Dactylophora De Vis

Genus Dactylophora De Vis

(Fig. 5)

Dactylophora De Vis, 1883: 284 [Type-species: Dactylophora semimaculata De Vis, 1883 (= junior synonym of D. nigricans De Vis, 1883) by monotypy].

Psilocranium Macleay, 1884: 439 [Type-species: Psilocranium coxii Macleay, 1884 (= junior synonym of D. nigricans De Vis, 1883) by monotypy].

Etymology. Gender masculine. Derived from the Greek daktylos (finger) and pherein (to carry).

Inclusive species. Dactylophora nigricans (Richardson) (type by monotypy)

Diagnosis. Dactylophora can be diagnosed by the following combination of characters: dorsal-fin elements XV–XVI, 24–26; anal-fin elements III, 9–10; pectoral-fin rays 14 with ventral 5 unbranched and thickened; lateralline scales 45–55. Height of soft dorsal fin roughly equal to height of spinous portion. Elongate body with shallow dorsal head profile; body cylindrical in cross section; scales cycloid and large on body; eyes moderate size; no bony processes on frontal bones or maxilla.

Habitat and distribution. Found by rocky reefs, weeds and seagrasses to 30m (Kuiter 1993). Distributed along the southern coast of Australia and northern Tasmania.

Comments. Distinguished from all other latrids by a long, cylindrical body that lacks both a pointed snout and high anal-fin ray counts. Can acquire large adult sizes, reaching 1.2m TL (Kuiter 1993).

Material examined. D. nigricans, LACM 52122 [n=1, Australia], NMV A17775 [n=1, Australia: Victoria: Port Phillip Bay], NMV A13967 [n=1, Australia: Victoria: Port Phillip Bay], NMV A25379 -001 [n=1, Australia: Victoria: Port Phillip Bay], USNM 440480 [n=1, Australia: Tasmania].