Description of four new stingarees of the genus Urolophus (Batoidea: Urolophidae) from the Coral Sea, South-West Pacific

Séret B., Last P.

Published date: December 2003
Volume: 27
Number: 4
Pagination: 307-320
Publisher: Société Française d'Ichtyologie
doi: https://doi.org/10.26028/cybium/2004-274-007
Abstract

Four new species of urolophid stingarees are described from the Coral Sea (South-West Pacific): Urolophus deforgesi sp. nov. and U. papilio sp. nov. from the continental slope of the Chesterfield Islands; U. neocaledoniensis sp. nov. is more widely distributed on the slopes of the Chesterfield Islands and New Caledonia and along the northern part of the Norfolk Ridge; U. piperatus sp. nov. is restricted to the coast of northern Queensland (Australia). The holotype and only known specimen of a rare and unusual stingaree, U. armatus Val. in Müller & Henle, 1841 from New Ireland (Bismark Archipelago), is redescribed and it could represent a new genus. The new species are mainly distinguished by a combination of the following characters: disc shape (particularly its width), dorsal fin (present or absent), interorbital distance (narrow or broad), tail length (short or elongated), coloration (plain or with spots), and oral papillae, vertebrae and pectoral-fin radial counts. A key for the urolophids of the Coral Sea is provided.

Keywords: New species - PSW - Urolophidae - Urolophus spp.
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