Nemadactylus Richardson

Genus Nemadactylus Richardson

(Fig. 9)

Nemadactylus Richardson, 1839: 98 [Type-species: Nemadactylus concinnus Richardson, 1839 (=junior synonym of N. macropterus Forster, 1801) by monotypy].

Dactylopagrus Gill, 1862: 114 [Type-species: Cheilodactylus carponemus Cuvier, 1830 (= junior synonym of N. macropterus Forster, 1801) by original designation].

Dactylosparus Gill, 1862: 117 [Type-species: Cheilodactylus carponemus Cuvier, 1830 (objective synonym of Dactylopagrus Gill, 1862)].

Acantholatris Gill, 1862: 119 [Type-species: Chaetodon monodactylus Carmichael, 1819 (= junior synonym of N. monodactylus Carmichael, 1819) by original designation].

Etymology. Gender masculine. Derived from the Greek nema (filament) and daktylos (finger) for the elongated pectoral fin rays.

Inclusive species. Nemadactylus macropterus (Forster) (type species), N. bergi (Norman), N. douglasii (Hector), N. gayi (Kner), N. monodactylus (Carmichael), N. rex Roberts, N. valenciennesi (Whitley), N. vemae (Penrith)

Diagnosis. Nemadactylus can be diagnosed by the following combination of characters: dorsal-fin elements XVI–XVIII, 2 4–31; anal-fin elements III, 11–19; pectoral-fin rays 14–16 with one greatly elongated ray that extends past the origin of the anal-fin; body ovoid and compressed without any greatly elongated dorsal-fin spines; dorsal head profile shallow; spinous and soft dorsal-fin portions not separated by a large notch.

Habitat and distribution. Widely distributed throughout the temperate Southern Hemisphere. Occur in Australia, New Zealand, South America, and oceanic islands within the Southern Ocean. Typically found on rocky reefs, or sandy habitat near rocky reefs to 400m (Kuiter 2003).

Comments. Feed on a variety of benthic invertebrates. Some species targeted in both recreational and commercial fisheries.

Material examined. N. bergi, ANSP 102720 [n=1, Argentina: Buenos Aires]; N. douglasii, NMV A13196 [n=5, Australia: New South Wales: Merimbula]; N. gayi, USNM 176401 [n=3], USNM 176402 [n=1]; N. macropterus, CAS 58782 [n=2, New Zealand: Wellington Harbor], NMV A21603 [n=5, Australia: Tasmania: Flinders Island], USNM 39674 [n=1]; N. valenciennesi, NMV A12627 [n=2, Australia: Victoria: Cape Duquesne], WAM P21896 [n=1, Australia: Western Australia: Esperance].