Dactylophora De Vis

Genus Dactylophora De Vis View in CoL View at ENA

( Fig. 5 View FIGURE 5 )

Dactylophora De Vis, 1883: 284 View in CoL [Type-species: Dactylophora semimaculata De Vis, 1883 (= junior synonym of D. nigricans De Vis, 1883 View in CoL ) by monotypy].

Psilocranium Macleay, 1884: 439 [Type-species: Psilocranium coxii Macleay, 1884 (= junior synonym of D. nigricans De Vis, 1883 View in CoL ) by monotypy].

Etymology. Gender masculine. Derived from the Greek daktylos (finger) and pherein (to carry).

Inclusive species. Dactylophora nigricans (Richardson) ( type by monotypy)

Diagnosis. Dactylophora can be diagnosed by the following combination of characters: dorsal-fin elements XV–XVI, 24–26; anal-fin elements III, 9–10; pectoral-fin rays 14 with ventral 5 unbranched and thickened; lateralline scales 45–55. Height of soft dorsal fin roughly equal to height of spinous portion. Elongate body with shallow dorsal head profile; body cylindrical in cross section; scales cycloid and large on body; eyes moderate size; no bony processes on frontal bones or maxilla.

Habitat and distribution. Found by rocky reefs, weeds and seagrasses to 30m ( Kuiter 1993). Distributed along the southern coast of Australia and northern Tasmania.

Comments. Distinguished from all other latrids by a long, cylindrical body that lacks both a pointed snout and high anal-fin ray counts. Can acquire large adult sizes, reaching 1.2m TL ( Kuiter 1993).

Material examined. D. nigricans , LACM 52122 About LACM [n=1, Australia] , NMV A17775 [n=1, Australia: Victoria: Port Phillip Bay ] , NMV A13967 [n=1, Australia: Victoria: Port Phillip Bay ] , NMV A25379 View Materials -001 About NMV [n=1, Australia: Victoria: Port Phillip Bay ] , USNM 440480 About USNM [n=1, Australia: Tasmania] .