© Copyright Australian Museum, 2006 Records of the Australian Museum (2006) Vol. 58: 37-42. ISSN 0067-1975 Ebinania australiae, a New Species of Fathead Sculpin from Southern Australia (Scorpaeniformes: Psychrolutidae) Keith L. Jackson and Joseph S. Nelson* Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E9, Canada [email protected] • [email protected] Abstract. A sixth species of Ebinania is described from nine specimens collected at depths of 982- 1170 off southern Australia. Eight of the specimens were from the vicinity of Tasmania and the nearby mainland, and the ninth is from near Perth, Western Australia. The new species differs from its congeners in having cirri on the head, well-developed orbital rims, cranial arch 3 twisted upwards, prevomerine teeth in a continuous band, a single terminal chin pore, obsolete lateral line pores, and an overall pale colour. This is the third species of psychrolutid known from off continental Australia. Variation in important characters used in diagnosis of species of Ebinania is reported and problems of the characters in diagnosing these species are discussed. A key to species of Ebinania is provided. Jackson, Keith L., & Joseph S. Nelson, 2006. Ebinania australiae, a new species of fathead sculpin from southern Australia (Scorpaeniformes: Psychrolutidae). Records of the Australian Museum 58(1): 37-42. Introduction Materials and methods The genus Ebinania was erected for a new psychrolutid Counts and measurements follow Nelson (1980). Measure¬ from Japan, E. vermiculata, by Sakamoto (1932). Ebinania ments of soft anatomy are approximate because of the easily remained monotypic until Nelson (1982) reassigned E. distorted bodies of these fish. Vertebral counts were obtained brephocephala (Jordan & Starks, 1903) and E. costae - from radiographs. Osteology follows Jackson & Nelson canariae (Cervigon, 1961) from Cottunculus, and described (1998) except that the tabulars and supratemporals are two new species, E. macquariensis and E. malacocephala. referred to as extrascapulars, following Harrington (1955), Since then, no other species have been assigned to Ebinania. and further named according to their associated sensory Psychrolutids have been known from off continental canal. The extrascapular supporting the lateral portion of Australia since Psychrolutes marcidus (McCulloch, 1926) the supratemporal canal is the lateral extrascapular, and the was described from off southeastern Australia. Until now, extrascapular supporting the transverse portion of this canal only one other psychrolutid, Psychrolutes occidentalis is the transverse extrascapular. Although arches 5 and 6 are Fricke, 1990, has been found off continental Australia (off lateral and transverse extrascapulars, respectively, they are northeastern Australia). Herein we describe a new species referred to by their arch designation herein to facilitate of Ebinania from off Australia’s southern coast. comparison with previous psychrolutid work. Type specimens are deposited in the Australian National Fish Collection (formerly the I.S.R. Munro Ichthyological * author for correspondence www.amonline.net.au/pdf/publications/1461_complete.pdf 38 Records of the Australian Museum (2006) Vol. 58 Collection), Hobart, Tasmania (CSIRO) and the Museum T 506, 406 mm SL, data same as T 502; CSIRO T 536, 285 of Victoria, Australia (NMV). Institutional abbreviations mm SL, off Cape Martin, South Australia, 37°51'S 139°40'E follow Leviton et al. (1985). to 37°48'S 139°33'E, 1007-960 m, 25 April 1983; NMV A1977,112 mm SL, off Cape Naturaliste, Western Australia, Genus Ebinania Sakamoto, 1932 33°17.9'S 114°12.6'E to 33°15.8’S 114°1U'E, 982 m, 14 February 1991; NMV A2741, 358 mm SL, off Cape Diagnosis. Species of Ebinania, Neophrynichthys, and Bridgewater, Victoria, Australia, 38°36'S 140°59'E to Psychrolutes (collectively Psychrolutinae) are distinguished 38°38'S 141°07'E, 1040-1170 m, 27 June 1982; NMV from other psychrolutids in sharing a soft interorbit with A2758, 284 mm SL, off Cape Bridgewater, Victoria, the frontal laterally expanded to form a thin flexible orbital Australia, 38°38'S 141°04'Eto 38°35'S 140°56’E, 990-1100 rim (Jackson & Nelson, 1998). Species of Ebinania differ m, 27 June 1982. from those of Neophrynichthys and Psychrolutes in having prevomerine teeth. Diagnosis. A species of Ebinania with cirri on the head, well-developed thin and flexible orbital rims, cranial Ebinania australiae n.sp. (frontal) arch 3 high and twisted upwards, prevomerine