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Nature in Singapore, 13, 11-26

Xenaploactis asperrima (Günther 1860) —Dwarf velvetfish Status at New Ireland. First recorded from New Ireland and Papua New Guinea by Fricke (2016c: 68), based on NTUM 11319 (1 specimen, 44.6 mm SL, St. CP 4490-23, off northwest side of New Hanover). Distribution and habitat. New Ireland: 1.—General distribution: East Indies (Indonesia?). 120–155 m depth. Marine., Published as part of Andréfouët, Serge, Chen, Wei-Jen, Kinch, Jeff, Mana, Ralph, Russell, Barry C., Tully, Dean & White, William T., 2019, Checklist of the marine and estuarine fishes of New Ireland Province, Papua New Guinea, western Pacific Ocean, with 810 new records, pp. 1-360 in Zootaxa 4588 (1) on page 105, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4588.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/2988163

Andréfouët, Serge, Chen, Wei-Jen, Kinch, Jeff, Mana, Ralph, Russell, Barry C., Tully, Dean, White, William T. (2019): Checklist of the marine and estuarine fishes of New Ireland Province, Papua New Guinea, western Pacific Ocean, with 810 new records. Zootaxa 4588 (1): 1-360, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4588.1.1

APLOACTINIDAE Cocotropus steinitzi Eschmeyer & Dor 1978 Gulf of Suez: �� Gulf of Aqaba: Israel (Eschmeyer & Dor 1978). Red Sea main basin: �� General distribution: Red Sea, Indo-West Pacific: Andaman Islands; northern Papua New Guinea. * Ptarmus gallus (Kossmann & R��uber 1877) Gulf of Suez: Egypt (Fricke et al. 2017c). Gulf of Aqaba: �� Red Sea main basin: Egypt (Botros 1971), Sudan (Fr��iland 1972; Johnson 2004), Eritrea (Kossmann & R��uber 1877, as Tetraroge gallus), Saudi Arabia (Tortonese 1983). General distribution: Red Sea endemic., Published as part of Golani, Daniel & Fricke, Ronald, 2018, Checklist of the Red Sea Fishes with delineation of the Gulf of Suez, Gulf of Aqaba, endemism and Lessepsian migrants, pp. 1-215 in Zootaxa 4509 (1) on page 57, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4509.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/2607566, {"references":["Eschmeyer, W. N. & Dor, M. (1978) Cocotropus steinitzi, a new species of the fish family Aploactinidae (Pisces: Scorpaeniformes) from the Red Sea and Andaman Islands. Israel Journal of Zoology, 27 (4), 165 - 168.","Kossmann, R. & Rauber, H. (1877) Fische. Wissenschftliche Reise in die Kustengebiete des Rothen Meeres. Verhandlungen des Naturhistorisch-Medizinischen Vereins zu Heidelberg, 1, 378 - 420, pls. 3 - 4.","Fricke, R., Golani, D. & Appelbaum-Golani, B. (2017 c) New record of Ptarmus gallus Kossmann & Rauber, 1877 from the northern Red Sea (Teleostei: Aploactinidae), with a redescription of the species. Zoology in the Middle East, 63 (3), 219 - 227. https: // doi. org / 10.1080 / 09397140.2017.1349138","Botros, G. A. (1971) Fishes of the Red Sea. Oceanography and Marine Biology, Annual Review, 9, 221 - 348.","Froiland, O. (1972) The scorpaenids of the Red Sea (Pisces: Scorpaenidae). PhD Dissertation, University of Bergen, Bergen, vi + 160 pp.","Johnson, J. W. (2004) Two new species and two new records of aploactinid fishes (Pisces: Scorpaeniformes) from Australia. Records of the Australian Museum, 56 (2), 179 - 188. https: // doi. org / 10.3853 / j. 0067 - 1975.56.2004.1421","Tortonese, E. (1983) List of fishes observed near Jeddah (Saudi Arabia). Journal of the Faculty of Marine Science, 3, 105 - 110."]}

The current checklist provides for each species of the Red Sea its records in the Gulf of Suez, Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea main basin and its general distribution.This new checklist of Red Sea fishes enumerates 1207 species, representing 164 families. Of these, 797 species were recorded from the Gulf of Aqaba and 339 from the Gulf of Suez. The number of species from the Gulf of Suez is evidently lower than the actual number not including 27 Lessepsian (Red Sea) migrants to the Mediterranean that most likely occur in the Gulf. The current list includes 73 species that were newly described for science since the last checklist of 2010. The most specious Osteichthyes families are: Gobiidae (134 species), Labridae (66), Apogonidae (59), Serranidae (including Anthiadinae) (44), Blenniidae (42), Carangidae (38), Muraenidae (36), Pomacentridae (35), Syngnathidae (34), Scorpaenidae (24) and Lutjanidae (23). Among the families of Chondrichthyes, the most specious families are the Carcharhinidae (18 species) and Dasyatidae (11). The total number of endemic species in the Red Sea is 174 species, of these, 34 species are endemic to the Gulf of Aqaba and 8 to the Gulf of Suez.

