Multi-blotch Barracudina, Stemonosudis multifasciata Ho, Russell, Graham & Psomadakis 2019

Summary:

A dark barracudina with 16 alternating large and small saddles along the back (10 before the dorsal-fin origin), and 9 ventral saddles.

Cite this page as:

Bray, D.J. 2025, Stemonosudis multifasciata in Fishes of Australia, accessed 30 Jun 2025, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/5711

Multi-blotch Barracudina, Stemonosudis multifasciata Ho, Russell, Graham & Psomadakis 2019

More Info

Distribution	North of Bathurst Island and east of Evans Shoal, Arafura Sea, Northern Territory. Elsewhere, the species occurs in the Andaman Sea, Eastern Indian Ocean.
Features	Dorsal fin 8-9; Anal fin 32-35; Pectoral fin 12-13; Pelvic fin 9; Vertebrae total 93-95, prehaemal 49-51; prepelvic 50-53, predorsal 58-61, preanal 93-95, caudal 49-51, vertebrae between pelvic-fin origin and dorsal-fin origin 8-11. Dorsal-fin origin relatively forward in position, predorsal length 71.8-73.6% SL; horizontal distance between origins of pelvic and dorsal fins (V-D) 52.3-63.0%; horizontal distance between origins of pelvic and anal fins (V-A); upper jaw 41.8-43.8% HL, lower jaw 55.8–62.5%.
Colour	In preservative: body blackish, densely covered with fine chromatophores; 16 saddles, consisting of very fine chromatophores, on the dorsum, those in odd numbers larger; 10 before dorsal fin; 1 at dorsal-fin base; 3 between dorsal-fin and adipose fin; 1 at adipose fin and 1 at caudal fin base, latter 2 crossing caudal peduncle. Three indistinct ventral saddles before pelvic fin, 1 at pelvic-fin base, 1 at anterior portion of anal-fin base, 1 below adipose fin and 1 at caudal-fin base, the lateral 2 connecting to the last 2 saddles on dorsum, and forming bands. Pectoral fin blackish with white base; pelvic fin with black base and white margin; dorsal fin with scattered chromatophores; adipose fin blackish; caudal fin with dense chromatophores on upper lobe and scattered ones on lower lobe, base and middle rays whitish. Dense chromatophores on anterior portions of jaws, dorsal surface of head, and branchiostegal membranes; gill chamber pale. Ventral ridge on abdomen with scattered chromatophores and ventral adipose fin densely pigmented. Colour in life unknown.
Similar Species	Differs from the similar Stemonosudis rothschildi, mainly in having 10 blotches along the back before the dorsal-fin origin (vs. 5 in S. rothschildi), and 93-95 total vertebrae (vs. 89-92).
Etymology	The specific name is derived from the Latin multi- (= many) and fasciatus (= banded) in reference to the diagnostic character of this species having many saddles on the dorsal and ventral margins of the body.
Species Citation	Stemonosudis multifasciatus Ho, Russell, Graham & Psomadakis. 2019, Zootaxa 4702(1): 222, Figs. 2B, 3A–D. Type locality: Off Myanmar, Andaman Sea, eastern Indian Ocean, 11°01'49.8"N, 96°53'31.8"E, depth 329.5-332 m.
Author	Bray, D.J. 2025
Resources	Atlas of Living Australia Australian Faunal Directory Catalog of Fishes

Multi-blotch Barracudina, Stemonosudis multifasciata Ho, Russell, Graham & Psomadakis 2019

References

Ho, H.-C., Russell, B., Graham, K. & Psomadakis, P.N. 2019. Review of the Stemonosudis rothschildi species complex, with descriptions of two new species from the Indo-west Pacific Ocean (Aulopiformes: Paralepididae). Zootaxa 4702(1): 216-229. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4702.1.19

Larson, H.K., Williams, R.S. & Hammer, M.P. 2013. An annotated checklist of the fishes of the Northern Territory, Australia. Zootaxa 3696(1): 1-293 (as Stemonosudis rothschildi)

Russell, B.C. & Houston, W. 1989. Offshore fishes of the Arafura Sea. The Beagle, Records of the Museums and Art Galleries of the Northern Territory 6(1): 69-84 (as Stemonosudis rothschildi)