Species Gymnothorax porphyreus (Guichenot, 1848)
Lowfin Moray
- Murenophis porphyreus Guichenot, A. 1848. Peces de Chile. pp. 137–370 in Gay, C. (ed.) Historia física y política de Chile. Vol. 2 Part 2 Zoologica. Paris. [342, pl. 11(fig. 2)].
Type data:
Syntype(s) whereabouts unknown, Juan Fernández Island, Chile. - Gymnothorax griffini Whitley, G.P. & Phillipps, W.J. 1939. Descriptive notes on some New Zealand fishes. Transactions of the Royal Society of New Zealand 69(2): 228-236 figs 21-22 [229].
Type data:
Holotype AIM AK99608 (ex AIM PS 29.1), White Island, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand.
Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy
- McCosker, J.E. & Stewart, A.L. 2006. Additions to the New Zealand marine eel fauna with the description of a new moray, Anarchias supremus (Teleostei: Muraenidae), and comments on the identity of Gymnothorax griffini Whitley & Phillips. Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand 36: 83-95 [93]
Generic Combinations
- Gymnothorax porphyreus (Guichenot, 1848). —
Randall, J.E. & McCosker, J.E. 1975. The eels of Easter Island with a description of a new moray. Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History Science Bulletin 264: 1-32 figs 1-15 [23] (changed combination cited)
Miscellaneous Literature Names
- Muraena afra (Bloch, 1795) [misidentification, species confined to Atlantic]. —
Ramsay, E.P. 1888. Report on the Museum's expedition to Lord Howe Island. Annual Report of the Australian Museum 1887: 1-34 [32] - Gymnothorax thyrsoidea (Richardson, 1845) [misidentification]. —
Waite, E.R. 1904. Additions to the fish-fauna of Lord Howe Island. No. 4. Records of the Australian Museum 5(3): 135-186 fig. 32 pls 17-24 [144]
Introduction
Several authors have treated Gymnothorax griffini Whitley & Phillipps 1939 as a junior synonym of G. obesus (Whitley 1932), but without access to the holotype of G. griffini (Gomon et al 1994, Böhlke & McCosker 2001, Böhlke & Smith 2002). After examining the holotype of G. griffini, McCosker & Stewart (2006) determined that it was a specimen of G. porphyreus and hence a junior synonym of this species.
Distribution
States
New South Wales
Extra Distribution Information
South of Lennox Head (28°49'S, 153°36'E) to off Coffs Harbour, NSW (30°18'S, 153°09'E), also Middleton Reef, and Lord Howe Island and Norfolk Island, Tasman Sea; subtropical, South Pacific (east to Juan Fernández Islands).
IMCRA
Lord Howe Province (14), Norfolk Island Province (21), Central Eastern Shelf Transition (39)
Distribution References
- Allen, G.R., Hoese, D.F., Paxton, J.R., Randall, J.E., Russell, B.C., Starck, W.A., Talbot, F.H. & Whitley, G.P. 1976. Annotated checklist of the fishes of Lord Howe Island. Records of the Australian Museum 30(15): 365-454 figs 1-2 [376]
- Choat, J.H., van Herwerden, L., Robbins, W.D., Hobbs, J.P. & Ayling, A.M. 2006. A report on the ecological surveys undertaken at Middleton and Elizabeth Reefs, February 2006. Report by James Cook University to the Department of the Environment and Heritage. 65 pp. [51]
- Francis, M. 1993. Checklist of the coastal fishes of Lord Howe, Norfolk, and Kermadec Islands, southwest Pacific Ocean. Pacific Science 47(2): 136-170 figs 1-2 [157] (also as G. griffini)
- Gill, A.C. & Reader, S.E. 1992. Fishes. pp. 90-93, 193-228 in Hutchings, P. (ed.). Reef Biology. A Survey of Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs, South Pacific. Canberra : Australian National Parks Vol. 3, Kowari 230 pp. [194]
Ecological Descriptors
Benthic, coral reef, inshore, rock reef.
Extra Ecological Information
Depth range: 0-13 m.
General References
Allen, G. R., McCosker, J. E., Cross, N. J., Bray, D. J. & Hoese, D. F. 2006. Muraenidae. pp. 243-259 in Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & Allen, G.R. Fishes. In, Beesley, P.L. & Wells, A. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Vol. 35. Volume 35 Australia : ABRS & CSIRO Publishing Parts 1-3, 2178 pp. [254]
Böhlke, E.B. & McCosker, J.E. 2001. The moray eels of Australia and New Zealand, with the description of two new species (Anguilliformes: Muraenidae). Records of the Australian Museum 53: 71-102 figs 1-10 [91] (as G. obesus in part)
Böhlke, E.B. & Smith, D.G. 2002. Type catalogue of Indo-Pacific Muraenidae. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia 152: 89-172 [140]
Francis, M.P. & Randall, J.E. 1993. Further additions to the fish faunas of Lord Howe and Norfolk Islands, southwest Pacific Ocean. Pacific Science 47(2): 118-135 figs 1-22 pls 1-4 [128]
Randall, J.E. & McCosker, J.E. 1975. The eels of Easter Island with a description of a new moray. Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History Science Bulletin 264: 1-32 figs 1-15 [23]
Stewart, A.L. & McCosker, J.E. 2015. Family Muraenidae. pp.224-237 in Roberts, C.D., Stewart, A.L. & Struthers, C.D. The Fishes of New Zealand. Wellington : Te Papa Press Vol. 2 pp. 1-576. [234]
Common Name References
Böhlke, E.B. & McCosker, J.E. 2001. The moray eels of Australia and New Zealand, with the description of two new species (Anguilliformes: Muraenidae). Records of the Australian Museum 53: 71-102 figs 1-10 [92] (Lowfin Moray)
Seafood Services Australia 2008. Australian Fish Names Standard. http://www.fishnames.com.au/. (Lowfin Moray)
Yearsley, G.K., Last, P.R. & Hoese, D.F. 2006. Standard names of Australian fishes. CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research Paper 9: 1-64 [18] (Lowfin Moray)
History of changes
| Published | As part of group | Action Date | Action Type | Compiler(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 05-Mar-2019 | ELOPOMORPHA | 01-Sep-2018 | MODIFIED | Dr Doug Hoese (AM) |
| 23-Sep-2011 | ANGUILLIFORMES | 23-Sep-2011 | MOVED | Dr Dianne Bray |
| 27-Jul-2010 | MODIFIED |