Fricke, Ronald, Allen, Gerald R., Andréfouët, Serge, Chen, Wei-Jen, Hamel, Mélanie A., Laboute, Pierre, Mana, Ralph, Hui, Tan Heok, Uyeno, Daisuke (2014): Checklist of the marine and estuarine fishes of Madang District, Papua New Guinea, western Pacific Ocean, with 820 new records. Zootaxa 3832 (1): 1-247, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3832.1.1

Aploactinidae Acanthosphex leurynnis (Jordan &Seale, 1905) ���Dwarf velvetfish STATUS AT MADANG. New record from Madang, based on WAM material (WAM P. 30358 -005). DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT. India east to Philippines and New Guinea, south to northern Australia. Cryptic on coral rubble near reefs, 5��� 60 m. Marine. Cocotropus larvatus (Bleeker, 1852) ���Ghost velvetfish STATUS AT MADANG. First record from Madang by Allen & Erdmann (2012: 252). DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT. Eastern Andaman Sea east to Marshall Islands and New Guinea, north to Ryukyu Islands. Found on outer reef slopes, solitary and cryptic among coral rubble, 4��� 40 m. Marine. Cocotropus steinitzi Eschmeyer & Dor, 1978 ���Steinitz' velvetfish STATUS AT MADANG. First record from Madang by Allen & Erdmann (2012: 252). DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT. Red Sea; Andaman Islands; Papua New Guinea. Found solitary and cryptic on sand or coral rubble, ca. 2��� 20 m. Marine., Published as part of Fricke, Ronald, Allen, Gerald R., Andr��fou��t, Serge, Chen, Wei-Jen, Hamel, M��lanie A., Laboute, Pierre, Mana, Ralph, Hui, Tan Heok & Uyeno, Daisuke, 2014, Checklist of the marine and estuarine fishes of Madang District, Papua New Guinea, western Pacific Ocean, with 820 new records, pp. 1-247 in Zootaxa 3832 (1) on page 55, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3832.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/250559, {"references":["Allen, G. R. & Erdmann, M. V. (2012) Reef fishes of the East Indies. Vol. I - III. Tropical Reef Research, Perth, pp. x + 1 - 424 + end note, pp. 425 - 855 & preface + map + contents + pp. 857 - 1260.]"]}

Family Aploactinidae Jordan & Starks 1904 Aploactinae Jordan & Starks 1904a:93 [ref. 2527] (subfamily) Aploactis [stem emended to Aploactin- by Greenwood, Rosen, Weitzman & Myers 1966:399 [ref. 26856]; confirmed by Lindberg 1971:196 [ref. 27211], by Nelson 1976:205 [ref. 32838], by Steyskal 1980:171 [ref. 14191] and by Ishida 1994:103 [ref. 22378]; family name sometimes seen as Haploactidae] Bathyaploactinae Whitley 1933:102 [ref. 4677] (subfamily) Bathyaploactis [emended to Bathyaploactininae by Steyskal 1980:172 [ref. 14191], confirmed by Imamura 2004:33 [ref. 29602]] Matsubarichthyinae Mandrytsa 2001:270 [ref. 25636] (subfamily) Matsubarichthys

Laan, Richard Van Der, Eschmeyer, William N., Fricke, Ronald (2014): Family-group names of Recent fishes. Zootaxa 3882 (2): 1-230, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3882.1.1, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3882.1.1

Pseudopataecus carnatobarbatus sp. nov. Goatee Velvetfish (Fig. 1 A���C, 2 A���B, 3; Table 1���2) Holotype. WAM P. 33274 -001, 97.4 mm, Adele Island, reef platform at head of Frazer channel, 15 �� 29.474 ���S 123 �� 09.798���E, rotenone 0���1 m, S. Morrison, J. Johnson, 15 Oct 2009 (tissue sample taken). Paratypes. AMS I. 45620 -001 (ex WAM P. 33291 -001), 72.9 mm, Montgomery Reef, small tidal pools, 15 �� 53.7 ���S 124 �� 20.34 ���E, 0���0.5 m, rotenone, S. Morrison, J. Johnson, 24 Oct 2009; NTM S. 10805 -015, 65.5 mm, Near Alpha Island, Monte Bello Islands, 20 �� 24 ���S 115 �� 32 ���E, 3���9 m, H. Larson, R. Williams, 22 Apr 1983, sand, coral rubble, Sargassum, coral; NTM S. 12587 -055, 2: 51.0��� 57.1 mm, juveniles, East side of Cape Leveque, 16 �� 25 ���S 122 �� 55 ���E, 0���0.5 m, H. Larson, 