Thursday, November 1, 2018

[Ichthyology • 2018] Review of the Batfish Genus Halicmetus Alcock, 1891 (Lophiiformes: Ogcocephalidae) from Australian Waters, with Descriptions of Two New Species; Halicmetus westraliensis & H. drypus


Halicmetus westraliensis 
 Ho & Last. 2018


Abstract
A taxonomic review of species of the Indo–Pacific batfish genus Halicmetus occurring in the Australian Exclusive Economic Zone is provided. Treatments of six species in the region, including diagnoses of the widespread Halicmetus niger Ho, Endo & Sakamaki, 2008, H. reticulatus Smith & Radcliffe, 1912 and H. ruber Alcock 1891, a reclassification of the poorly known H. marmoratus Weber, 1913, and descriptions of two new speciesHalicmetus westraliensis n. sp. (an Australian endemic) and H. drypus n. sp. (from the northern sector of the Australian Exclusive Economic Zone off Norfolk Island). The Australian species can be distinguished from each other and regional congeners by a combination of morphometrics, meristics and colouration. A key is provided for all known species of the genus.

Keywords: Pisces, taxonomy, review, Halicmetus, new species, Australia


Halicmetus Alcock 
Halicmetus Alcock, 1891:27. 

Type species: Halicmetus ruber Alcock, 1891, by monotypy.
....

Valid species. Halicmetus is represented in the Indo–Pacific by six valid nominal taxa: 
H. drypus n. sp., H. marmoratus Weber, 1913, H. niger Ho, Endo & Sakamaki, 2008, H. reticulatus Smith & Radcliffe, 1912, H. ruber Alcock, 1891, and H. westraliensis n. sp., and one undescribed species, H. cf. ruber (sensu Ho et al., 2008).


Halicmetus westraliensis sp. nov.,
CSIRO CA3647, holotype, 68.4 mm SL. 

Halicmetus westraliensis sp. nov. 
Vernacular name: West Australian Shortnose Seabat.

Etymology. The name westraliensis is a reference to the type locality, Western Australia.


Halicmetus drypus sp. nov. 
Vernacular name: Pink Shortnose Seabat  

Etymology. From the Greek drypus, referring to the pink plant genus Drypis of the Tribe Drypideae, family Caryophyllaceae.


Halicmetus marmoratus Weber, 1913 
Vernacular name: Marbled Shortnose Seabat

Halicmetus ruber Alcock, 1891 
Vernacular name: Red Shortnose Seabat

Halicmetus reticulatus Smith & Radcliffe, 1912
Vernacular name: Reticulated Shortnose Seabat

Halicmetus niger Ho, Endo & Sakamaki, 2008 
Vernacular name: Black Shortnose Seabat


Hsuan-Ching Ho and Peter R. Last. 2018. Review of the Batfish Genus Halicmetus Alcock, 1891 from Australian Waters, with Descriptions of Two New Species (Lophiiformes: Ogcocephalidae). Zootaxa. 4508(2);  179–196. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4508.2.2