teeth in a continuous band, a single terminal chin pore, obsolete Figs 1-2, Tables 1-2 lateral line pores, and an overall pale colour. Type material. Holotype, CSIRO T 412,206 mm Standard Description. Ratios and counts are given in Tables 1 and 2. Length (SL), off Cape Sorell, Tasmania, 42°16'S 144°40'E Body tadpole shaped. Head large, trunk short and tapering to 42°22'S 144°42'E, 991-548 m, 14 July 1982. Paratypes: to a small tail. Head depressed at orbits and sloping dorsally CSIRO T 502, 218 mm SL, off Beachport, South Australia, to a moderately depressed nape. Trunk round, tapering to a 37°54'S 139°40'E to 37°50’S 139°36’E, 1000-1000 m, 3 moderately compressed peduncle. Orbits forward, snout April 1983; CSIRO T 504, 296 mm SL, data same as T blunt and wide. Interorbit wide and soft. Mouth large, 502; CSIRO T 505, 266 mm SL, data same as T 502; CSIRO terminal, and oblique. Jaws equal or upper jaw slightly Fig. 1. Holotype of Ebinania australiae, CSIRO T 412, 206 mm standard length. Top: dorsal aspect, bottom: lateral aspect. Scale: 10 mm. Jackson & Nelson: New fathead sculpin from Australia 39 Fig. 2. Superficial cranium of Ebinania australiae, CSIRO T 505. Top: dorsal aspect, bottom: lateral aspect. Scale: 10 mm. A1-A6, cranial arches 1-6; 101-5, infraorbitals 1-5; LES, lateral extrascapular; N, nasal; OP, opercular; PREOP, preopercular; PT, posttemporal; SCL, supracleithrum; SOP, subopercular; SS, suborbital (infraorbital) stay; TES, transverse extrascapular. protruding. Premaxilla and dentary with a band of villiform All fins covered with loose skin. Dorsal fin without a teeth in 5-6 (premaxilla) and 4-5 (dentary) irregular rows; deep notch between spinous and soft rayed parts. Dorsal prevomer with villiform teeth in a contiguous band of 2-3 fin spines barely discernible externally, with only minute irregular rows. Skin thin, gelatinous, very loose, and smooth nibs at the top of the embedded flabby fin. Lower pectoral (lacking prickles). Cirri small, simple or multiheaded, and fin with notches between ray tips. Caudal fin truncate. present around the jaw and less frequently on the snout and Colour in alcohol very pale amber-brown. Irregular large- head where magnification may be required to detect them. scale mottling apparent, though differences between darkest Anterior nostril raised on a tube, posterior nostril flush or and lightest areas slight; pectoral fins darkest. Peritoneum only slightly raised on a tube. Terminal chin pore fused and brown with dark flecks. minute. Lateral line pores obsolete. Frontals laterally expanded into a thin orbital rim. Frontal 40 Records of the Australian Museum (2006) Vol. 58 with four large arches. All arches, particularly arch 3, are Table 2. Ratios of Ebinania australiae given as percent of standard strongly bilaterally asymmetric. Arch 3 high and twisted length. Sample size was 9 (holotype and 8 paratypes) for all upwards. Arch 5 (anteriormost lateral extrascapular) borne measurements except for soft tissue snout length (n = 7). upon and fused with pterotic. Arch 6 (medialmost transverse extrascapular) free from parietal. Five infraorbitals, first three well developed and articulated to form a suborbital mean range bar, third with a stay extending to preopercle, last two simple standard length (mm) 270 112-406 and free tubular bones. Extrascapulars and posterior tubular body depth 27.5 23.5-32.5 infraorbitals each with a delicate or incomplete arch. peduncle depth 6.91 5.91-8.23 head length 40.8 34.6-49.5 Variation. Nine specimens of Ebinania australiae, four of head width 36.4 29.4-40.7 E. brephocephala, and two of E. vermiculata were interorbital width* 14.1 11.7-16.1 examined. Morphometric and meristic data were also noted upper jaw length 19.0 17.9-20.5 from Nelson (1982) and Quero (2001). Variation of counts snout length 9.25 6.56-11.1 for all species of Ebinania is shown in Table 1. No single snout length* 12.9 11.9-13.6 meristic trait or combination of meristic traits separates any orbit diameter 10.8 9.46-11.8 of the species of Ebinania. However, when more specimens eye diameter* 5.21 3.84-6.16 are available, pectoral fin ray counts may prove useful in Measured to edge of skin that covers much of the eye. separating species of this genus as they have been with the genus Neophrynichthys (Jackson & Nelson, 2000). Pectoral fin ray counts vary from 19 to 24 amongst the species of amongst 12 specimens of E. vermiculata. It is possible that Ebinania (Table 1). Specimens of E. vermiculata