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New Zealand Journal of Zoology
ISSN: 0301-4223 (Print) 1175-8821 (Online) Journal homepage: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/tnzz20
A new species of catshark in the genus Parmaturus
Garman (Scyliorhinidae), from New Zealand
Graham S. Hardy
To cite this article: Graham S. Hardy (1985) A new species of catshark in the genus Parmaturus
Garman (Scyliorhinidae), from New Zealand, New Zealand Journal of Zoology, 12:1, 119-124, DOI:
10.1080/03014223.1985.10428269
To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.1080/03014223.1985.10428269
Published online: 30 Jan 2012.
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New Zealand Journal
of
Zoology, 1985,
Vol.
12:
119-124
119
0301-4223/85/1201-0119$2.50/0 © Crown copyright 1985
A
new
species of catshark
in
the genus Parmaturus Garman
(Scyliorhinidae), from
New
Zealand
GRAHAM
S.
HARDY
National Museum
of
New Zealand
Private
Bag,
Wellington, New Zealand
Abstract Parmaturus (Parmaturus) macmillani
n.
sp. is described from 2 female examples, trawled
about 20 km north-west
ofthe
Three Kings Islands,
New Zealand, in 985-1003 m.
It
differs markedly
from the other species in the subgenus Parmaturus
Garman
by its larger denticle size, less rounded
mouth opening, the posterior insertion
of
the second
dorsal
fin
being well behind that
of
the anal
fin,
and
the shorter base
of
the ventral lobe
of
the cau-
dal
fin.
Keywords Scyliorhinidae; Parmaturus macmil-
lani
n.
sp.; catshark; taxonomy
INTRODUCTION
In April 1981, whilst conducting survey trawls off
the northern coasts
of
New Zealand, the Fisheries
Research Vessel James Cook trawled 2 small cat-
sharks with a caudal crest
of
dermal denticles, from
985 to 1003 m, north-west
of
the Three Kings
Islands. To date no further examples are known,
nor
have specimens been located in the collections
of
the Australian Museum, Sydney,
or
the Queens-
land Museum, Brisbane, both
of
which I visited in
mid-1983.
Parmaturus
Garman
and
Galeus Rafinesque are
unique amongst scyliorhinids in possessing a cau-
dal crest
of
modified
and
sometimes enlarged der-
mal denticles
on
the proximal
half
or
more
of
the
upper margin
of
the caudal
fin.
However, whereas
species
of
Galeus are moderately hard-bodied, with
broad pectoral fins, saddle blotches (usually), and
have a prickly feeling when touched because
of
the
rather stiffly pointed dermal denticles, species
of
Parmaturus are comparatively soft bodied, have
Received
13
September
1984;
accepted
8
November
1984
smaller, less broad pectorals, a more or less uni-
form colouring,
and
have a velvety feeling when
touched (Springer 1979).
By
these criteria, the New
Zealand specimens fall into Parmaturus,
and
in
having similarly sized first
and
second dorsal fins
and
large, somewhat laterally positioned eyes, con-
form to subgenus Parmaturus.
Comparisons with
P.
pilosus
Garman
and
P.
xaniurus (Gilbert), the only species included in the
subgenus Parmaturus by Springer (1979), indicated
that the New Zealand specimens, although posses-
sing the same subgeneric characters, were suffic-
iently distinct to deserve separate specific status.
METHODS
Measurements were made with calipers and with a
fish measuring board, following the methods
and
criteria outlined by Springer (1979). Both speci-
mens
of
P.
macmillani are soft bodied
and
some-
what loose skinned,
and
hence several
measurements must be considered to be estimates
only. Vertebral counts were made from radi-
ographs. Comparative body ratios given for
P.
pila-
sus
and
P.
xaniurus are taken from Springer (1979)
and
from specimens examined in this study. Gross
morphology
of
these species were also compared
with the original descriptions
of
Garman (1906) and
Gilbert (1892) respectively.
ABBREVIA
nONS
FMNH -Field Museum
of
Natural History, Chicago;
LACM
-Los
Angeles County Museum
of
Natural His-
tory, Los Angeles; NMNZ -National Museum
of
New
Zealand, Wellington; SU -Stanford University Museum
(fish collection now at California Academy
of
Sciences,
San Francisco).
TL, total length.
Comparative material examined.
Parmaturus
pilosus,
FMNH
74
134
(~,
300
mm
TL),
74
168
(~,
310 mm
TL);
SU
13
899
(0,563
mm
SL),
all from Sagami
Sea,
Japan.
Parmaturus
xaniurus,
LACM 30660-2
(0,410
mm
TL),
30800-1 (0, 410
mm
TL), 30
818-1
(~,
380 mm TL),
37
446-1
(~,
475
mm
TL) and
42
294-1
(0,267-273
mm
TL), all from southern California, U.S.A.
