Serials

National Muscum of Natural Sciences

Publications in

Biological Oceanography No. 2

A New Cottid Fish,

Nautichthys robustus,

from Alaska and British Columbia

by Alex E. Peden

National Museums of Canada

1970

A NEW COTTID FISH, NAUTICHTHYS ROBUSTUS,

FROM ALASKA AND BRITISH COLUMBIA

>

CANADA

National Museum of Natural Sciences

Musée national des sciences naturelles

Publications in Biological Oceanography, No. 2

Publications en océanographie biologique, n° 2

Issued under the authority of

the National Museums of Canada

Publié avec l’autorisation des

musées nationaux du Canada

A NEW COTTID FISH,

NAUTICHTHYS ROBUSTUS,

FROM ALASKA AND BRITISH COLUMBIA

by Alex E. Peden*

Ottawa 1970

*Institute of Fisheries, University of British Columbia. (Present address: Department of Zoology,

University of Texas, Austin, Texas)

©

The Queen’s Printer

Ottawa, 1970

Cat. No.: NM95-7/2

Contents

Résumé, vii

Summary, Vil

Introduction, 1

Materials and Methods, 2

Nautichthys robustus sp. nov., 2

Diagnosis, 2

Holotype, 3

Etymology, 3

Description, 3

Identification, 4

Key to the Species of Nautichthys, 4

Distribution, 5

References, 6

Tables

1

Counts and measurements in millimetres of known specimens of Nau-

tichthys robustus sp. nov., 7

Geographic variation in counts of Nautichthys robustus, sp. nov. and

Nautichthys pribilovius, 8

Character index based on total of anal, spinous and soft dorsal, and both

pectoral fin counts, 9

Character index based on total of anal fin, spinous and soft dorsal fins,

both pectoral fins, and lateral line counts, 9

List of Figures

1

Photo of holotype of Nautichthys robustus, 39.8 mm in standard length,

10

Comparison of head spines: A. Nautichthys robustus, sp. nov.; B.

Nautichthys pribilovius, 10

Résume

Le présent ouvrage décrit huit spécimens d’une nouvelle espéce de poisson,

Nautichthys robustus. On l’a capturée a divers endroits, entre les iles de la

Reine-Charlotte, en Colombie-Britannique, et l’ile Attu, en Alaska. Elle est

probablement sympatrique, dans une Jarge mesure, de l’espéce jumelle trés

voisine N. pribilovius (Jordan et Gilbert), du golfe d’Alaska aux jles Aléou-

tiennes occidentales. N. robustus se distingue des autres espéces du genre

Nautichthys par la présence d’épines céphaliques et de rayons dorsaux mous,

ces derniers étant au nombre de 21 ou moins.

Summary

Eight specimens of Nautichthys robustus, a new species of fish, are described.

The species has been collected at localities from the Queen Charlotte Islands,

British Columbia, to Attu Island, Alaska. It is probably broadly sympatric

with the closely related sibling N. pribilovius (Jordan and Gilbert) found

from the Gulf of Alaska to the western Aleutian Islands. N. robustus differs

from other species within the genus Nautichthys in possessing pointed head

spines and 21 or fewer soft dorsal rays.

Vi

Introduction

During studies on the inshore marine fish fauna of the eastern North Pacific

Ocean by staff of the Institute of Fisheries, University of British Columbia,

several specimens of a previously undescribed form of Nautichthys were

captured. This form, which is given the name Nautichthys robustus in this

paper, is morphologically very similar to the previously described N. pribilo-

vius (Jordan and Gilbert in Jordan and Evermann 1898). Several sibling

species pairs, separated ecologically by their apparent differences in prefe-

rence of water depth, are known from the eastern North Pacific Ocean (i.e.,

McPhail 1965; Peden 1966). It is probable that there are similar relationships

between N. robustus and N. pribilovius. Since just eight specimens of N.

robustus are known, an analysis of ecological relationships between these

species can be made confidently only with the discovery of more N. robustus

specimens.

Acknowledgment is made to the Fisheries Research Board of Canada

at Namaimo, which donated the N. robustus from the Queen Charlotte Is-

lands to the Institute of Fisheries, and to the United States National Museum,

which permitted the study of their specimens. Drs. D. E. McAllister and N. J.

