Syncomistes kimberleyensis in Vari 1978
Creators: name: Shelley, James J.
name: Delaval, Aurélien
name: Le, Matthew C.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2017
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Chordata
Actinopterygii
Perciformes
Terapontidae
Syncomistes
Syncomistes kimberleyensis

description: Syncomistes kimberleyensis Vari, 1978
(Tables 19, 20, S 22 & S 23; Figures 18 & 19)
Syncomistes kimberleyensis, Vari 1978: 315; Paxton et al. 1989: 536; Hutchins & Smith 1991:22; Hutchins 2001: 31; Unmack 2001: 1063; Allen et al. 2002: 237; Moore et al. 2008: 24; Morgan et al. 2011a: 17; Allen et al. 2017: online.
Syncomistes trigonicus (non S. trigonicus Vari 1978): Buckle et al. 2010: 17.
English vernacular name: Kimberley grunter.
Holotype (examined): P.25383-001 [physical specimen destroyed (see remarks), photo and description presented in Vari 1978], 36 mm SL, Bow River Crossing, Bow River, Ord River, WA, (?) 16° 47' 36.74'' S, 128° 16' 47.59'' E, obtained with rotenone and dip net in a pool in the drying streambed of the Bow River at the Nicholson- Wyndham Highway crossing, Western Australia, by G. J. Nelson, D. E. Rosen and W. H. Butler, May 5, 1969.
Paratypes (measured): One specimen. All paratypes were obtained in accordance with the holotype. AMNH 35636 (35 mm SL), Bow River Crossing, Bow River, Ord River.
Paratypes (not measured): One specimen. AMNH 35636 (34 mm SL), Bow River Crossing, Bow River, Ord River.
Non-type Material (measured): 10 specimens, 26.8–114 mm SL. WAM P.34531.001 (2), 85.7– 60.4 mm SL, NTM S.17671-018 (2), 58.2–114 mm SL, NMV A.31451-001 (1), 91.3 mm SL, NMV A.31451-002 (1), 83.1 mm SL, NMV A.31451-003 (1), 68.1 mm SL, NMV A.31451-004 (1), 54.3 mm SL, NMV A.31451-005 (1), 113 mm SL, Moonshine Gorge, Pentecost River, El Questro Station, 16° 2' 41.76'' S, 128° 0' 31.53'' E; WAM P.34533.001 (1), 26.8 mm SL, Durack Homestead, Durack River, 15° 50' 11.51" S, 127° 24' 28.12" E.
Diagnosis: A smaller species of Syncomistes (recorded up to 125 mm SL, commonly 80–130 mm SL). Syncomistes kimberleyensis differs from all other species within the Syncomistes complex by a combination of the following characters: lower jaw distinctly pointed when viewed from below, making a distinct ‘V-shape’ in individuals> 65 mm (Fig. 5c), rounded in individuals <65 mm; mouth subterminal; teeth flattened, asymmetric, ‘almond-shaped’ with posterior edge distinctly convex and anterior edge slightly convex, widest point of tooth closest to base, apical region tapered to a sharp point (Fig. 6e), dorsal profile straight from dorsal origin to shallow notch on upper jaw; body often with 7–8 irregular wavy brown stripes running horizontally along sides; found in the Berkley, Durack, Pentecost and Ord rivers in the eastern Kimberley region.
Description: See Table 19 for a summary of meristic variation by type material and other material examined and Table S22 meristic variation across all specimens combined. Dorsal fin spines XII (XII–XIII), rays 12 (11–12); anal fin spines III, rays 8 (7–8); caudal fin rays 10+8+7+10 (10–11+8+7+10–11, n = 3); pectoral fin rays 15 (14– 16); pelvic spines I, rays 5; vertebrae 11+14 = 25 (n = 3); lateral line scales 48 (45–50); scales above lateral line 10 (9–11); scales below lateral line 16 (15–17); pre-dorsal scales 15 (14–17, n = 6); cheek scale rows 3 (3–4); caudal peduncle scales 27 (26–30); gill rakers on first arch 8+16 = 24 (7–10+14–17 = 21–27); opercular spines 2; preopercular spines 10 (8–12).
