Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand abstracts

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(c) Journal of The Royal Society of New Zealand,

Volume 30, Number 4, December 2000, pp 373-384

The New Zealand triplefin Grahamina signata (Teleostei; Tripterygiidae): a junior synonym of G. gymnota from Tasmania

Kendall D. Clements*, Laith A. Jawad* and Andrew L. Stewart⁺

R00002. Received 14 February 2000; accepted 11 July 2000

*School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand
⁺Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, P.O. Box 467, Wellington, New Zealand

The tripterygiid fish Grahamina signata Fricke & Roberts, 1993 was described from 174 specimens collected from several exposed locations around the coast of New Zealand. It was distinguished from the Tasmanian G. gymnota (Scott 1977) by the number of pored scales in the lower lateral line, the number of branches of the supraorbital tentacle, and the colouration of the pectoral-fin base. Examination of new material of G. signata from the Auckland region, and re-examination of type material of G. gymnota, show that the supraorbital tentacle and lower lateral line are not differences of taxonomic significance. Pectoral fin colouration in a published underwater photo of G. gymnota suggests that the colour difference was due to the effects of preservation. We therefore refer G. signata to the synonymy of G. gymnota. This synonymy, in combination with the restricted Tasmanian distribution and dispersal capabilities of the species, suggests that G. gymnota was introduced to Tasmania from New Zealand.

Keywords  triplefin; Tripterygiidae; Grahamina gymnota; Grahamina signata; synonymy

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