking apparatus on under surface consisting of circular disc and fused ventrals in front of it. Sucking disc is 7 in total length or more than half distance to snout. Ventral rays fused, three being visible under microscope. Anus nearer tip of caudal than snout; dorsal origin in advance of anal and 1.67 in total length. Pectorals large and rounded.

Colour: General ground colour is rose-pink tending to scarlet on the tail and fins. The undersurface is pink with yellowish tinges on the adhesive apparatus. A deep reddish-purple patch covers most of the dorsal surface. This patch extends from behind the eyes to the dorsal origin and has running across it anteriorly a dotted pattern, behind which are two fairly wide cross bars of reddish brown.

Occurrence: Numerous specimens the largest of which do not exceed 30 mm. were secured by Mr. W. R. B. Oliver in rock pools at Makara near Wellington. The species, though so long undescribed, is apparently quite common on the underside of rocks in beach pools on the westerly coasts of Wellington. The specific name has particular reference to the rose-coloured patch by which the species may readily be distinguished. The above description was taken from an example 28 mm. long.

Discussion: The “Synopsis of the Genera of the Family “Gobiesocidae” as supplied by Guenther (Cat. Fish. B.M., vol. 3, p. 490, 1861), would make the present species to be most probably a member of the genus Trachelochismus; but its distinctive large dorsal and anal and smaller number of ventral rays may later compel its separation from this typically southern genus.

Family Leptoscopidae.

Two species belonging to separate genera are found in New Zealand. These are:—Leptoscopus macropygus (Richardson) and Crapatalus novae-zelandiae Guenther. For the separation of the genera, McCulloch, (Check-list, Fish, N.S.W., p. 102, 1921), supplies the following key:—

Crapatalus is the more elongate, the head (including lower jaw) being over 4 ½ in total length. In Leptoscopus this measurement is under 4. Both have Br. 6; V. 1 + 5; and C. 14, and are closely related genera. It is of interest to note that C. novae-zelandiae and

L. macropygus have each been taken in fresh water. This is probably a periodic migration.

Family Leptoscopidae.
Genus Crapatalus Guenther, 1861.

Crapatalus novae-zelandiae Guenther. Sand-fish (Fig. 6).

Crapatalus novae-zelandiae Guenther, A.M.N.H., 7 ser. 3, p. 87, 1861; ibid., Hutton, Trans. N.Z. Inst., 8, p. 212, 1876; ibid., Gill, Mem. Nat. Acad. Sci., 6, p. 118, 1893; ibid., Waite, Rec. Cant. Mus., 1, p. 239, 1911.

Leptoscopus angusticeps Hector, Trans. N.Z. Inst., 6, p. 106, pl. 19, 1874.

Leptoscopus robsoni Hector, Trans. N.Z. Inst., 7, p. 248, 1875.

Leptoscopus canis, Arthur, Trans. N.Z. Inst., 17, p. 165, pl. 14, 1885.

This species is well described by Waite (Rec. Cant. Mus., 1, p. 239, 1911). I found the sand-fish to be not uncommon at Greymouth and Hokitika, and am now informed that it is a good edible species. Clarke has attached to his figure of the species the following:—D. 33; P. 1+20; V. 1+5; A. 39; C. 14; B. 6. Considerable variation may be evident in individual examples; but as a general rule head is 4.8 in total length, dorsal days do not exceed 35 and ventral does not reach back to anal.

Genus Leptoscopus Gill, 1859.

Leptoscopus macropygus (Richardson). Star-gazer. (Fig. 7).

Uranoscopus macropygus Richardson, Voy. Ereb. and Terr., p. 55, 1846.

Uranoscopus maculatus Richardson, in Dieffenbach's Travels N.Z., 2, p. 207.

Leptoscopus huttonii Haast, Trans. N.Z. Inst., 5, p. 275, pl. 16.

Leptoscopus tricolor Haast, Trans. N.Z. Inst., 5, p. 276.

Leptoscopus macropygus Rich.: Hutton, Trans. N.Z. Inst., 6, p. 106, 1874; ibid., Waite, Rec. Cant. Mus., 1, p. 29, 1907; ibid., Phillipps, N.Z. Journ. Sci. and Tech., 4, p. 123, 1921; ibid., Thomson, Hist. Portobello Fish Hatch., p. 92, 1921.

D 31–32; C. 14; V. 1 + 5; A. 36–37; P. 1 + 18.

Head (inclusive of lower jaw) 3.75 in total length or less than half height. Head flattened, cyes being on dorsal surface, diameter of eye 2 in pre-oral length. Dorsal originates above middle of pectoral which has 7th ray 1.21 in head. Pectoral well developed and distinctly pointed at 7th ray. Caudal approx. half the head, distinct, and slightly rounded. Anal commences slightly behind and ventral in advance of pectoral origin. Snout to ventral origin is 1.83 in

snout to opercular margin and less than caudal. Anal reaches to procurrent caudal rays.

