The centrolophid fishes of New Zealand (Pisces: Stromateoidei)

Abstract

Abstract A review of the New Zealand centrolophid fishes shows the following species to be present: Hyperoglyphe antarctica (Carmichael): a deep-water benthic species widespread in the southern oceans; Seriolella punctata (Forster, in Bloch and Schneider): shelf edge and deeper waters, widespread from Australia to South America; S. brama (Günther): largely in southern coastal waters, present also in southern Australia; S. caerulea Guichenot (= S. tinro Gavrilov): southern, deeper, offshore waters, from Tasmania to Patagonian South America; S. labyrinthica (McAllister and Randall): one specimen known from northern New Zealand shores, also other Pacific Islands from Lord Howe to Easter and Juan Fernandez; Centrolophus niger (Gmelin): not uncommon in deeper, offshore waters, an almost cosmopolitan species; Schedophilus huttoni (Waite): very rare, mostly from beach cast specimens, presumably a deep-water species, present also in the South Atlantic and off eastern Australia; S. maculatus Günther: a rare deep-water species known largely from juveniles, south Pacific, possibly southern circum polar; Icichthys australis Haedrich: a rare deep-water species in southern New Zealand, also off Tasmania, south Atlantic and sub-Antarctic; Tubbia tasmanica Whitley: widespread in deep waters in the New Zealand region also known from off the east coast of South Africa and Tasmania. Full descriptions and synonymies for each species and keys for the identification of New Zealand centrolophids are presented. Knowledge of distribution and habits is reviewed. Where available and of significance, both adults and juveniles are illustrated.