18 Mar 1987; QM I. 38821 (ex WAM P. 33273 -001), 75.0 mm, Adele Island, tidal pools, 15 �� 31.7 ���S 123 �� 11.611 ���E, 0���1 m, rotenone, S. Morrison, J. Johnson, 14 Oct 2009; QM I. 38822 (ex WAM P. 33291 -001), 59.2 mm, juvenile, Montgomery Reef, small tidal pools, 15 �� 53.7 ���S 124 �� 20.34 ���E, 0���0.5 m, rotenone, S. Morrison, J. Johnson, 24 Oct 2009; WAM P. 33273 -001, 36.1 mm, juvenile, Adele Island, tidal pools, 15 �� 31.7 ���S 123 �� 11.611 ���E, 0���1 m, rotenone, S. Morrison, J. Johnson, 14 Oct 2009; WAM P. 33274 -003 (ex WAM P. 33274 -001), 71.6 mm, same data as holotype (tissue sample taken); WAM P. 33276 -001, 84.5 mm, Adele Island, NW corner of reef, 15 �� 27.744 ���S 123 ��06.201���E, 6.6 m, hand collected, C. Bryce, 17 Oct 2009; WAM P. 33278 -001, 71.5 mm, Montgomery Reef, steep fore-reef with channels, 15 �� 53.815 ���S 124 �� 19.531 ���E, 0���1 m, rotenone, S. Morrison, J. Johnson, 19 Oct 2009; WAM P. 33291 -001, 73.3 mm, Montgomery Reef, small tidal pools, 15 �� 53.7 ���S 124 �� 20.34 ���E, 0���0.5 m, rotenone, S. Morrison, J. Johnson, 24 Oct 2009. Diagnosis. A species of Pseudopataecus with dorsal-fin rays XIII���XIV, 13 i��� 14 i; anal-fin rays I, 9 i��� 11 i; pectoral-fin rays 11���12; pelvic-fin rays I, 3; gill rakers 0���4 + 5���8, total 6���11 on first arch; lateral-line tubes 13���17; vertebrae, including urostyle, 31���32. Dorsal-, anal-, pectoral-, first two pelvic- and most caudal-fin rays branched near their tips, except in juveniles; last soft dorsal-fin ray joined for most of its length by membrane to proximal third of upper caudal-fin ray; spinous dorsal fin strongly notched between third and eighth spines; pelvic fins relatively robust, with third or innermost ray subequal to second ray; anterior face of lower lip smooth, with a single row of small unbranched cirri along its upper margin; a narrow quadrangular pit on forehead bounded by frontal, supraorbital, ocular and preocular ridges. Description. Head 2.9 (2.7 ���3.0) in SL, markedly compressed and covered with modified scales ending in spinous points; scales absent or less dense on snout and interorbital space. Dorsal profile of head convex, ascending steeply to base of extremely anteriorly inserted dorsal fin, inclined dorsoposteriorly about 50 �� from horizontal. Eye 5.1 (3.4���4.7) in HL, smaller relative to HL in larger specimens. Lachrymal spines connected at base, with broad blunt points, first directed anteroventrally over maxilla, second longer and narrower, directed dorsoposteriorly. Surface of lachrymal bone lacking bony knob-like projections. Suborbital ridge with four knob-like spines, anterior two small, posterior two larger, connecting to form a bony ridge. Frontal ridges prominent, thinly covered with skin, slightly bowed at midlength, then gently converging posteriorly to meet a flat transverse bony boss anterior to base of first dorsal spine; ridges forming a distinct fleshy pit in their interspace. Tip of rostral cartilage from ascending premaxillary processes evident by a raised bump preceding the pit. A tuft of simple to poorly branched cirri at anterior end of each ridge and a simple cirrus posteriorly at the outside edge of each ridge. Supraorbital spine followed anteriorly by a prominent flange-like ridge, curving anteriorly to base of first dorsal-fin spine and converging with non-prominent bony ridge across posterior end of frontal ridges; a second parallel ridge below, produced from preocular spine and extending from ocular to frontal ridges, forming a moderately deep quadrangular pit in the interspace (Fig. 2 A���B). No spines on nasals. Anterior nostril a simple tube midway between eye and tip of snout. Posterior nostril just anterior to middle of eye, a less prominent open tube with anterior margin