Wilimovsky reviewed the manuscript and made several valuable suggestions.

Specimens of N. robustus were taken in the Aleutian Islands during expeditions

supported by research grants given to Dr. Wilimovsky. The National Museums

of Canada loaned comparative material for study.

Materials and Methods

Counts and measurements follow those of Hubbs and Lagler (1958). Col-

lections deposited in the Institute of Fisheries are indicated by BC, those at

the United States National Museum by USNM, and those at the National

Museums of Canada by NMC.

The following collections of N. robustus were examined (numbers of

specimens are indicated within parentheses; approximate latitude and longi-

tude are indicated after certain localities). These include females and juve-

niles. Holotype: Attu Island, Alaska, 53° N and 173° E — USNM 204495

previously BC63-1004; paratypes: same as holotype BC63-886; Amchitka

Island, 51° 20’ N and 179° 20’ E — BC63-1010(1); Bristol Bay, BC63-

359(1); Queen Charlotte Islands, British Columbia, 54° 01’ 09” N and

132° 35’ 12” W — BC64-477(2); unknown locality — USNM 103649(2).

These specimens range from 12 to 52 mm in standard length.

For comparative material the following collections of N. pribilovius were

examined. These include representative samples of males and females. Wain-

wright, Alaska, 70° 45’ N and 160° W — BC63-1118(1); Point Marsh,

BC63-1119(1), BC63-1120(1); Chukchi Sea, 67° 33.5’ N and 165° 02’ W

— BC61-74(1); 67° 43’ N and 164° 44’ W — BC61-76(2); 68° 18’ N and

166° 55’ W — BC61-87(1); 68° 25’ N and 167° 12’ W — BC61-88(2);

68° 32’ N and 168° 52’ W — BC61-103(1); 69° 16’ N and 164° 22’ W —

BC61-105(2); 69° 03’ N and 164° 52’ W — BC61-437(1); 68° 11’ N and

167° 12’ W — BC61-442(1); St. Lawrence Island, Bering Sea — USNM

14339(1), BC63-175(1); 64° 27’ N and 165° 40’ W — BC63-1203(1);

Sea Lion Point, 57° 13’ N and 170° 04’ W — NMC 66-11; Norton Sound —

USNM 14324(1), USNM 7343(1); 54° 19’ N and 169° 03’ E — USNM

10187(2); Bristol Bay, BC65-117(1), BC65-118(3), BC65-119(1); St.

George Island, Pribilof Islands, 56° 40’ N and 169° 30’ W — USNM

48237 (holotype); Kiska Island, 52° N and 176° 40’ E — BC63-911(1);

Semisopochnoi Island, 52° N and 179° 45’ E — USNM 70911(8); Adak

Island, 51° 45’ N and 176° 30’ W — BC65-30(1), BC65-31(1); Region

Island (near Woody Island), 57° 45’ N and 152° 30’ W — BC63-1026(1);

57° 42’ N and 155° 37’ W. — USNM 3892(1); Staritschkot Islam

52° 46’ 50” N and 158° 44’ 30” E — USNM 70992(2). These collections

included individuals between at least 30 and 69 mm. Collections USNM

53654, USNM 53656, USNM 53657, USNM 48756, USNM 48755, and

USNM 53655 were also examined. Several of the above records are indicated

by Wilimovsky (1964); however this reference does not differentiate between

the two forms of Nautichthys considered here.

NAUTICHTHYS ROBUSTUS, sp. nov.

DIAGNOSIS —

A Nautichthys with pointed head spines and 19-21 soft dorsal rays.

HOLOTYPE —

A female, (fig. 1) 39.8 mm in standard length from Attu Island, Alaska,

catalogued as USNM 204495: collected by N. J. Wilimovsky and A. E. Peden.

2

ETYMOLOGY —

Robustus refers to the more robust body shape in contrast to the more

slender N. Pribilovius.

DESCRIPTION —

Counts and measurements are presented in Table 1.

