Highfin Cardinalfish, Gymnapogon velum Fraser 2019

Summary:

An elongate species of Gymnapogon with long and deep soft dorsal and anal fins, maximum depth about 50% of body depth and about equal to caudal peduncle depth, a rounded caudal fin, and a single smooth spine on the edge of the preopercle. The head, body, and fins lack scales.

Cite this page as:

Bray, D.J. 2019, Gymnapogon velum in Fishes of Australia, accessed 27 Apr 2024, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/5517

Highfin Cardinalfish, Gymnapogon velum Fraser 2019

More Info

Distribution	At the time of description, the species is known only from two specimens collected from the Rowley Shelf, North West Shelf, Western Australia, and Swans Reefs in the Coral Sea, Queensland, at depths of 53-64 m.
Features	Dorsal fin VI + I,12-13; Anal fin II,12-13; Pectoral fin 14; Pelvic fin I,5; Caudal fin 9+8 (segmented principal caudal-fin rays), 8+7 (branched rays), 10-11 upper and lower procurrent rays; Vertebrae 10+14. Body elongate with relatively deep soft dorsal and anal fins, a rounded caudal fin, and a single smooth spine on the edge of the preopercle. The head, body, and fins lack scales.
Similar Species	The Highfin Cardinalfish differs from all other species in the genus Gymnapogon in more dorsal and anal fin-rays. The body depth, eye diameter, and spine lengths are all much less in Gymnapogon velum, and G. annona also differs from G. velum in having lower fin-ray counts: 9 dorsal and anal-fin soft rays, (vs. 12 or 13); 13 branched principle caudal-fin rays (vs. 15); 7 or 8 procurrent caudal-fin rays (vs. 10–12); a forked caudal fin (vs. rounded); and a bifid preopercle spine (vs. smooth).
Etymology	The specific name velum (= sail) is from Latin in reference to the long and deep dorsal and anal fins.
Species Citation	Gymnapogon velum Fraser 2019, Journal of the Ocean Science Foundation 32: 90, Figs 1-6. Type locality: Australia, Western Australia, North West Shelf, Rowley Shelf, 19.95°S, 116.55°E, 63–64 m.
Author	Bray, D.J. 2019

Highfin Cardinalfish, Gymnapogon velum Fraser 2019

References

Fraser, T.H. 2019. A new species of cardinalfish from Australia (Percomorpha: Apogonidae: Gymnapogon). Journal of the Ocean Science Foundation 32: 89-97. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.2854383, open access