raised. Fleshy, slightly raised pores at snout tip anterior to first lachrymal spine and at middle of lower margin of lachrymal, smaller pores along preopercular margin immediately below first to fourth preopercular spines. Preopercle with five blunt spines; the first large and prominent, others gradually decreasing in size ventrally; upper three projecting laterally and posterodorsally, fourth with low broad tip, fifth non-prominent or rudimentary; three lowermost spines armed with a poorly-branched or simple cirrus. Anterior edge of interopercle with two similar cirri. Operculum with two ridges; lower inclined slightly above the horizontal, terminating just prior to opercular margin; upper inclined about 45 �� to the horizontal, not reaching opercular margin; neither with spinous tips. Dorsal margin of operculum scalloped and steeply inclined dorsoposteriorly; opercular tip narrow, directed toward seventh to eighth dorsal-fin spine. Sphenotic, pterotic, lower posttemporal and supracleithral spines forming similar to slightly larger blunt ridges. Cleithrum without spine. Ventral surface of lower jaw with numerous tufts of unbranched cirri, those anteriorly longest, up to almost pupil diameter in length. A pair of large pores close together just posterior to symphysis, pores also ventrally at middle and posterior end of dentary, those anteriorly and medially strongly obscured by cirri. Upper lip evenly papillose throughout; medial part of lower lip smooth, with a single row of tiny unbranched cirri along its upper margin, lateral and posterior parts more papillose than upper lip. Maxilla broad, smooth, with two small unbranched cirri posterodorsally and a much larger unbranched cirrus near lower margin adjacent to angle of mouth; rear margin of maxilla slightly curved, extending to a vertical midway between anterior edge of first dorsal-fin spine and anterior margin of eye. Both jaws with a broad uniform band of minute firm conical teeth. Similar small but well-developed teeth in a crescentic band on vomer, band projecting anteriorly and widest medially. No teeth on palatines. Tongue stout and rounded. Gill rakers short knobs, in holotype 2 on right side and 3 on left side upper limb, 6 on right side and 8 on left side lower limb, total 8 and 11 (0���4 + 5���8, total 6���11 in paratypes). Spacing of rakers somewhat irregular, often a short gap devoid of rakers below angle of arch. No slit behind posterior hemibranch. Branchiostegal membranes free from isthmus. Isthmus with fleshy extension anteriorly, slightly expanded, its free tip longer than wide. Body markedly compressed, depth 2.8 (3.0��� 3.3) in SL, width 6.2 (6.3���7.9) in SL, densely covered with modified scales. Lateral line with 15 (13���17) tubes, gently sloping posteroventrally to the midlateral, then continuing in a generally straight course to the caudal base. Tubed scales mostly armed with a cirrus; last scale usually immediately preceding the caudal flexure. Dorsal fin originating about two-thirds of eye diameter before anterior margin of eye. First dorsal-fin spine longest, second only slightly shorter (second spine longest in all paratypes), third to seventh spines progressively decreasing in length, fourth to sixth abruptly so, eighth to last spines increasing gradually, or approximately equal in length. Dorsal-fin membrane not or very weakly incised. Last dorsal-fin ray adnate for most of its length by membrane to proximal third of upper caudal-fin ray. Twelfth (tenth to twelfth) dorsal-fin ray longest. Pectoral fin rounded, tips of rays protruding from membrane, fourth or fifth ray longest, reaching vertical between anus and first anal-fin spine. Pelvic fins relatively stout, 1.4 (1.4���1.6) in distance from their base to anus; with flexible spine and 3 rays; first soft ray