See Table 20 for a summary of morphometric variation by type material and other material examined and Table S23 morphometric variation across all specimens combined. Smaller species of Syncomistes. Body slightly laterally compressed, dorsal profile more steeply angled than ventral profile, which is horizontal. Dorsal profile begins with concave notch behind tip of snout that rises steeply for short distance, then straight or slightly convex to inter-orbital, straight or slightly convex along nape to dorsal fin origin, convex until behind base of last dorsal ray, then horizontal to caudal fin base. Ventral profile straight or slightly convex on underside of head, straight or convex from back of head to anal fin origin, then horizontal to caudal fin base. Lateral line continuous from behind head to base of caudal fin, and approximately parallel with dorsal profile. Body depth at dorsal fin origin 30.4 (28.0–32.0) % SL; body depth at anal fin origin 27.7 (25.2–30.1) % SL; caudal peduncle length 17.9 (16.6–18.9) % SL; caudal peduncle depth 11.8 (11.3–12.6) % SL; pre-anus length 66.0 (64.5–68.0) % SL. Head length 31.5 (29.7– 34.5) % SL; head pointed. snout length 42.2 (33.4–45.9) % HL; upper-jaw length 35.6 (27.1–44.7) % HL; jaws equal throughout development; jaw width 35 (25.3–39.8) % HL; lower jaw distinctly V-shaped in adults and rounded in juveniles (<65 mm) when viewed from below, as long or longer than it is wide (Morphotype 3; Fig. 5c). Mouth subterminal with horizontal angle in lateral profile. Narrow, continuous upper lip fold, and very narrow lower lip fold that is discontinuous across the ventral midline. Upper lip more fleshy than lower lip. Lower lip fleshy posteriorly, reducing anteriorly until no fold present. Teeth on outer row of upper jaw 97 (31–116, n = 9) number varying with size, 9.8 (7.2–12.4) / mm when standardised with upper jaw length; teeth on outer row of lower jaw 94 (31–120) number varying with size, 9.4 (7.2–12.4) / mm when standardised with upper jaw length; teeth laterally compressed, small relative to Syncomistes, asymmetric, ‘almond-shaped’ with posterior edge distinctly convex and anterior edge slightly convex, widest point of tooth closest to base, apical region tapered to a sharp point, teeth fitted closely together and overlapping (Tooth Morphotype 3; Fig. 6e); laterally pointed in lower jaw, extending beyond outer edge of lip. Outer row of large teeth with 2–4 inner rows of smaller teeth on both jaws, embedded in a jelly-like gum; 4 (3–4) tooth rows behind outer row in upper jaw, 2 (2–3) tooth rows behind outer row in lower jaw. Toothless medial, dorsally oriented hump present at symphysis of lower jaw, opposite toothless region of upper jaw. Orbital diameter 23.4 (18.1–30.6) % HL; inter-orbital width 27.5 (24.1–30.5) % HL; interorbital smooth and not scaled; post-orbital length 40.4 (36.9–45.8) % HL. Lower opercular spine is longer and more robust than upper opercular spine, sometimes extends beyond edge of opercular membrane; preopercular spines serrate, longest and most robust on apex of preopercle, reducing in size dorsally and anteriorly, anteriormost spine situated behind posterior edge of orbit. Intestinal pattern of adults highly convoluted; large amount of looping to left of stomach; juveniles with less convoluted pattern.