Head stout, broad. Upper margin of orbit projects well above dorsal

profile of head. Snout steep, short. In dorsal view, snout rounded and pre-

opercle at widest point of body. Body robust, deepest under spinous dorsal

fin. Nape very short. Enlarged base of spinous dorsal fin originates imme-

diately behind level of occipital spines. Base of dorsal and anal fins long,

straight. Anus and anal papilla near origin of anal fin. Gill membranes broad-

ly fused to isthmus with no free fold. Teeth on palatines, prevomer, and both

jaws.

Anterior nostril tubular, constricted distally, situated at antero-lateral

base of nasal spines; posterior nostril medial to anterior margin of orbit. Orbit

large. Interorbit deeply concave. Nasal spines sharp, strong, reaching to level

of upper margin of pupil. Lower two preopercular spines reduced; upper two

short and broad. Broad pointed postorbital pair of spines with small pro-

tuberances posterior to their bases. Two more pairs of broad pointed spines

at posterior half of occiput. Ridges run between postorbital and occipital

spines. Occiput deeply concave between these ridges. Smaller pointed spine

in posttemporal region.

Large multifid cirrus on upper border of eye surface. Simple cirri present

near tips of most of the head spines mentioned above (on all spines in the

more northern specimens). Large pair of cirri on protuberance behind post-

orbital spines. Larger broad cirrus near posterior tip of maxilla. About six

tubercle-like cirri on suborbital margin.

Scales present in form of small strong prickles enclosed in a fleshy

papilla-like covering. Prickles cover most of body (sparse in axil of southern

specimens and absent in axil of northwestern specimens). Prickles scattered

over rays of dorsal, caudal, and upper portion of pectoral fins. Prickles

scattered over head except on maxillae, premaxillae, lip of lower jaw, lower

portion of suborbital stay and portion of gill membranes over the branchio-

stegal rays. Lateral line curves slightly upward in middle portion of body;

lateral line elements with prominently projecting small spines at their pos-

terior end.

Spinous dorsal fin short, separated from soft dorsal fin. Last spinous

dorsal ray often barely projecting above skin. Anterior spinous rays tend to

be higher. Soft dorsal fin of uniform height but rounded anteriorly and pos-

teriorly. Origin of anal fin under about the sixth soft dorsal ray. Pectoral fin

rounded, lower rays shorter. Pelvic fins reach to anus or origin of anal fin.

Caudal fin: eight rays branched; rudimentary rays projecting; thin membrane

incised between rudimentary rays.

Colour: In preservative, light brownish to a yellowish tan, lighter on

ventral surface. Large black band directed vertically and slightly anteriorly

across cheek to eye. Eye and orbital cirrus black. Dorsal fins tend to be

3

speckled or lightly dotted. Spinous dorsal fin darker. About four darker

widely spaced bands often present on upper part of back; a few dark splotches

often appear below them. Darker band across base of caudal fin. Mottled

darker coloration on the distal half of caudal fin.

IDENTIFICATION

All eight specimens of N. robustus can be distinguished by the low fin

ray counts. In particular they have 21 or fewer soft dorsal rays while N. pri-

bilovius has 22 or more (Table 2). A difference of one fin ray with such a

small sample size would normally be of little importance. However, all

N. robustus also have pointed head spines (Fig. 2) while in excess of 40

N. pribilovius have rounded spines. Small and large individuals as well as

both sexes of N. pribilovius which were examined conform to this pattern.

Consequently the differences are not likely due to size or sexual phenomena.

Previously, in Nautichthys, meristic differences have been attributed to sexual

dimorphism (see Shmidt 1950), N. pribilovius being supposedly the female

and N. oculofasciatus (Girard) the male. These species were accordingly

synonymized; however Shmidt (1950) and Andriyashev (1954) have cor-

rected this error and recognized the proper specific status of both forms.

There is no reason to suggest a similar situation between N. pribilovius and

N. robustus, especially since the specimens of N. pribilovius examined here

include many individuals of both sexes.

Obviously when a larger number of individuals are examined, greater

overlap in the fin ray counts can be expected. Thus a character index similar

to that employed by Schultz and Welander (1934) for Hemilepidotus is given

in Tables 3 and 4. Better separation of the forms is obtained when all the fin

rays are added or when the lateral line counts are added to this cumulative

fin ray count. Fishes with fewer median fin rays can often be expected to be

more stout. However, the problems of allometric growth and possible sexual

differences make the use of proportional measurements on this small sample

size less reliable.