shortest, second longest, third or innermost ray subequal to second; longest pelvic-fin ray subequal to fourth dorsal-fin spine; pelvic-fin membrane not adnate to body. Anal fin with single, moderately long, non-pungent spine; rays gradually increasing in length to seventh (seventh to ninth) ray, last two rays shorter; membranes distinctly incised; basal third of last ray connected to caudal peduncle by membrane. Caudal fin rounded, with 12 (ii 6 / 6 i) rays (11��� 13, i���ii 6-7 / 5- 6 i���ii in paratypes); the latter protruding slightly from membrane. All fin rays with branched tips (except in juveniles). Vertebrae 31 (31���32). Colour in alcohol. Head and body of holotype medium to dark grey-brown, with scattered diffuse pale mottlings. Head a slightly lighter shade of grey than body, with several vague dark striations radiating a short distance from eyes. Underside of head pale yellowish cream. Chest and belly pale grey. Anus pale yellowish cream. An irregular broad pale band across caudal peduncle. Dorsal, anal, caudal and pectoral fins charcoal-grey, scattered with small diffuse pale spots. Tips of all fin rays pale. Pelvic fins mostly pale, but with two transverse dusky blotches, the first about a third of fin length from base, the second slightly larger and situated just proximal to the tip. Several rows of pale spots forming a vertical vaguely T-shaped band across caudal fin at about one third length of fin. A broad pale semicircular blotch covering distal part of caudal fin from third to eighth rays, the area infused by more subtle dark mottlings. Shape of pale band and posterior blotch on caudal fin varying somewhat between holotype and some paratypes. Distal upper corner of caudal fin dusky to black, the pigment there more intense and contrastingly darker than remainder of fin. Live colouration. Holotype almost entirely covered in thick greenish-brown mucosa. Side of body above midlength of pectoral fin with irregular whitish blotch, its lower edge intersected by lateral line. Area immediately surrounding eye lacking mucosa, the underlying skin tan, with numerous short irregular whitish striations radiating from eye. Dorsal, anal and caudal-fin tips vaguely pale. Caudal fin with irregular pale band across proximal third of fin and with wedge-shaped pale blotch distally in upper two-thirds of fin (Fig. 1 A). Most paratypes lacking a coating of thick pigmented mucosa. Colouration in the latter orange-red to dark reddish-brown on head, body and fins. An irregular light brownish-cream blotch situated above distal half of pectoral fins, and two adjacent off-white, mauve, or purple blotches on and just anterior to upper half of caudal peduncle. Ground colouration of head a lighter shade than body, vermiculated finely with numerous irregular whitish to pale pink markings. Tips of all fins whitish to dull pink. Distal upper corner of caudal fin and posterodorsal corner of soft dorsal fin dusky, contrastingly slightly darker than remainder of fins in most paratypes (Fig. 1 B���C). Etymology. The species is named carnatobarbatus, from the latin carnatio for fleshy and barbatus for bearded, in reference to the goatee-like beard of fleshy cirri present around the lower chin. Distribution and habitat. Known from the types, collected from Monte Bello Islands (20 �� 24 ���S 115 �� 32 ���E), north to Adele Island (15 �� 27.744 ���S 123 ��06.201���E) and west to Montgomery Reef (15 �� 53.7 ���S 124 �� 20.34 ���E), Western Australia, in depths of 0.1 ���9.0 m. The species is also recorded from Exmouth Navy Wharf (21 �� 57 ���S 114 ��08���E) based on an underwater photograph taken by N. Marsh on 12 April 2006 in 13 m (Coleman 2006). Habitat where P. carnobarbatus was collected and observed mostly included broad shallow pools within degenerating