Dorsal fin origin posterior to vertical plane through pectoral fin origin, anterior to pelvic fin origin; terminates at base of last dorsal ray; dorsal fin sheath scales 2 (1–2); 6th (5th–7th) dorsal spine longest, length 14.5 (12.8–16.4) % SL; progressively shorter towards first and last dorsal spines; last dorsal spine fully joined to first dorsal ray by membrane; 2nd (2nd–3rd) dorsal ray longest, 14.8 (13.6–16.2) % SL; dorsal margin of rayed portion rounded to tip of last ray; dorsal fin base length 52.2 (49.6–54.1) % SL; dorsal fin length 59.3 (57.2–61.2) % SL; pre-dorsal fin length 39.8 (37.1–42.4) % SL. Anal fin origin immediately posterior to base of last dorsal fin spine; terminates at base of last ray; anal fin sheath scales 3 (2–3); 2nd anal spine longest, 15.5 (12.5–17.5) % SL; 1 st anal ray longest (1st–2nd), 17 (16.0–17.7) % SL; rays progressively shorter towards last ray; margin of rayed portion rounded; anal fin base length 15.2 (14.1–17.1) % SL; anal fin length 24.4 (22.8–27.2) % SL; pre-anal fin length 70 (67.5–71.9) % SL. Caudal fin slightly emarginate; upper caudal lobe length 23.8 (22.3–25.4, n = 8) % SL; middle caudal ray length 19.3 (17.7–20.8, n = 9) % SL. Pectoral fin length 21 (20.0–22.2) % SL; pre-pectoral fin length 30.4 (28.5– 34.9) % SL. Pelvic spine length 11.3 (10.2–12.6) % SL; 2nd (1st–2nd) pelvic ray longest, then progressively shorter; 20 (18.9–21.5) % SL; pelvic fin length 21.7 (20.5–23.9) % SL; pre-pelvic fin length 37.9 (35.4–42.1) % SL.
Colour when fresh: Body olive green to bluish-brown. Darker dorsally, becoming lighter, even white, along the ventral surface. Head darker dorsally, with opercle below lower opercular spine lighter. Head and body speckled with small brown spots. Body with eight irregular wavy brown stripes running horizontally along side of body: first running from anterior of spinous dorsal to front of soft dorsal; second, below this to middle of soft dorsal; third, from top of the operculum to dorsal edge of caudal peduncle; fourth, from posttemporal along lateral line, extending posterior to caudal base; fifth from top opercular spine to the center of the caudal base; sixth, from cleithrum to ventral edge of caudal base; seventh, begins in middle of pectoral fin base and joins the sixth in line with rear of soft anal; eighth below this to ventral edge at rear of soft anal; ninth (indistinct, sometimes lacking) running below this.
Membranes of spinous dorsal light brown, as are membranes of soft dorsal for their basal one-third. Membranes of spinous and soft anal brown with a darker blotch on middle of rays. Pelvics light brown. Pectorals clear. Caudal with basal marks that are continuations of fourth to sixth body stripes.
Colour when preserved: Adults uniformly dark brown to grey with hints of pale colouration becoming more dominant towards the ventral region. Mostly pale brown when viewed ventrally. Lateral line is distinctly pale in colouration. All fins uniformly light brown. Black blotch sometimes present on anal fin. Juvenile colouration is same as adults, although some specimens retain horizontal stripes when preserved which are as described in the ‘Colouration when fresh’ section. Overall colouration fades from darker to lighter the longer the specimen is preserved.
Distribution: See Fig. 19. Found throughout the Durack, Pentecost, and Ord rivers in the Eastern Kimberley region (Western Australia).
Ecology: Prefers shallow fast flowing sections of creeks and rivers. Found in clear waters, over rocky substrates, often where algae is abundant. Adults may form shoals around snags. Juveniles predominantly reside in riffle habitat. During the dry season when flow stops throughout much of its range, S. kimberleyensis is usually found in the deepest part of drying pools, close to cover. Reproductive ecology is not known. Diet primarily of filamentous algae that is scraped off rocks with its modified teeth.