KEY TO THE SPECIES OF NAUTICHTHYS

A. Soft dorsal rays 27—30; anal fin rays 18-20; pectoral rays 13-14;

lateral line pores 41-45:

AG ore fo Rgtire ane ene Wee y ie re rears Nautichthys oculofasciatus (Girard)

AA. Soft dorsal rays 19-26; anal fin rays 14—20; pectoral rays 14-17;

lateral line pores 35—42:

B. Rounded spines on occiput; soft dorsal rays 22—26; anal

rays 15—20; pectoral rays 15-17; number of lateral line

pores 37-42:

SOx g eos eS Nautichthys pribilovius Jordan and Gilbert

BB. Pointed spines on occiput; soft dorsal rays 19—21; anal rays

14-15; pectoral rays 15—16; number of lateral line pores

35-38:

gre GEIS, 5 Pai. Belk aeae ASR Nautichthys robustus, sp. nov.

Distribution

Known collections suggest a large area of sympatry for N. pribilovius and

N. robustus from at least Attu Island to the Gulf of Alaska. N. pribilovius

is apparently more eastern and northern in distribution. Shmidt (1950) notes

its presence in the Sea of Japan and Andriyashev records it northeast of St.

Lawrence Island in the Bering Sea. Collections BC63-1118 from Wainwright,

BC63-1119 and BC63-1120 from Point Marsh (approximately 90 miles west

of Point Barrow, Alaska), and the collections listed from the Chukchi Sea

greatly extend the northern known range from that previously recorded.

Evermann and Goldsborough (1907) record N. pribilovius as far south as

the vicinity of Kodiak, Alaska.

Four of the eight individuals of N. robustus were taken from the area

geographically shared with N. pribilovius. This is between Attu Island and

Bristol Bay. Collection BC64-477 was taken farther to the southeast at

Naden Harbour, Queen Charlotte Islands, by Dr. D. B. Quayle, of the Fish-

eries Research Board of Canada. It was obtained in a “Digby-type scallop

dredge” in 78 to 102 ft. (29.8 to 31.1 m) of water on a sandy bottom on

September 24, 1960. This is well outside the area of known sympatry and

greatly extends the limit of the known range for the N. pribilovius and

N. robustus species pair. It also provides the first record for a member of this

species pair from British Columbia. Unfortunately, data for USNM 103649

were not available.

The limited data at hand suggest that in the area of sympatry N. robus-

tus may inhabit shallower water. The Attu Island collections (BC63-886,

USNM 204495) were taken near the lower limit of low tide (2 to 4 m depth of

water) on rocky reef habitat that was exposed to wave surge. The specimen

from Amchitka Island (BC63-1010) is extremely small (12 mm) and was

attracted to an inshore surface light at night. Although occasionally found in

shallower water N. pribilovius has been taken with trawls predominantly in

deeper water. Gilbert and Burke (1912) record their collections from the

Aleutian Islands as being from 258 to 336 ft. (79 to 102 m) depths and their

Asiatic collections from 286 to 414 ft. (88 to 126 m) depths. In general,

Shmidt (1950) and Andriyashev (1954) record N. pribilovius from 30 to

136 m depths. The majority of specimens of N. pribilovius recorded here are

from deeper trawl catches. A major exception is the two Adak Island speci-

mens (BC65-30, BC65-31), which were taken in a shallow bay (2-4 m)

amongst kelp. Obviously further data from additional collections of the rarer

species are needed.

References

ANDRIYASHEY, A. P.

(1954). Fishes of the northern seas of

the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific

Translations, Jerusalem (1964), 617 p.

English translation from Russian.

EVERMANN, B. W., and E. O. GOLDSBOROUGH

(1907). The fishes of Alaska. Bulletin

of the Bureau of Fisheries 26: 219-360.

GILBERT, C. H., and C. V. BURKE

(1912). Fishes from Bering Sea and

Kamchatka. Bulletin of the Bureau of

Fisheries (1910) 30: 33-96.

HUBBS, C. L., and K. F. LAGLER

(1958). Fishes of the Great Lakes re-

gion. Cranbrook Institute of Science

Bulletin no. 26, 213 p.

