Sharp-toothed Grunter, Syncomistes carcharus Shelley, Delaval & Le Feuvre 2017
Sharp-toothed Grunter, Syncomistes carcharus. Source: Matthew Le Feuvre & James Shelley, University of Melbourne / Museums Victoria. License: All rights reserved
Summary:
A rare grunter with a dull golden body becoming paler below, sometimes 5-6 dark wavy stripes along the sides that rapidly fade on capture, a silvery or gold stripe below the eye, a dark blotch on the base of the anal fin, and darker scale margins.
Cite this page as:
Bray, D.J. 2020, Syncomistes carcharus in Fishes of Australia, accessed 20 Apr 2024, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/Home/species/5400
Sharp-toothed Grunter, Syncomistes carcharus Shelley, Delaval & Le Feuvre 2017
More Info
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Distribution |
Known only from the area around the junction of Pitta Creek and the Prince Regent River in the upper portion of the Prince Regent River catchment, The Kimberley, Western Australia. Inhabits deep backwaters and slow-flowing areas over rocky bottoms with abundant algal growth. |
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Colour |
When fresh: body dull gold overall with greenish sheen on head. Body darker dorsally, becomes lighter on the ventral surface. Five to six dark, wavy lines sometimes present on sides of adults: first following base of dorsal sheath; second, running from the anterior of nape to below posterior of soft dorsal ray base; third follows the lateral line ending on dorsal edge of caudal peduncle; fourth, from supracleithrum to middle of caudal base; fifth, running between the largest opercular spine and ventral edge of caudal peduncle; sixth running from dorsal edge of pectoral fin base to anus. Presence of lines highly variable and fading quickly once fish are removed from water or after death. Juvenile colours unknown. Anal fin with a basal blotch extending posteriorly on anterior rays. Caudal fin membranes dull gold. Dorsal fin membranes dull gold with dusky blotches. Pelvic fins dusky, pectoral fins clear. A silvery or gold stripe running below eye. Scales on body have a dark posterior band of pigmentation. |
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Feeding |
Feeds on algae and detritus. |
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Remarks |
The Sharp-toothed Grunter co-occurs with Syncomistes versicolor. |
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Etymology |
The specific name carcharus is Latin for sharp teeth, in reference to the robust, pointed teeth of this species, relative to other species of Syncomistes. |
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Species Citation |
Symcomistes carcharus Shelley, Delaval & Le Feuvre 2017, Zootaxa 4367(1): 37, Figs 12, 13. Type locality: Upper Prince Regent at confluence with Pitta Creek, Prince Regent River, Western Australia, 15° 50' 56.82'' S, 125° 39' 0.41'' |
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Author |
Bray, D.J. 2020 |
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Resources |
Sharp-toothed Grunter, Syncomistes carcharus Shelley, Delaval & Le Feuvre 2017
References
Le Feuvre, M.C. 2019. Syncomistes carcharus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T129056527A129056531. Downloaded on 01 September 2020.
Shelley, J.J. 2016. Evolution and biogeography of Australian tropical freshwater fishes. PhD Thesis. The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, 273 pp. http://hdl.handle.net/11343/120615 (as Syncomistes sp. 5)
Shelley, J.J., Gomon, M.F. & Le Feuvre, M.C. 2018. Family Terapontidae. pp. 118-158 in Shelley, J.J., Morgan, D.L., Hammer, M.P., Le Feuvre, M.C., Moore, G.I., Gomon, M.F., Allen, M.G. & Saunders, T. (eds) A field guide to the freshwater fishes of the Kimberley. Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia, 262 pp.
Shelley, J.J., Morgan, D.L., Hammer, M.P., Le Feuvre, M.C., Moore, G.I., Gomon, M.F., Allen, M.G. & Saunders, T. 2018. A field guide to the freshwater fishes of the Kimberley. Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia, 262 pp.
Shelley, J.J., Delaval, A. & Le Feuvre, M.C. 2017. A revision of the grunter genus Syncomistes (Teleostei, Terapontidae, Syncomistes) with descriptions of seven new species from the Kimberley region, northwestern Australia. Zootaxa 4367(1): 1-103 http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4367.1.1
Shelley, J.S., Swearer, S.E., Adams, M., Dempster, T., Le Feuvre, M.C., Hammer, M.P. & Unmack, P.J. 2018. Cryptic biodiversity in the freshwater fishes of the Kimberley endemism hotspot, northwestern Australia, Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 127: 843-858, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2018.06.032