120
...
New Zealand Journal
of
Zoology, 1985, Vol.
12
SYSTEMATICS
Parmaturus (Parmaturus) macmillan;
D.
sp.
(Fig. 1-6)
Type data. Holotype
~
NMNZ
PIS 859, 448
mm
TL,
NEW
ZEALAND,
NW
of
Three Kings Islands
(33°55.0-55.2'
S,
171
° 55.6-54.5'
E),
985-1003 m,
trawled,
FRV
James Cook (J06/52/81),
23
Apr
1981. Paratype
<j1
NMNZ
PlO 343, 442
mm
TL,
data as for holotype.
Diagnosis. A soft-bodied scyliorhinid shark, with
large, overlapping, usually tridentate denticles lying
flat on body surface; rounded mouth opening
somewhat flattened (strongly curved in
P.
pilosus
and
P.
xaniurus), with a
mouth
width:length ratio
of
3.0-3.2; posterior insertion
of
second dorsal
fin
well behind
that
of
anal
fin.
Description. Body elongate, slender.
Head
broad,
flattened, with short, broadly rounded, moderately
deep snout. Eye position more lateral
than
dorsal.
First
and
second dorsal fins
of
similar size, pos-
terior insertion
of
latter well behind
that
of
anal
fin.
Tail long, moderately shallow, without prom-
inent subcaudal lobe. Denticles on head
and
body
moderately large, overlapping, velvety in appear-
ance
and
to touch when stroked toward tail, but
offering considerable resistance when stroked
toward head. Denticles
on
upper
and
lower sur-
faces
of
snout irregularly rounded
or
broadly dia-
mond-shaped, lacking median ridge
or
lateral cusps.
Dorsally,
just
anterior to eyes, denticles have single
median ridge and weak lateral cusps (Fig. 2a); more
posteriorly,
and
on dorsum
and
flanks, denticles
have 'doubled' median ridge
and
stronger lateral
cusps (tridentate) (Fig. 2b). Denticles
on
undersur-
face lacking median ridge; lateral cusps, when pres-
ent, very weakly developed. Well-developed crest
of
enlarged dentic1es on proximal two-fifths
of
upper
margin
of
caudal
fin.
Similar, less developed ridge
ventrally, extending along caudal peduncle from
level
of
anal
fin
posterior margin onto proximal
end
of
anterior margin
of
caudal
fin
lower lobe.
Upper caudal crest separated from lateral surface
denticles by thin, irregular, naked strip; lower cau-
dal crest barely separated from lateral surface den-
ticles. Denticles
of
both crests more heavily built
than elsewhere on body, tridentate, irregularly
rounded anteriorly, with 'doubled' median ridge
forked anteriorly,
and
'parallel' accessory ridge
extending to each lateral cusp. Mucous pores
on
head relatively inconspicuous between denticles.
Upper jaw teeth generally slightly larger, but with
similar shape to those oflower jaw (Fig.
3).
At sym-
physeal region
of
both
upper
and
lower jaws, teeth
smallish with 5 cusps, middle cusp largest. At
middle
of
each jaw, teeth slightly larger
than
at
Hardy-New
species
of
catshark
symphysis, usually with 5-6 cusps; on upper jaw,
3rd or 4th cusp distinctly largest; 2 middle cusps
of
lower jaw teeth larger and
of
comparable size;
teeth
of
both jaws smallish at mouth comer, with
5 cusps; on upper jaw, middle cusp longest, out-
ermost cusps smallest; on lower jaw middle cusp
barely larger than immediate adjacent cusps, out-
ermost cusps smallest.
Colour (in isopropyl alcohol). Body and
fins
uni-
form pale grey,
fins
with dull, yellowish-grey mar-
gins. No other markings or blotches.
Dimensions. Measurements expressed as percent-
ages
of
total length for holotype
(448
mm TL) and
paratype (442 mm TL); holotype measurements
given first. Tip
of
snout: to front
of
mouth 3.7, 3.2;
to eye
5.4,
5.5;
to
spira<;hf
10.3,
9.8;
to first
gill
slit
15.2,
13.6;
to fifth gill slit
17.6,
17.4;
to origin
of
pectoral
fin
16.7,
16.5;
to origin
of
first dorsal
fin
48.2, 48.0; to origin
of
pelvic
fins
49.6, 49.8; to
origin
of
second dorsal
fin
65.8, 65.6; to origin
of
anal
fin
61.8, 60.6; to origin
of
upper caudal
fin
75.0, 75.1; to anterior end cloacal opening 52.5,
52.0. Greatest width:
of
head
14.5,
14.9;
of
trunk
at
pectoral origin
14.1,
14.5;
of
trunk
at
pelvic origin
6.9,6.6;
of
caudal peduncle 2.5,2.3. Greatest height:
of
trunk at pectoral origin 8.0,
7.9;
of
trunk at pel-
vic origin
8.3,
8.6;
of
caudal peduncle
3.8,
3.8.