Comparison: Broadly similar morphological grouping to Syncomistes trigonicus and S. wunambal based their shallow body depth, the presence of a short notch behind the upper lip, a straight dorsal profile between the notch and the dorsal fin during all stages of development, and an extended V-shaped jaw in adults that is longer than it is wide (lower U-shaped in juveniles <65 mm).
General body and jaw morphology similar to S. trigonicus and S. wunambal, but is distinguishable from both as on average it has a wider jaw 35 (25.3–39.8) % HL versus 31.7 (26.1–36.8) % SL (S. trigonicus) and 31.2 (29.2– 35.2) % HL (S. wunambal) respectively, and longer fins measurements including: anal fin length 24.4 (22.8–27.2) % SL versus 18.4 (18.4–25.0) % SL (S. trigonicus) and 21.2 (19.8–22.7) % SL (S. wunambal), dorsal spine length 14.5 (12.8–16.4) % SL versus 12.4 (10.3–14.6) % SL (S. trigonicus) and 10.7 (10.0–11.5) % SL (S. wunambal), anal ray length 17.0 (16.0–17.7) % SL versus 15.5 (11.7–17.3) % SL (S. trigonicus) and 14.7 (12.6–17.2) % SL (S. wunambal), pectoral fin length 21.0 (20.0–22.2) % SL versus 18.5 (15.5–20.7) % SL (S. trigonicus) and 18.6 (17.3–20.3) % SL (S. wunambal), pelvic ray length 20.0 (18.9–21.5) % SL versus 18 (14.2–20.9) % in SL (S. trigonicus) and 17 (16.0–18.4) % in SL (S. wunambal), pelvic fin length 21.7 (20.5–23.9) % SL versus 19 (16.2– 21.3) % SL (S. trigonicus) and 18.6 (18.0–19.3) % SL (S. wunambal), pelvic spine length 11.3 (10.2–12.6) % SL versus 9.4 (6.9–11.2) % SL (S. trigonicus) and 8.8 (4.4–10.1) % SL (S. wunambal) and upper caudal lobe length 19.3 (17.7–20.8) % SL versus 22.4 (17.1–26.5) % SL (S. trigonicus) and 21.8 (19.8–23.8) % SL (S. wunambal). Also, 2–3 more horizontal stripes are present on the body, a character that is consistent across its range. Stripes are particularly useful distinguishing juveniles as they are most often present.
Etymology: The trivial name, kimberleyensis, refers to the type region of the species, the Kimberley region of Western Australia.
Remarks: The original description, based on three juvenile specimens (Vari 1978), described the jaw as being U-shaped. Our analysis determined that all individuals <65 mm SL have U-shaped jaws before undergoing an ontogenetic change in shape in most species of Syncomistes, including S. kimberleyensis. As the original description for S. kimberleyensis (specifically the jaw shape) was misleading for adult specimens, it may have led to the misidentification of specimens in subsequent surveys in the region. A large survey conducted by Buckle et al. (2010) in the Ord River catchment identified S. trigonicus throughout the catchment and these specimens were lodged at NTM (not registered). The authors inspected these specimens under a dissecting microscope and confirmed that S. kimberleyensis had been mistakenly identified as S. trigonicus.
The holotype was allowed to dry out while on loan and is no longer existent (Hutchins & Smith 1991). The holotype was thrown out by Barry Hutchins in 1990, along with the holotype of S. butleri and S. trigonicus, as the specimen had been allowed to deteriorate to such an extent that it was considered “totally useless”, pers coms. Glen Moore. The photograph as well as the meristic and morphometric measurements presented in Vari (1978) still represent the holotype and as such we do not present a new type for the species.
description: Published as part of Shelley, James J., Delaval, Aurélien & Le, Matthew C., 2017, A revision of the grunter genus Syncomistes (Teleostei, Terapontidae, Syncomistes) with descriptions of seven new species from the Kimberley region, northwestern Australia, pp. 1-103 in Zootaxa 4367 (1) on pages 53-58, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4367.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/1125303