JORDAN, D. S., and B. W. EVERMANN

(1898). The fishes of North and Middle

America. Bulletin of the United States

National Museum 47: 1241-2183.

MCPHAIL, J. D.

(1965). A new ronquil, Bathymaster

leurolepis, from the Aleutian Islands.

Journal of the Fisheries Research Board

of Canada 22(5): 1293-1297.

PEDEN,. A. E.

(1966). Reexamination of two species

in the stichaeid genus, Anoplarchus.

Copeta (2): 340-345:

SCHULTZ, L. P., and A. W. WELANDER

(1934). The cottid genus Hemilepidotus

of the North Pacific. Mid-Pacific Maga-

zine 9(2): 5-6.

SHMIDT, P. YU.

(1950). Fishes of the Sea of Okhotsk.

Israel Program for Scientific Transla-

tions, Jerusalem (1965), 392 p. English

translation from Russian.

SOLDATOV, V. K., and G. L. LINDBERG

(1930). A review of the fishes of the

seas of the Far East. Bulletin of the

Pacific Fisheries Institute 5: 1-576,

Vladivostock.

WILIMOVSKY, N. J.

(1964). Inshore fish fauna of the Aleu-

tian Archipelago. Proceedings of the

Fourteenth Alaskan Science Conference

(1963): 172-190.

Fs = ie Lt

- sa VC 8c

- i OL CL

- = ‘2 S39

= ‘ 16 601

> = OV 8

ae = OV cv

= * Bt Ie

ae - 9°OI Sol

= = Ist S'6l

a e 6 91 eee

= 7 C6 00!

68 €'8 es g's

Lol OCI 08 c8

S 3 Oe Lec

* = ae Beh

LY I's ve 2 fe

O'rI Ist 86 ie

t ry SPP 9°6C a 8 3

9¢ 8t EC Se

ip = 8 é

vl SI SI vl

= 3 3 | 3a |

OC IZ 17 07

ITA IIIA IIIA IIA

ie SI-ST eae CI-si

C# l# C# l#

6r9C0INNSN LLy-p9)4

ai O'V 6€ i SS fk aes yisua] apounped jepneg

= 6°C O'¢ Set. pe ns ae yidoap sjounpod jepned

= Z'g 06 At ee y)suey uy jepne)

& LL 0'g oe 1YsI9y UY SIATOq

= 9°€] rZI Gp tees OAS y)Suesy uy [e10190g

= 8p Ip frie > eee eee jys1oy uy ;euy

= ZC 9°¢ Chea poe er 1yStay [esIOp 1JoS

a lv o'r Ce ge i eee iil a ah JY4SIOYy [esiop snouldg

a 6°E1 ‘el os ee gseq uy [eur Jo y)SUT]

= VSc VVT Oree, is alo aseq Uy [esIOp Jo ysUuIT

= rEZ 1'€Z Zoe gouvIsIP [vURaIg

Be LZI SZ] cy, ee gourjsIp [esiopaig

pe, Lg 66 wep. eee a yipim Apog

Pe LI TI a4 ee yidep Apog

= 9°¢ OF Fp eal ee ee ee y)Suq nous

rs 61 LT er Otte YIPIA [eIIqIOs21U]

= ep g'¢ Pe ig ei aie? eae rojoureip aXq

= ZEl OE (PR a ek ee ee y)suey pray

O'ZI 8°6E Z'6E pz7g tte yySuay prepuris

:S}UDWIINSed]I

= OF 3 oe ee eae oe a oe saiod ouly [e1avT

= E = a Aid Se Gaeey Cc et sAvl [epned poyosurig

TI (Sl tI CE eS) fo uratal wales bia) Vey ipin @ searar te le peweevanin Te SARI jeuy