span the Watanabe’s (1960) counts may be low because the upper entire range of the genus in pectoral counts: the two rays of the pectoral fin are very closely spaced and must be specimens of E. vermiculata examined here had 21 and 24 counted after dissection of the skin at the pectoral base. rays, Sakamoto (1932) counted 22 pectoral rays on the Morphometric variation is great (Table 2), probably because holotype, and Watanabe (1960) counted 19 to 21 rays of the easily distortable nature of these fishes’ bodies. The morphometries of the nine specimens of Ebinania australiae overlap with those of the other species of Ebinania, and no Table 1. Vertebral and fin counts of Ebinania australiae and morphometric character is useful for the diagnosis. comparison with counts of other species of Ebinania. Number of Two traits used in the diagnosis of Ebinania australiae specimens observed with a particular count given for E. australiae. were observed to vary within some species: condition of Specimens unknown for a given count indicated with a dash (—). Specimens known from literature and additional material the terminal chin pore and arrangement of the prevomerine examined with a given count indicated with a plus (+). Specimens teeth. All specimens of E. australiae examined had the known from literature with a given, though questionable, count terminal chin pore fused and medial, as opposed to paired. indicated with a question mark (?). Although chin pore state has not been reported to vary within the other species of Ebinania, it varied in the specimens of E. brephocephala we examined (fused in HUMZ 74774, 1•G2 -2-G&GG2 •GgGeGGG2 ..'jGgeGao -&G82 22.GS3 upclsaeeiarder edhd e inrae niHdn Us(tMiani Znce od7n 4js7up8ne4cc,ti imoanenn dws )ii.n thdT ehcteeo rlmsotuainrte)a botolfe tshienips a thpraeot reet w Eios. <Gs< aSi. £tGGo5 GGG^ 22 SG raeulsiatrballei aief iftr iosm fo Eu.n vde trom vicauryla tian’ ,e hitohwere voef rt,h tehsies tmwaoy s npoect ibees count bj 2 2 as it does in E. brephocephala. All specimens of E. australiae examined had prevomerine teeth in a continuous vertebrae 31 2 + — — + — band, as opposed to in two blocks separated by a distinct 32 7 33 — — + — + gap. Although the prevomerine teeth state has not been dorsal spines of. 9 reported to vary within the other species of Ebinania, 7 7 — — + + — variation was observed in the two specimens of E. 8 — + + — — + vermiculata, with teeth in two distinct blocks in HUMZ Qy 11 34249 and teeth in a continuous band with only a slight dorsal rays 15 1 + — — — medial constriction in HUMZ 78141. The condition of the 16 1 — + — — + prevomerine teeth is used herein to separate E. australiae 17 5 — — — + + from E. brephocephala and E. costaecanariae\ other 18 2 — — + — — characters separate these two species should prevomerine anal rays 11 + teeth be found to vary. 12 3 — — + + + 13 5 + + — — — Ebinania australiae is distinguished from E. brepho¬ 14 1 + — — — — cephala and E. costaecanariae in having cirri on the head pectoral rays 19 — + — — — ? and prevomerine teeth in a continuous band as opposed to 20 — + — — + ? two patches separated by a distinct gap at the symphysis. It is 21 3 — — — — + distinguished from E. macquariensis in having well-developed 22 6 — + — — + orbital rims and cranial arch 3 high and twisted upwards as 23 opposed to low and flat. It is distinguished from E. 24 z z z + z + malacocephala in having obsolete lateral line pores rather than Jackson & Nelson: New fathead sculpin from Australia 41 pores raised in tubules and prevomerine teeth in a continuous carefully because of the large degree of plasticity in the band. It is distinguished from E. vermiculata in having a development of these arches within this genus, and because single terminal chin pore and an overall light grey brown this species was described from a single specimen. The body colour as opposed to a medium brown blotchy colour. prevomerine teeth of E. australiae are like those of E. macquariensis and one specimen of E. vermiculata Distribution. Ebinania australiae is known from southern examined, with these teeth being in a continuous band versus Australia off the tip of Western Australia (one specimen), in two separate elliptical blocks as in the other specimen of off southern South Australia and Victoria (7 specimens), E. vermiculata and other species of Ebinania. The terminal and off Tasmania (one specimen) at 982-1170 m (Fig. 3). chin pore is paired in the holotype of the Japanese E. The geographically