Whitley's Gurnard Perch, Maxillicosta whitleyi Eschmeyer & Poss 1976

Other Names: Whitleys Scorpionfish, Whitley's Scorpionfish

Summary:

A gurnard perch usually with 3 or 4 irregular narrow vertical bands on the caudal fin (tail).

Cite this page as:

Bray, D.J. 2018, Maxillicosta whitleyi in Fishes of Australia, accessed 23 Jan 2025, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/4052

Whitley's Gurnard Perch, Maxillicosta whitleyi Eschmeyer & Poss 1976

More Info

Distribution	Endemic to eastern Australia, from east of Point Cartwright, Queensland, to off Gabo Island, Victoria.
Features	Pectoral fin 19-22; Scales in longitudinal series 40-47 ; pored lateral-line scales 25-28; Scale rows between bases of last pelvic-fin ray 1-3; 2-3 scales above, 10-12 scales below lateral line; 2-4 scales between the base of the 6th dorsal-fin spine and lateral line; 3-4 scales between last dorsal-fin spine and lateral line; scales above lateral line behind head usually without a strong median ridge; central portion of inner ridge on ventral mandibular surface midway between inner edge of dentary and central ridge; an additional short oblique ridge (accessory ridge) between posterior portions of inner and central ridges on ventral mandibular surface; 3-12 spinous points on anterior margin of nasal spine, 9-19 spinous points on entire nasal spine; 7-21 spinous points on surface of preocular spine; numerous spines or distinct ridges on lateral margin of occipital pit between tympanic spine and origin of parietal spine base; a single ossified ctenoid scale behind front edge of occipital pit between tympanic spines; dorsal surface of occipital pit with several slender simple spines; 2-4 spinous points at tip of upper opercular spine; posterior margin of maxilla not extending beyond a vertical through posterior margin of pupil; snout length 6.2-7.9% SL, upper-jaw length 16.3-19.2% SL, first anal-fin spine length 8.6-11.9% SL, second anal-fin spine length 16.3-20.3% SL, third anal-fin spine length 11.4- 14.4% SL, caudal-peduncle depth 9.4-10.6% SL.
Species Citation	Maxillicosta whitleyi Eschmeyer & Poss 1976, Bull. Mar. Sci. 26(4): 439, fig. 5. Type locality: Southport, Queensland.
Author	Bray, D.J. 2018
Resources	Australian Faunal Directory

Whitley's Gurnard Perch, Maxillicosta whitleyi Eschmeyer & Poss 1976

References

Eschmeyer, W.N. & Poss, S.G. 1976. Review of the scorpionfish genus Maxillicosta (Pisces : Scorpaenidae), with a description of three new species from the Australian-New Zealand region. Bulletin of Marine Science 26(4): 433-449 figs 1-10 PDF available, open access (M. meridianus included in M. whitleyi treatment)

Johnson, J.W. 2010. Fishes of the Moreton Bay Marine Park and adjacent continental shelf waters, Queensland, Australia. pp. 299-353 in Davie, P.J.F. & Phillips, J.A. Proceedings of the Thirteenth International Marine Biological Workshop, The Marine Fauna and Flora of Moreton Bay. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 54(3)

Johnson, J.W. & Motomura, H. 2008. Family Neosebastidae. pp. 489-495 in Gomon, M.F., Bray, D.J. & Kuiter, R.H. (eds). Fishes of Australia's Southern Coast. Sydney : Reed New Holland 928 pp.

Kuiter, R.H. 1993. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Bathurst : Crawford House Press 437 pp.

May, J.L. & Maxwell, J.G.H. 1986. Field Guide to Trawl Fish from Temperate Waters of Australia. Hobart : CSIRO Division of Marine Research 492 pp.

Motomura, H., Last, P.R. & Gomon, M.F. 2006. A new species of the scorpionfish genus Maxillicosta from the southeast coast of Australia, with a redescription of M. whitleyi (Scorpaeniformes: Neosebastidae). Copeia 2006(3): 445-459

Motomura, H., Last, P.R. & White, W.T. 2005. First records of a scorpionfish, Maxillicosta raoulensis (Scorpaeniformes, Neosebastidae), from the Tasman Sea, with fresh colour notes for the species. Biogeography 7: 85-90

Poss, S.G. 1994. Family Scorpaenidae. pp. 477-494 figs 428-441 in Gomon, M.F., Glover, C.J.M. & Kuiter, R.H. (eds). The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. Adelaide : State Printer 992 pp. 810 figs.