low-relief reef, with dead coral heads, overhangs and crevices, scattered shell and coral rubble, most often among stands of brown macroalgae, especially Padina sp., but also Sargassum sp. All but two specimens were collected in very shallow water at low tide, however given the prevailing tidal range in the region, depths at the same locations would reach up to at least 12 m at spring high water. Discussion. Pseudopataecus carnatobarbatus is distinguished from P. taenianotus by numerous characters, some of which are more fully outlined in the diagnosis. It has branched (versus simple) tips to most fin rays (except in juveniles, which have yet to develop branching); last soft dorsal-fin ray adnate for most of its length to proximal third of upper caudal-fin ray (versus joined to upper caudal-fin ray only at base); spinous dorsal fin more distinctly notched, making anterior portion of fin appear relatively more elevated; pelvic fins more robust, with third or innermost ray subequal to second ray (versus pelvic fins slender, third ray rudimentary and much the shortest); anterior face of lower lip smooth, with only a single row of tiny unbranched cirri along its upper margin (versus anterior face of lower lip profusely covered with numerous moderately large cirri); more prominent fleshy beardlike cirri on ventral edge of chin; a relatively longer head and snout (HL 2.7 ���3.0 versus 3.1���3.3 in SL; snout 2.7��� 3.3 versus 3.9���4.2 in HL); a longer first anal-fin spine (6.9���8.1 versus 4.2���6.5 % SL) (Table 1); and more prominent ridges on the frontal part of the cranium, including roughly parallel supraorbital and preocular ridges extending forward to meet the frontal ridge, forming a moderately deep quadrangular pit in the interspace (versus preocular ridge and quadrangular pit absent) (Fig. 2 A���D). It also has modally fewer anal-fin rays (9���11, mode 10 versus 11���13, mode 12), and modally greater numbers of gill rakers (0���4 (mode 2) + 5���8 (mode 7), total 6���11 (mode 9) versus 0��� 2 (mode 1) + 4���6 (mode 5), total 4���7 (mode 6) (Table 2). The tufts of fleshy cirri on the lower edge of the chin are much produced in P. carnatobarbatus relative to P. taenianotus. In life P. carnatobarbatus was observed to collectively project the cirri ventrally or horizontally forward, in a tight goatee beard-like formation. In combination with the associated pores on the dentary, this would seem likely to perform a sensory function. Dorsal-fin Rays Species Spines Soft rays XIII XIV XV 13 14 15 carnatobarbatus 1 11 * - 5 * 7 - taenianotus 2 12 * 1 - 8 * 7 Anal-fin Rays Species 9 10 11 12 13 carnatobarbatus 3 * 6 3 - - taenianotus - - 4 10 * 1 Lateral-line Tubes # Species 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 carnatobarbatus - - 1 13 9 * - 1 taenianotus 2 2 11 13 * 1 1 - Gill Rakers # Species Upper Lower Total 0 1 2 3 4 4 5 6 7 8 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 carnatobarbatus 1 10 9 * 3 * 1 - 4 6 * 10 4 * - - 4 1 7 * 9 2 1 * taenianotus 10 19 * 1 - - 6 15 * 9 * - - 1 11 11 * 7 * - - - - The new species is found in an extremely high tidal range area of Australia, where tidal movement of up to about 11 m occurs during spring tides. The species has only been collected in shallow tide pools at the bottom of the tidal range, mainly due to difficulties associated with making collections underwater in the prevailing high tidal flows of the region. It was found at sites that reach depths of up to about 12 m at high water, and was not observed at greater depths in the surrounding area during detailed underwater visual surveys. Most specimens were collected from among heavy cover in rocky pools including coral rubble and thick stands of brown macroalgae, especially including Padina species. In contrast, P. taenianotus