Orectolobus floridus Last & Chidlow, 2008, new species
Creators: name: Last, Peter R.
name: Chidlow, Justin A.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2008
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Chordata
Elasmobranchii
Orectolobiformes
Orectolobidae
Orectolobus
Orectolobus floridus

description: Orectolobus floridus new species
(Fig. 1; Table 1)
Holotype. CSIRO H 6168–02, 750 mm TL, mature male, off Green Head, Western Australia, 30° 0 3′S, 114° 58′E, caught by demersal gillnet, 45 m, 7 Apr. 2003.
Paratypes. Five specimens. CSIRO H 5936–01, 675 mm TL, female, south of Geraldton, Western Australia, 29° 54′S, 114° 30′E, caught by demersal gillnet, 85 m, 23 Apr. 2001; CSIRO H 6168–01, 728 mm TL, mature male, same data as holotype; CSIRO H 6169–01, 714 mm TL, female, north-west of Cape Naturaliste, Western Australia, 33° 27′E, 114° 48′E, caught by demersal gillnet, 45 m, 13 Feb. 2003; CSIRO H 6490–01, 708 mm TL, female, south-east of Cape Leeuwin, Western Australia, 34° 33′E, 115° 28′E, caught by demersal gillnet, 46 m, 1 Dec. 2006; WAM P 32869–001, 674 mm TL, female, south of Augusta, Western Australia, 34° 31′E, 115° 13′E, caught by demersal gillnet, 42 m, 15 Mar. 2007.
Holotype Paratypes
CSIRO n=3 Holotype Paratypes
CSIRO n=3 Diagnosis. A small Orectolobus (to about 750 mm TL) with the following: strongly ornamented, mottled yellowish brown dorsal coloration when fresh; black spots on the side of the head; nasal barbel with two simple lobes; postspiracular lobes poorly developed, distance across preorbital group 1.2–1.4 times interspace between preorbital group and postspiracular lobe (PO/PO–PS1), 12–14 times base length of anterior postspiracular lobe (PO/PS1); base of anterior postspiracular lobe 9–12 in its distance from postorbital group (PO– PS1/PS1), 5–6 in its distance from posterior postspiracular lobe (PS1–PS2/PS1); a weak tubercle above eye; no wart-like tubercles on back; dorsal fins low, raked, not upright; first dorsal-fin origin over mid pelvic-fin base; interdorsal space 0.3–0.4 times anal-fin base length; anal-fin inner margin 1.1–1.2 times anal-fin posterior margin; teeth in upper jaw 18–20, medial row at symphysis of upper jaw absent; monospondylous centra 47–52; total vertebral centra 145–150.
Description. Body elongate, moderately depressed anteriorly and relatively firm-bodied; trunk weakly depressed to subcylindrical, depth relatively uniform, constricted at pelvic-fin insertion; tail subcircular in cross-section, becoming more compressed posteriorly. Head moderately broad, somewhat oval with truncate anterior when viewed from above, moderately depressed, height at eye 6.0 (5.6–6.1)% TL; abdomen relatively elongate, pectoral to pelvic space 19.7 (19.2–21.0)% TL, 0.93 (0.93–0.98) of head length; pelvic to anal space 2.32 (2.35–2.86) times anal-fin base; caudal peduncle absent, ventral origin of caudal fin connected to anal-fin insertion; posterior tail strongly compressed, narrowly oval in cross section at anal-caudal junction, height 1.06 (1.09–1.22) times width at second dorsal-fin insertion, 1.62 (1.53–1.80) times width at anal-fin insertion.
