Abstract
The taxonomic status of the seahorse Hippocampusprocerus Kuiter, 2001, type locality Hervey Bay, QLD, Australia, was re-examined based on its strong morphological similarity and geographical proximity to its congener H.whitei Bleeker, 1855, a species recorded in ten estuaries of New South Wales, Australia. Kuiter (2001) distinguished H.procerus from H.whitei by a taller coronet, marginally lower meristics, and spinier physiognomy. Meristic, morphometric, and key diagnostic morphological character comparisons from vouchered specimens of the two purported species collected from Sydney Harbour, Nelson Bay, Port Stephens, NSW and Hervey Bay, Bundaberg, and Moreton Bay, QLD did not show diagnostic differences to support species-level classification of H.procerus. Furthermore, partial mitochondrial COI sequence data from specimens sampled from known geographical distributions in NSW and Southport, QLD failed to discriminate between populations as a result of shared haplotypes, and revealed an average intraspecific divergence of 0.002%. Hippocampusprocerus is hereby placed in the synonymy of H.whitei; a redescription is provided, with a revised record of its range across eastern Australia.
Highlights
Hippocampus whitei Bleeker, 1855, is a geographically restricted species of seahorse recorded in ten coastal estuaries and embayments of central New South Wales (NSW), and farther north in the Tweed River, Australia
It can be found occurring in a variety of habitats including seagrasses, soft corals, sponge gardens, and artificial structures to depths of 15 m (Vincent et al 2004; Hellyer et al 2011; Harasti et al 2014a). It is listed as ‘Endangered’ under criterion A2bc of the IUCN Red List due its restricted distribution, loss of essential marine habitats, and associated population declines in developed urban estuaries, including Port Stephens and Sydney Harbour (Harasti 2016; Harasti and Pollom 2017)
We find that spine physiognomy, neck spines present or absent in juveniles and adults, respectively, and subtle differences in meristics, are unreliable diagnostic characters, and that key and informative morphological characters are congruent across all specimens, which conform to the diagnosis of H. whitei
Summary
Hippocampus whitei Bleeker, 1855, is a geographically restricted species of seahorse recorded in ten coastal estuaries and embayments of central New South Wales (NSW), and farther north in the Tweed River, Australia.
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