is known from depths of 20���63 m and has only been taken by trawl or epibenthic sled, over predominantly soft bottom habitats, including algae and some sessile marine invertebrates, such as sponges. Comparative materials. Pseudopataecus taenianotus: type and non-type material as listed by Johnson (2004); QM I. 33946, 93.4 mm, NE of Burnett Heads, 24 �� 34 ���S 152 �� 34 ���E, 20���22 m, trawl, Qld Fisheries Service, 11 Oct 2002; QM I. 37457, 118 mm, NE of Waddy Point, Fraser Island, 24 �� 54 ���S 153 �� 26 ���E, 29 m, trawl, Qld Fisheries Service, 27 Apr 2005; QM I. 40074, 87.4 mm, East of Keppel Islands, 23 �� 05.1���S 151 �� 28.5 ���E, 40 m, epibenthic sled, Seabed Biodiversity Study Team, 3 Nov 2005., Published as part of Johnson, Jeffrey W., 2012, Pseudopataecus carnatobarbatus, a new species of velvetfish (Teleostei: Scorpaeniformes: Aploactinidae) from the Kimberley coast of Western Australia, pp. 54-62 in Zootaxa 3245 on pages 55-61, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.212515, {"references":["Coleman, N. (2006) Asia Indopacific Identity Crisis, p. 38 - 39. In: Sport Diving October / November 2006, 106 pp.","Johnson, J. W. (2004) Two new species and two new records of aploactinid fishes (Pisces: Scorpaeniformes) from Australia. Records of the Australian Museum, 56, 179 - 188."]}

Pseudopataecus n.gen. Type species. Pseudopataecus taenianotus n.sp. Diagnosis. Dorsal fin XIII–XV, 14–15; anal fin I, 11–13; pectoral fin 11; pelvic fin I, 3; all fin rays unbranched. Dorsal fin high, with membrane not or only slightly incised, anterior portion distinctly raised, originating on cranium almost one eye diameter before anterior margin of eye. Pelvic fins long and slender, reaching about two-thirds distance to anus. Head and body highly compressed, body width 6.4–6.9 in SL; frontal bone with non-prominent laterally-bowed ridges, a shallow fleshy depression in their interspace; fleshy cirri densely arranged on margin and ventral surface of mandible; anterior tip of isthmus free; modified scales densely arranged on head and body; bands of minute villiform teeth in jaws and on vomer; no teeth on palatines; vertebrae 30. Discussion. Pseudopataecus can readily be distinguished from all other aploactinid fishes in having a combination of high numbers of dorsal-fin rays, anal-fin rays and vertebrae, markedly compressed head and body, welldeveloped velvety scales, and shallow fleshy depression present between the laterally-bowed fleshy frontal ridges (Table 1). It has the dorsal fin inserted far forward (almost one orbital diameter before a vertical from anterior margin of eye) and containing 28 or 29 elements, and 30 vertebrae. Of all known aploactinids, only the monotypic Aploactis Temminck & Schlegel, 1843 and Aploactisoma Castelnau, 1872 have a total of both 28 or more dorsal fin elements and 29 or more vertebrae. Species of the latter are easily distinguished from this genus by their more robust head and body, more prominent and sculptured cranial ridges (interorbital ridges slightly divergent in Aploactis, strongly convergent in Aploactisoma), more posteriorly inserted dorsal fin (above posterior margin of eye in Aploactis, anterior margin of eye or just before in Aploactisoma), much shorter dorsal- and anal-fin rays (longest dorsal- and analfin rays 1.7–2.1 and 2.0– 2.5 in Aploactis, 1.8–2.3 and 2.0– 2.5 in Aploactisoma, versus 1.2–1.4 and 1.6–1.8 in head length respectively in Pseudopataecus), and two versus three pelvic-fin rays. Some species of Erisphex Jordan & Starks, 1904 may have up to 27 dorsal fin elements and 31 vertebrae (Poss, 1999), however members of this genus have a considerably more robust head and body, pungent lachrymal, preopercular and dorsal-fin spines, smooth scaleless skin, and only two pelvic