Snout short, bluntly pointed in lateral view, almost truncate to broadly rounded in dorsoventral view, apex indented slightly; preoral length 1 (0.8–1)% TL, 9.8 (9.7–12.8) in mouth width; prenarial snout 1.14 (1.16– 1.26) times eye length. Eyes small, slit-like, dorsolateral on head, length 10.6 (10.6–11.1) in head length; supraorbital ridges present; lower ridge extending along dorsal length of eye, terminating in a single, short bulbous tubercle; upper ridge extending from anterior eye and curving around hind margin of eye posteriorly; deep supraocular pocket separating ridges over posterior half of eye; ridges and associated pockets more pronounced posteriorly; subocular pockets relatively weak, curved, length subequal to eye length; interorbit almost flat, intereye distance 2.83 (2.93–3.15) times eye length, 0.99 (0.97–1.01) times direct preorbital length, 0.68 (0.66–0.69) times direct prespiracular length, 1.72 (1.73–1.75) times spiracle length; moderate pit on midsnout, extending forward to tip of snout as a shallow groove. Spiracles slit-like, lateral, oblique to longitudinal axis, much longer than eye, origin slightly forward of hind margin of eye; anterior margin thickened, weakly concave, forming a marginal ridge flanked internally by a shallow medial depression; posterior margin poorly defined, almost flat, shelving into spiracular cavity. Gill slits relatively short, mid-lateral on head, upper edge becoming progressively more elevated posteriorly; second slit above pectoral-fin origin; last gill slit longest, 1.29 (1.27–1.60) times 4th, located slightly forward of midbase of pectoral fin. Mouth large, subterminal, horizontally expanded, arched forward slightly, width 9.5 (9.7–10)% TL, 1.46 (1.38–1.42) in head width at eye; upper labial furrows originating below nostrils; lower labial furrows longer, almost connected at symphysis of lower jaw, length 0.44 (0.42–0.44) of mouth width; symphysial groove deep, well developed, length subequal to distance between lower labial furrows. Teeth relatively large, unicuspid; 20 (18–20, n=4) series in upper jaw, 17 (17) in lower jaw, typically in 2–3 rows; upper teeth not exposed when mouth closed, two upper symphysial canines, much larger than those adjacent, small median series absent; three lower symphysial canines, of similar size to those in upper jaw; teeth decreasing slightly in size laterally, often partly embedded or acuspid posteriorly. Nostrils small, well separated, internarial space 4.6 (4.4–4.6)% TL; adjacent upper lip of mouth; circumnarial folds well developed, projecting anteriorly. Nasal barbel terminal on head, 4.0 (4.0–4.5)% TL, slightly depressed to almost rounded, weakly tapering, proboscis-like distally; posterior lobe well-developed, simple, fleshy, originating at inner basal third margin of barbel; barbel slightly shorter than upper labial furrow. Dermal lobes poorly developed; PO1 with 2 (rarely 3), short, slender, simple lobes; PO2 with 2 larger (up to twice length of PO1 lobes), more flattened, complex lobes, weakly bilobate; PS1 with one short, flattened lobe, expanded distally with entire or weakly lobate outer margins; PS2 smaller than PS1, simple, narrow or weakly thallate, mostly bluntly pointed distally; PO distance 1.30 (1.20–1.37) times PO–PS1 interspace; PO distance 13.9 (12.3–13.8) times PS1 base length; PO–PS1 interspace 10.7 (9.2–11.5) times PS1 base length; PS1–PS2 interspace 6.23 (4.65–5.77) times PS1 base length.
C Dermal denticles on side minute, weakly imbricated to fully compacted (those on top of head abutting); skin somewhat velvety; pedicel short; crown quadrangular, acuspid, smooth dorsally, lateral margin entire. Spiracular denticles on lower surface in three general bands; quadrangular denticles on side of head penetrating slightly into interspiracular space; median band of 6–8 long, upright, spiny denticles, sharply defined from outer band; 2–3 rows of scythe-like, denticles along innermost margin; knife and scythe-like denticles on inner fringe of spiracle, decreasing in size toward opening. Clasper robust, glans expanded slightly with apical spongiform tissue mass.
Dorsal fins subtriangular, relatively low, raked slightly, not upright, height of first 1.1 (1.04–1.12) times height of second; similar in size and shape, apex broadly rounded, anterior margins almost straight, posterior margins broadly to weakly convex, directed posteroventrally from top to bottom; free rear tip of first weakly angular to bluntly rounded, more pointed in second dorsal fin; first dorsal-fin origin over mid pelvic-fin base, second originating well behind rear tip of pelvic fin; first dorsal-fin margin 0.88 (0.75–0.87) times spiracle length. Pectoral fin relatively small, lobate, length 14.0 (13.7–14.3)% TL; base fleshy; inner margin long; anterior margin weakly convex, 2.59 (2.46–2.96) times inner margin; apex broadly rounded, posterior margin weak to moderately convex; inner margin almost straight (usually deeply concave in paratypes), free rear tip broadly rounded. Pelvic fins small, length 13.6 (12.2–12.9)% TL, anterior margin weakly convex to straight, apex broadly rounded, posterior margin weakly convex (strongly convex in most paratypes); free rear tip narrowly rounded (more broadly rounded in female paratypes); pelvic-fin origin well forward of dorsal fins, origin to midpoint of first dorsal fin 10.6 (10.1–11.8)% TL. Anal fin well developed, elongate with short posterior margin, directed posteroventrally, lobe-like, base 8.2 (7.9–8.9)% TL, 0.36 (0.28–0.40) in interdorsal space; origin obscure, under or slightly behind second dorsal-fin insertion, anal-fin height 2.34 (2.4–2.81) in base length; anal-fin length 5.19 (5.01–5.17) times posterior margin length; inner margin length 1.15 (1.05– 1.19) times posterior margin length. Caudal fin relatively short, dorsal caudal margin length 17.8 (17.1– 18.2)% TL; origin of upper lobe indistinct, but usually evident as a low ridge; lower lobe well developed, outer margin strongly convex, united at its origin to insertion of anal fin, strongly notched at junction of terminal lobe; terminal lobe deep, broadly rounded ventrally, bluntly angular to broadly rounded dorsally, length 1.24 (1.05–1.19) times spiracle length.