Eyes:
length 4.9,5.0; height
of
opening 1.1,1.1; least width
of
cartilaginous interorbit 2.7,
2.3.
Spiracles: great-
est diameter
1.4,
1.2;
least distance from eye 1.1,
1.0.
Mouth: width
10.3,
10.8;
length 3.4,
3.3;
length
of
upper labial furrow 1.0,0.9; length oflower labial
furrow
1.8,
1.8.
Nasal apertures: least distance
between 2.2,
2.1.
Gill slits: height
of
first
1.9,
2.3;
height
of
fifth 1.1,
1.2.
First dorsal
fin:
length
of
base 6.8,
6.4;
length
of
free inner margin
2.4,
2.2;
height 5.6,
4.5;
length
of
anterior margin
10.4,
10.2.
Second dorsal
fin:
length
of
base 7.0,
7.0;
length
of
free inner margin 2.7,
1.6;
height 4.8,
5.2;
length
of
anterior margin
10.8,
ILL
Anal
fin:
length
of
base
9.9,8.8; length
of
free inner margin
1.7,
1.9;
height
5.8,5.7; length
of
anterior margin 9.6,
7.5.
Pectoral
fins:
width
of
base 6.5,
5.9;
greatest width
of
fin
9.7,10.3; length
of
anterior margin
11.6, 12.0.
Pel-
vic
fins:
overall length
11.5,
11.1. Distance between
fin
bases: first and second dorsals
10.7,
11.2;
pel-
vics and anal
5.8,
5.2;
pectorals and pelvics 29.5,
29.4.
Number
of
monospondylous vertebrae
38,
38;
total number
of
vertebrae
124, 124.
Distribution.
P.
macmillani
is
known from a sin-
gle
collection only, taken north-west
of
the Three
Kings Islands, New Zealand (see under 'Material
examined').
Etymology. This species is named for Peter
McMillan (Fisheries Research Division, Ministry
of
Agriculture and Fisheries, and Honorary
121
Fig. 2
(A)
Vertical stereoscan photograph
of
dermal
denticle
of
P.
macmillani (holotype); denticle taken from
dorsal surface
of
head just anterior to eyes;
(B)
vertical
stereoscan photograph
of
dermal denticles
of
P.
macmi/-
lani (holotype); denticles taken from flank below first dor-
sal
fin.
Research Associate
of
the National Museum
of
New
Zealand (NMNZ». He has added to the NMNZ
reference collections many examples
of
undes-
cribed or poorly known marine
fish
and inverte-
brate species, including the new catsharks described
herein, collected during Fisheries Research Divi-
sion deep water surveys.
Remarks. Based on characters used
by
Springer
(1979) to separate the 3 subgenera
of
Parmaturus,
P.
macmillani is included in the pilosus/xaniurus
group (subgenus Parmaturus). Features
of
P.
mac-
millani which readily distinguish it from the other
2 species are: a distinctly less rounded mouth open-
ing than either
P.
xaniurus or
P.
pilosus
(Fig.
4)
(although the snout tip to front
of
mouth distance
is
similar in
P.
macmillani and
P.
xaniurus); and
the mouth width to length ratio for
P.
macmillani
(3.0·-3.2)
is
much greater than in
P.
pilosus (1.9-
2.1) or
P.
xaniurus (1.8-2.1).
All
3 species have the upper labial furrow
sig-
nificantly shorter than the lower furrow, though
P.
macmillani and
P.
xaniurus (lower labial furrow to
upper labial furrow ratio 1.8-2.0 and 1.6-1.9
122
symphysis
I
Upper jaw
- - - - corner
Lower jaw
Fig. 3 Teeth
of
P.
macmillani,
typical
of
symphysis, mid-
jaw,
and
mouth comer.
respectively) are similar in having the upper furrow
relatively shorter than that
of
P.
pilosus
(ratio 1.3-
1.5).
Tridentate trunk denticles are present in all 3
species,
but
those
of
P.
macmillani are consider-
ably larger
and
lie flatter than those
of
the other
species. The teeth
of
the 3 species are similar.
The
spiracles
of
P.
macmillani are significantly
larger than those
of
P.
xaniurus
and
P.
pilosus,
measurements
of
spiracle diameter (expressed as
percentages
of
total length) being 1.2-1.4 for
P.
macmillani, and 0.6-0.9 and 0.5-0.7 for
P.
xani-
urus
and
P.
pilosus,
respectively. Fig. 5 illustrates
the differences in the position
of
the insertion
of
the second dorsal
fin
relative to the anal fin in the
3 species, and also the differences in
fin
shape.