Tail compressed; depth of caudal peduncle being equal to posterior margin of eye to snout. Pectoral extends to 7th dorsal ray. Lateral line conspicuous arising above operculum, dark olive throughout, scales leaf-shaped with a central ridge.

The star-gazer (Leptoscopus macropygus) is one of our common food-fishes. It is most abundant on the large stretch of sandy trawling area off Westport, Hokitika and Greymouth, being commonly seen exposed for sale in the latter town. The species is also not uncommon at Napier; but does not seem to be in demand as a food fish. Large examples may be over 2 feet long; but the average size is not more than half this.

Family Parapercidae.
Genus Parapercis Bleeker, 1863.

Parapercis colias (Forster). Blue cod. (Fig. 8).

Gadus colias Forster in Block and Schn., Syst. Ichth., p. 54, 1801.

Percis colias Forster: Richardson, in Dieffenbach, Travels in N.Z., 2, p. 207, 1843; ibid., Hutton, Fishes of N.Z., p. 25, fig. 38, 1872; Trans. N.Z. Inst., 22, p. 279, 1890; ibid., Sandager, Trans. N.Z. Inst., 20, p. 129, 1888.

Parapercis colias Forster: Gill, Mem. Nat. Acad. Sci., 6, pp. 99 and 118, 1893; ibid., Hutton, Index Faunae, N.Z., p. 43, 1904; ibid., Waite, Rec. Cant. Mus., 1, p. 29, 1907 and 1, p. 244, 1911; ibid., Phillipps, N.Z. Journ. Sci. and Tech., 1, p. 270, 1918; 4, p. 123, 1921; 5, p. 96, 1922; ibid., G. M. Thomson, Hist. Portobello Fish Hatch., p. 92, 1921.

D. 5 + 21; C. 5 + 14 + 5; A. 1 + 16; V. 1 + 5; P. 1 + 18; B. 6; L. lat. 66.

Head is 3.83 and height of body at dorsal origin 5.05 in total length. Lower jaw is slightly longer and maxilla does not extend to vert. beneath anterior margin of eye. Interorbital space 3.54 and anterior margin of eye to snout 2.47 in head. Eye is oval, its greatest diameter being 2 in inter-orbital space. Body is compressed and head flattened to some degree, the depth at caudal peduncle being 2.5 in depth at dorsal origin or 3.3 in head.

Teeth: In each jaw is a strong outer pointed series. Behind this is a broad band of villiform teeth more or less well developed. This band tapers posteriorly in both jaws and is very broad in front, being much more pronounced in upper jaw than in lower.

Fins: Dorsal commences slightly posterior to opercular edge, the first soft ray being 1.5 in height at origin. Caudal slightly rounded, its length being 1.5 times depth of caudal peduncle. Anal commences slightly in advance of posterior margin of pectoral at a point distinctly nearer snout than tail and 2.11 in total length. Pectoral large

and more or less rounded, the third ray being 1.07 in height at its origin.

Scales denticulate, covering body and part of cheeks and opercles. Lateral line bowed over and behind pectoral, extending along median line to base of caudal. Snout and ventral surface of head naked.

Probably on account of its being one of the most common food fishes, no adequate recent description of the blue cod has appeared. The above description was written from measurements and examination of an example 379 mm. long. Clarke's figure of a Hokitika example published herewith shows a blue cod with a distinctly less deep caudal peduncle.

Large groups of blue cod from 300 to 390 mm. are not uncommon in Wellington markets. Most of these appear to come from the Chatham Islands. Another size group 30 to 60 mm. less is also commonly taken in the vicinity of French Pass.

Family Ostraciidae.
Genus Ostracion Linnaeus, 1758.

Ostracion hexagonus, n. sp. (Fig. 9).

Head is 3.13 in total length or nearly 4 in length to commencement of caudal. Depth of body at centre of eye 2.5 nearly in total length, or just over three times the longitudinal axis of the orbit. Distance from eye to snout greater than half the length of head and equal longitudinal axis of orbit. Vertical diameter of eye is contained just over 9 times in total length. Dorsal surface flattened in dried specimen, interorbital space being equal to length of head, and at a point twice this length from snout being equal across its plane surface with the vertical distance at the same point between lateral and ventral ridges. The lateral and dorsal ridges on each side are more clos together.

Fins: The dorsal is missing. The anal had about 15 rays in the adult though only 7 are present in specimen, the others having been broken off. Caudal 10 rays. Pectoral missing. Dorsal had its origin in the posterior portion of the dorsal surface at a point three-quarters the length of body from snout. The anus is underneath with the anal commencing slightly further back than the dorsal. Pectoral commences under posterior portion of eye.

Teeth: Prominent in the upper and outer row are three teeth on each side. A space is between the anterior pair and reveals another tooth behind. All teeth are of a dark brown colour. Each in front in upper jaw is incisor-shaped, small and closely fitted. In front, in the middle of the mandible, two teeth are prominent. These are at least twice as long as those at the sides in the upper jaw and bite on teeth in front in second upper row. The set nature of the carapace and small mouth prevents further examination without complete destruction of considerable part of head.