Spiral valve count not taken. Vertebral counts, n = 6: holotype (5 paratypes): monospondylous centra 48 (47–52, rarely exceeding 49); precaudal centra 105 (101–105, mainly 103–105); caudal centra 45 (41–46, mainly 43–46); total centra 150 (145–150).
Coloration. Body mainly dark brownish (paratype CSIRO H 5936–01 with much paler dorsal coloration than all other types, but basic pattern otherwise consistent), strongly ornamented on dorsal surface; paler mottled yellowish brown and white ventrally on head and abdomen (variable on paratypes, often with dark spots and diffuse blackish blotches on undersurface of head and belly); ventral tail mostly dark brown with evidence of pale narrow bands. Dorsal head mostly uniformly dark brown; with a prominent, pale, anteriorly directed vshaped bar across interorbit; distinct, large white spot at end of spiracle, approximately half eye length in size; dark saddle extending posteriorly from mid-orbit to above first gill slit; posterior of head with a broad band formed by a cluster of diffuse-edged, whitish, stellate blotches, most evident on mid dorsum; sides of head with about 4–13 scattered, diffuse-edged, black spots, similar in size and equivalent to circumnarial fold; similar spots sometimes present on snout, lower lip and sides of trunk; mouth white; nasal barbel and dermal lobes mostly greyish or brownish, sometimes with pale distal margins. Trunk with 2 prominent brownish saddles, each extending to ventral margin; anterior band originating dorsally above pectoral base then curving posteroventrally to meet ventral profile behind pectoral fin; second saddle larger, about half length of head, also terminating at ventral margin. Interspaces between saddles 1 and 2 and predorsal region with spectacular clusters of diffuse, stellate blotches (also terminating near ventral margin); predorsal clusters extending onto base of pelvic fin and anterior margin of dorsal fin. Tail with an irregular, dark brown band below posterior two-thirds of each dorsal-fin base; interdorsal region and post-dorsal tail with light and dark clusters of similar tone to ornamental bands of trunk; ventral postcloacal tail mostly uniformly dark brown (less distinct on paratype CSIRO H 5936–01). Ventral surface of trunk mottled, mostly white with scattered dark flecks and blotches, concentrated around cloacal region and mouth (more generally distributed in most paratypes); ventral surfaces of pectoral and pelvic fins usually darker than abdomen, their bases usually paler than their distal half. Dorsal fins variable, mostly dark, with 4 broad, dark marginal blotches along anterior and posterior margins, each separated by paler blotches; central parts of fin suffused with white spots. Paired fins mostly dark, dorsally similar to upper body; margins with alternating dark and pale blotches; usually suffused with diffuseedged white spots basally; fin apices pale. Clasper uniformly dark brown, tip of glans white.
Size. All available specimens are either mature or almost so. Two males were mature at 728 and 750 mm TL. Female paratypes varied from 674 to 714 mm TL.
Distribution. A micro-endemic known from few individuals, all taken from the inner continental shelf off southwestern Australia between Geraldton (29° 54′S, 114° 30′E) and Augusta (34° 33′S, 115° 28′E) in depths of 42– 85 m.
Etymology. Derived from the Latin floridus (abounding in flowers or flowering profusely) with reference to the rich, floral pattern of bands and blotches on the dorsal surface.
Vernacular. Floral Banded Wobbegong.
Comparisons. Orectolobus floridus is a small, distinctive wobbegong with an attractive floral colour pattern unlike any other nominal species of the family. It shares a simple arrangement of dermal lobes with O. hutchinsi and O. wardi (mainly 2 simple or weakly lobate lobes vs. 3–6 complex lobes in each of the preorbital groups in O. halei, O. ornatus and O. maculatus). Unlike O. maculatus, it lacks a dorsal colour pattern dominated by pale ocelli but its pattern is more complex than in O. hutchinsi and O. wardi. Eucrossorhinus dasypogon has a much broader head with a much more complex arrangement of dermal lobes, and Sutorectus tentaculatus has a row of warty tubercles extending along the middle of the head and back (absent in O. floridus). Little is known of the biology of O. floridus but, as all known specimens were taken by gillnet and no material has been presented from trawls, it is likely to live mainly of reefy bottoms. Its dentition, which is similar to O. hutchinsi, suggests a diet of fishes (evident from radiographs in gut of CSIRO H 6169–01), crustaceans, and possibly cephalopods. Orectolobus floridus differs in colour and dermal lobe configuration from other wobbegongs.
description: Published as part of Last, Peter R. & Chidlow, Justin A., 2008, Two new wobbegong sharks, Orectolobus floridus sp. nov. and O. parvimaculatus sp. nov. (Orectolobiformes: Orectolobidae), from southwestern Australia, pp. 49-67 in Zootaxa 1673 on pages 50-56, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.274050