closest congeneric species of Ebinania brephocephala (Kurt Bruwelheide, NMNH, pers. comm., australiae is E. macquariensis from Macquarie Island, 1500 though variable in the specimens examined here) and E. km southeast of Tasmania, and the next closest species is vermiculata, and single in all other species of Ebinania. E. malacocephala from the far southern middle Pacific Lateral line pores amongst most species of Ebinania are (54°49.5'S 129°47'W) (both described by Nelson, 1982). Two not apparent, although in one species, E. malacocephala, species, E. brephocephala and Is. vermiculata, are known from these pores are well developed and raised in tubules. In the Northwest Pacific off Japan. The sixth species of Ebinania, colouration, E. costaecanariae stands out with its overall E. costaecanariae is known from the eastern Atlantic off dark pigmentation. As its name implies, E. vermiculata has Spain (Quero, 2001) and Africa (Nelson, 1982). vermiculated pigmentation, although some pattern is also apparent to a lesser and fainter degree in E. brephocephala and E. australiae (and probably also in E. macquariensis and E. malacocephala-. Nelson, 1982). Taken individually, the above mentioned characters distinguish three species of Ebinania-. E. costaecanariae (deep colouration), E. macquariensis (narrow interorbit), and E. malacocephala (lateral line pores raised on tubules). The remaining three species are distinguished by combinations of characters, as is E. australiae in its diagnosis above. Morphologically, the new species appears to be most similar to E. macquariensis, differing from it only in the condition of the cranium (interorbit), and to E. vermiculata, differing from it in the condition of the terminal chin pore and colouration. Geographically, Ebinania australiae is isolated from its nearest congeners. It is more than 1500 km from E. macquariensis. The next closest species, E. malacocephala, is considerably more isolated in the extreme southern- central Pacific. For the most part, continental waters connect Fig. 3. Locality records for Ebinania australiae. Australia with Southeast Asia, and Japan, where E. brephocephala and E. vermiculata occur. The sixth and most geographically distant species, E. costaecanariae, has the Etymology. The specific name australiae refers to the known widest geographic range within the genus, being found from occurrence of this species. Given the paucity of outwardly northern Spain to southern Africa. Liparoides beauchampi, apparent specific characteristics within this genus, geographic possibly a species of Ebinania, was collected off India, but names seem fitting for newly described allopatric species of unfortunately, the holotype of this enigmatic species is lost this wide ranging genus. Gender feminine. (Stein, 1978). Ebinania australiae fits the generic diagnosis for Discussion Ebinania and does not challenge the validity of its subfamily or family. This new species brings the number of Ebinania australiae is the sixth species to be assigned to psychrolutids known from off continental Australia to three, the genus Ebinania. The species of this genus differ little Psychrolutes marcidus (McCulloch, 1926), Psychrolutes from each other. In skin ornamentation, cirri are notably occidentalis Fricke, 1990, and now Ebinania australiae. reduced to microscopic proportions in E. brephocephala Two other psychrolutids, Ambophthalmos magnicirrus and and E. costaecanariae. Cirri of varying length and of Ebinania macquariensis are known from Macquarie Island, irregular pattern are present in the other four species of Australia. The family now includes 34 species. Two of the Ebinania, and they cannot be used to distinguish these four three species found off continental Australia were described species from each other. Five of the six species have very within the last 15 years and five of the six New Zealand similar crania, and only E. macquariensis is markedly psychrolutids were described since 1977 (Jackson & Nelson, different in this regard, with a relatively narrow interorbit 2000). The Southern Hemisphere is a fertile ground for in which the frontals are not greatly expanded into orbital discovery of new psychrolutids; material from a new rims. Nelson (1982) also noted the condition of cranial arch locality, possibly Psychrolutes microporos, has already been 3 as being unique in E. macquariensis: low and flat versus collected from the Lord Howe Plateau and Wanganella Bank high and twisted upwards. This character should be treated east of Australia (Martin Gomon, NMV, pers. comm.). 