Of
significance,
at
least between comparable-sized
subadults and adults, is the ratio
of
anal fin-base
length to height (1.5-1.7 in
P.
macmillani, 2.2-2.5
in
P.
xaniurus, and 2.3-2.4 in
P.
pilosus).
A value
of
3.7 for the same ratio in a
135
mm
TL
juvenile
P.
xaniurus examined by Springer (1979), indicates
that
the proportions
of
the anal
fin
may change
considerably with growth. Although some differ-
ences in the profile
of
the posterior margins
of
these
fins are apparent, there is some variation within
New Zealand Journal
of
Zoology, 1985, Vol.
12
~
~
Fig.4
Ventral view
of
head, illustrating mouth and nos-
trils.
P.
macmillani
(upper),
P.
pilosus
(middle),
P.
xan-
iurus
(lower).
Hardy-New
species
of
catshark
----
----=-----
-------"'-
- - -
--
- -
--
-_.'-----
----
---
--
---
Fig. 5 Outline
of
2nd dorsal and anal
fins,
illustrating
relative insertion points.
P.
macmillani (upper),
P.
pilosus
(middle),
P.
xaniurus (lower).
123
----------------
---
-:=:--
-----------------
--
-----:..-::.....",.
--
----
....
Fig. 6 Outline
of
caudal
fin.
P.
macmillani (upper),
P.
pilosus (middle),
P.
xaniurus (lower).
species, at least for the second dorsal
fin.
The par-
atype
of
P.
macmillani has the posteroventral cor-
ner
of
the second dorsal
fin
rounded as shown for
P.
pilosus (Fig.
5)
rather than the 'squared' margin
seen in the holotype. The ventral lobe
of
the caudal
fin
is noticeably shorter and more abruptly angled
anteriorly in
P.
macmillani, which, in addition, has
the terminal lobe both deeper and more rounded
(Fig.
6).
The caudal crest on the proximal portion
of
the caudal
fin
upper margin is clearly separated
from the denticles
of
the lateral surface by a naked
strip in
P.
xaniurus
and
P.
pilosus,
but
much less
so in
P.
macmillani. The ventral caudal crest
appears to be best developed in
P.
macmillani.
There are fewer monospondylous vertebrae in
P.
macmillani (38) and
P.
xaniurus (38-39, from
Springer
(1979»
than in
P.
pilosus (42, from Sprin-
ger (1979) & pers. obs.), and their total vertebral
numbers are lower (124 and 109-121 for
P.
mac-
millani and
P.
xaniurus, respectively, against 130-
135
for
P.
pilosus).
The uniformly pale grey body
of
P.
macmillani
is slightly lighter than that
of
P.
xaniurus. There is
no sign oflight-coloured dots along the lateral line,
as Springer (1979) noted in
P.
pilosus.
124
The presence or otherwise
of
liver oil squalene
in
P.
macmillani has not been ascertained.
The subgenus Parmaturus
is
so far known only
from the Pacific Ocean where it has an antiequa-
torial distribution.
P.
pilosus and
P.
xaniurus are
both restricted to Northern Hemisphere waters (off
Japan and southern California respectively), and
P.
macmillani, known only from a similar latitude off
northern New Zealand, represents the first south-
western Pacific record
of
the genus.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I
am
very grateful to P. J. McMillan, who collected the
examples
of
Parmaturus macmillani during Fisheries
Research Division deep water trawl surveys off the north-
ern coasts
of
New Zealand.
Dr
F. M. Climo (NMNZ)
took the SEM photographs
of
P.
macmillani dermal den-
New Zealand Journal
of
Zoology,
1985,
Vol.
12
tides, and Helen Clifton drew Fig.
1.
Dr
P.
H.
J.
Castle
(Victoria University
of
Wellington) continued to provide
radiographic facilities. Professor
J.
A.
F. Garrick (Vic-
toria University
of
Wellington) and
Mr
C.
D. Paulin
(NMNZ) provided helpful comments on the manuscript.
REFERENCES
Garman,
S.
1906:
New Plagiostomia. Bulletin
of
the
Museum
of
Comparative Zoology
46:
203-208.
Gilbert, C. H.
1892:
Descriptions
of
thirty-four new spe-
cies
of
fishes collected in 1888 and 1889, princi-
pally among the Santa Barbara Islands and in the
Gulf
of
California. Proceedings
of
the United States
National Museum
14:
539-566.
Springer,
S.
1979:
A revision
of
the catsharks, family Scy-
1iorhinidae. NOAA technical report
NMFS
circular
422:
1-152.
