Family LATRIDAE

Latridopsis forsteri

© Copyright McCulloch 1915

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Introduction

The Latridae comprise three genera and about eight species (Nelson 2006). The Australian fauna is represented by four species in the three known genera. Burridge & Smolenski (2004) recommended moving most cheilodactylid species to the Latridae. However, Roberts & Gomon (2008) retained the traditional classification as followed here. More detailed studies of the whole group with unbranched and thickened pectoral rays will undoubtedly modify the existing classification (Buirridge 2004).

Trumpeters occur in the southern regions of Australia, New Zealand, Chile, and the southern Atlantic and southern Indian Oceans. They live in coastal near-shore rocky environments to around 300 m on the continental slope. Latrids are distinctive in having numerous dorsal spines (14–24), but are regarded as being related to morwongs, hawkfishes and kelpfishes by having the lower pectoral rays unbranched and thickened. Latrids form a major fishery and are regarded as excellent-tasting fish. Maximum size reached is about 1.2 m

Gon & Heemstra (1987) reviewed the species of Mendosoma. Latridopsis ciliaris, the New Zealand Blue Moki, has occasionally been recorded from Australian waters.

General References

Burridge, C.P. 2004. Cheilodactylus (Goniistius) francisi, a new species of Morwong (Perciformes: Cirrhitoidea) from the southwest Pacific. Records of the Australian Museum 56: 231-234

Burridge, C.P. & Smolenski, A.J. 2004. Molecular phylogeny of the Cheilodactylidae and Latridae (Perciformes: Cirrhitoidea) with notes on taxonomy and biogeography. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 30: 118–127

Gon, O. & Heemstra, P. 1987. Mendosoma lineatum Guichenot 1848, first record in the Atlantic Ocean, with a re-evaluation of the taxonomic status of other species of the genus Mendosoma (Pisces, Latridae). Cybium 11(2): 183-193

Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & Allen, G.R. 2006. 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. [1363]

McCulloch, A.R. 1915. Report on some fishes obtained by the F.I.S. Endeavour on the coasts of Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, South and South-Western Australia. Part 3. Biological Results of the Fishing Experiments carried on by the F.I.S. Endeavour 1909-1914 3(3): 97-170 figs 1-3 pls 13-37 [pl. 27]

Nelson, J.S. 2006. Fishes of the World. Hoboken, New Jersey : John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 601 pp.

Roberts, C.D. & Gomon, M.F. 2008. Families Cheilodactylidae and Latridae. pp. 624-632 in Gomon, M.F., Bray, D.J. & Kuiter, R.H. (eds). Fishes of Australia's Southern Coast. Sydney : Reed New Holland 928 pp.

Common Name References

Gomon, M.F., Glover, C.J.M. & Kuiter, R.H. (eds) 1994. The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. Adelaide : State Printer 992 pp. 810 figs. [655] (Trumpeters)

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