fin rays. The broadly defined Cocotropus Kaup, 1858 is superficially similar to Pseudopataecus, but has parallel interorbital ridges, with no more than a narrow shallow groove within the interspace, 25 or fewer dorsal fin elements including 11 or fewer rays, 11 or fewer anal-fin ray elements, 9–12 lateral-line tubes (versus 13–14), and 28 or fewer vertebrae. The frontal bones of Paraploactis Bleeker, 1865 have prominent ridges diverging posteriorly to form a bony pyriform depression. They are more elaborately sculptured, not covered in skin, and their depression deeper and more angular than in Pseudopataecus. Paraploactis also has no more than 25 dorsal fin elements and 28 vertebrae (Poss & Eschmeyer, 1978). Ptarmus Smith, 1947 shares a notably compressed head and body and forward-placed dorsal-fin insertion, but more closely resembles the tetrarogin scorpaenids, with smooth, ill-defined head ridges, a larger mouth, more prominent snout, pungent lachrymal, preopercular, and dorsal-, anal- and pelvic-fin spines, significantly fewer dorsal-, anal- and pectoral-fin rays, and no scales other than in the lateral line (densely arranged in Pseudopataecus)., Published as part of Johnson, J. W., 2004, Two New Species and Two New Records of Aploactinid Fishes (Pisces: Scorpaeniformes) from Australia, pp. 179-188 in Records of the Australian Museum 56 on page 181, {"references":["Castelnau, F. L., 1872. Contribution to the ichthyology of Australia. No. II. Note on some South Australian fishes. Proceedings of the Zoological Acclimatisation Society of Victoria 1: 243 - 247.","Poss, S. G., 1999. Aploactinidae - velvetfishes. In FAO Species Identification Guide for Fishery Purposes. The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. Vol. 4. Bony Fishes, part 2 (Mugilidae to Carangidae), ed. K. E. Carpenter and V. H. Niem, pp. 2354 - 2358. Rome: FAO.","Kaup, J. J., 1858. Einiges uber die Acanthopterygiens a joue cuirassee Cuv. Archiv fur Naturgeschichte 24 (1): 329 - 343.","Bleeker, P., 1865. Notice sur le genre Paraploactis et description de son espece type. Nederlands Tijdschrift voor de Dierskunde 2: 168 - 170.","Poss, S. G., & W. N. Eschmeyer, 1978. Two new Australian velvetfishes, genus Paraploactis (Scorpaeniformes: Aploactinidae), with a revision of the genus and comments on the genera and species of the Aploactinidae. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 41 (18): 401 - 426.","Smith, J. L. B., 1947. New species and new records of fishes from South Africa. Annals and Magazine of Natural History (Series 11) 13 (108): 793 - 821."]}

Pseudopataecus carnatobarbatus, new species, is described from 12 specimens collected on shallow coastal reefs of northernWestern Australia, between the Monte Bello Islands and Adele Island. It is distinguished from its sole congener, P. taenianotusJohnson 2004, by branched (versus simple) tips to most fin rays, last soft dorsal-fin ray joined by membrane more fully toupper caudal-fin ray, spinous dorsal fin more distinctly notched, pelvic fins more robust, anterior face of lower lip smooth (ver-sus profusely covered with cirri), and a narrow quadrangular pit on the forehead, bounded by frontal, supraorbital, ocular andpreocular ridges (versus pit and preocular ridge absent). It also has modally fewer anal-fin rays and modally greater numbers ofgill rakers. Pseudopataecus carnatobarbatus is found in an extremely high tidal range area of Australia, where movement of upto 11 m occurs during spring tides. Specimens were collected in rocky tide pools with coral rubble and thick stands of brownmacroalgae, especially Padina species. The new species has been found in intertidal areas up to only 13 m deep, whereas P. taenianotus has been collected by trawling soft bottom habitats in depths of 20 to 63 m.