42 Records of the Australian Museum (2006) Vol. 58 Key to the species of Ebinania 1 Cirri, if present, microscopic on head and body; prevomerine teeth in two patches in adults. 2 Short cirri on head; prevomerine teeth continuous or in two patches. 3 2 Dorsal rays 24-25; pectoral rays 22-24; fresh colour dark brown to black. Ebinania costaecanariae (Cervigon, 1961) -Dorsal rays 20-23; pectoral rays 17-19; fresh colour light brown . Ebinania brephocephala (Jordan & Starks, 1903) 3 Lateral line pores distinct; prevomerine teeth in two patches in adults; pectoral rays about 20. Ebinania malacocephala Nelson, 1982 -Lateral line pores obsolete; prevomerine teeth continuous; pectoral rays usually more than 20. 4 4 Paired chin pores. Ebinania vermiculata Sakamoto, 1932 -Terminal chin pore. 5 5 Cranial arches 2 and 3 distant from edge of well-developed orbital rim; pectoral rays 21-22. Ebinania australiae n.sp. —-— Cranial arches 2 and 3 close to edge of orbital rim; pectoral rays 24. Ebinania macquariensis Nelson, 1982 Comparative material examined Jackson, K.L., & J.S. Nelson, 2000. Neophrynichthys heterospilos, a new species of fathead sculpin (Scorpaeniformes: Ebinania brephocephala: HUMZ 51823, cleared and Psychrolutidae) from New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of stained, Owase, Mie, Japan, 350 m, 13 March 1976; HUMZ Marine and Freshwater Research 34: 719-726. 52187, cleared and stained, Japan, 25 March 1976; HUMZ Jordan, D.S., & E.C. Starks, 1903. Description of a new species 74774, 110 mm SL, Kochi, Japan; HUMZ 74784, 108 mm of sculpin from Japan. Proceedings of the United States National Museum 26: 689-690. SL, Kochi, Japan. Ebinania vermiculata: HUMZ 34249, Leviton, A.E., R.H. Gibbs Jr, E. Heal & C.E. Dawson, 1985. 302 mm SL, 42°1.0’N 143°43.6'E, 380 m, 18 April 1974; Standards in ichthyology and herpetology: Part 1. Standard HUMZ 78141, 232 mm SL, 39°10.3’N 142°25.0’E, 1000 symbolic codes for institutional resource collections in m, 19 August 1978. herpetology and ichthyology. Copeia 1985: 802-832. McCulloch, A.R., 1926. Report on some fishes obtained by th F.I.S. “Endeavour” on the coasts of Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, South and southwestern Australia. Endeavour 5: 155-216. Acknowledgments. We thank D.J. Bray and M.E Gomon, Nelson, J.S., 1980. Psychrolutes sio, a new psychrolutid fish (NMV) and A. Graham and P. Last (CSIRO) for the loan of (Scorpaeniformes) from the southeastern Pacific. Canadian specimens and earlier information on their existence. The skull Journal of Zoology 58: 443-449. drawings were made by A. Mobach. This study was supported by Nelson, J.S., 1982. Two new south Pacific fishes of the genus Ebinania grant A5457 of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research and contributions to the systematics of Psychrolutidae Council of Canada. (Scorpaeniformes). Canadian Journal of Zoology 60:1470-1504. Quero, J.-C., 2001. Premier signalment d’Ebinania costae¬ canariae (Scorpaeniformes: Psychrolutidae) en Atlantique nord-est et distribution bathymetrique de Cottunculus References thomsonii. Cybium 25: 177-180. [In French with English abstract]. Cervigon, F., 1961. Description de Anodontus mauritanicus nov. Sakamoto, K., 1932. Two new genera and species of cottoid fishes gen. nov. sp. (orden Ateleopiformes) y Cottunculus costae¬ from Japan. Journal of the Imperial Fisheries Institute of Japan canariae nov. sp. (familia Cottidae) de las costas occidentales 27: 1-6. de Africa. Investigacion Pesquera 19: 119-128. [In Spanish]. Stein, D.L., 1978. Liparoides beauchampi not a cyclopterid but Fricke, R., 1990. A new species of Psychrolutid fish from western probably a cottid. Copeia 1978: 377-378. Australia. Japanese Journal of Ichthyology 36: 404^-09. Watanabe, M., 1960. Fauna Japonica Cottidae (Pisces). Harrington Jr, R.W., 1955. The osteocranium of the American Biogeographical Society of Japan. Tokyo: National Science cyprinid fish, Notropis bifrenatus, with an annotated synonymy Museum. of teleost skull bones. Copeia 1955: 267-290. Jackson, K.L., & J.S. Nelson, 1998. Ambophthalmos, a new genus for “Neophrynichthys” angustus and “N.” magnicirrus, and Manuscript submitted 4 February 2005, revised 21 June 2005 and the systematic interrelationships of the fathead sculpins accepted 1 July 2005. (Cottoidei, Psychrolutidae). Canadian Journal of Zoology 76: 1344-1357. Associate Editor: Jeff M. Leis