A new cucumberfish (Paraulopidae) of the Paraulopus nigripinnis complex from central eastern Australia

Abstract

A new species of cucumberfish, Paraulopus melanogrammus , is described from upper slope depths of southern Queensland and northern New South Wales in the western Tasman Sea. It is distinguishable from other members of the P. nigripinnis complex, with which it shares 4.5-5.5 scales above the lateral line, the presence of supraocular ridges and a large maximum size, by a combination of characters, including a distinctive black leading edge along the full anterior margin of the dorsal fin of adults. In juveniles, the black margin is broken by a pale space midway along the fin.