eT eT eT eT i a aciatte are Darin ns Uae tein tea jaca sAvI SIAIOad

0Z 61 07 1Z ce. Uthat chet te ocr ino sARI [esiop JOS

WIA WIA IIA Mee ee ee shel [esiop snouids

vI-vl VieVvi Sis Sees “(uy yey-ysI) sAer [e10}99g

l# l# l# l#

O1OI-£90d | S6PPOCINNSO 988-€904 6S¢-£90d

:sjuNnoD

‘aou ‘ds smjsngoa sXyjyounvN

jo suoutoeds UMOUY JO SoIJOUII[[TW UT s}USWOINSvOW pue s}UNOD — | ATEVL

*

* *

eye 215

* *

Oy Ay

*

* * |e | ok | *

T | T

é

é

T

1

gs; cit

T

G | Maa © | o

T T

oO

TV | IP | OF | OE | 8E| LE] 9E | SE

yjS8u2z] prepurys ut seiod

DUT] [e19}e] JO IoquINNy

(O€6T) S19qpurT pue AOJLP[OS

* | * | * | * * | * | * * | * * | * | *

x | ok | ok | ok | x | xk | x * | ok * | x | ox (OS6T ‘IPIUIYS) ASIOYAO Jo vag

x |x | ok | & | x |e [ok | * x |e | &k |e | & | (Sol) AoYyseAlIpuy

* | x * | * * | * * | * (8681 ‘UUeUTIOAg pue uep10f

—suoulldeds ¢) Aeg [0}slUg

* | *& | ox * | x |x * | xk * | x (ZI6T ‘exINg pue j1eq]Iy)

ey eyouley pue spurs] uenos[y

C (6 T/T v pues] Aepv

é a See lech é é purys] rouysodosturas

é I T (6 pues] exsiy

c Tale C ¥ eyse[V Jo JIND

T T T T c c¢| 7c pues] AOAYISHISIS

Wie he i A! Sl Pale T| 9 FT| 7c BaS SULog ysey pue YON

T T T C (edA}O[OY) SpuRIs] Joliqud

fh | S| Ol) ¥ cl | @ € | PT) Tt Bas TYyoyxNYO

sn10j1qgiig SKYIYIUND AT

oy a C Pees or9ecOl WNSf)

Ajleso], UMOU AU),

Bip c v LLU-O9 OU

SPUPRIS] 9}}0[1eYD UseNnG

T T c O1OT-£9 Od

purys] exWyouy

T | T T ale c | ¢ SorPoz WNSN ‘988-€9 04

pues] nV

T if C ose-£9 OF

Aeg [owslig

“Aou ‘ds ‘snjsnqgod SKYYILIND NT

OZ | 61 | 8T| ZT | 9T | ST] PE] 97% | Set] oz | €7 | TZ | 17 | 07] OF} OL] 6 | 8 | Z| LT) OT) ST} HT

sAel sAel uy soutds (suy 410q)

uy [eue [esiop 3jos uy j[esiop sAel [e10}90d

jo JoquInNy jo 19qUINN jo 1aquInN, jo IaquUInN

I

sniaopjiqud skyjyo1jnoN pure

‘sou ‘ds snjsngoa skyjyoijnvnN JO syunod ul uoTeeA sIydeis0oIH—Z ATAVL

I ¢ S 9 9 L I i! I Snua0]igrad SKYIYIUIND NN

T C i! I C ‘Aou “ds ‘sngsngos skyJyounoyy

Pol eer eee er or ASL EZPr | OLE | Sib ete | Str) eth TAT | OLE | GOT | SOT | LOT | 90T

xopuy JojJOeIeY)

SJUNOD dUT| [v1d}e] pue ‘suy [e10z,00d

y}0q ‘suy [esIOp jjJos pue snourds ‘uy [eu Jo [e}0} UO paseq xXOpUT JoJOVIeYD—F ATAV I,

I £ 6 L 8 9 e I Snuaojiqud SKYY INDY

e ! I I (6 ‘Aou ‘ds ‘sagsnqos skyjyounoNy

£8 c8 18 08 6L 8L LL OL SL vL tL GOL VL OL

xapuy Joyovieyy

s}unod uy ][e10j90d

y}0q pue ‘|esiop jos pue snoutrds ‘[eue jo [v}0} UO paseq xapur JoJOvIeyYD—¢F ATAV

FIGURE 1.

Photo of holotype (NMC 68-55) of Nautichthys robustus sp. nov.,

39.8 mm in standard length. The anal fin became depressed during

preservation. (Photo by T. A. Willock.)

FIGURE 2.

Comparison of head spines: A. Nautichthys robustus sp. nov.;

B. Nautichthys pribilovius

10

4

..

ar

(=

©

7)?

. (

q

) J

¥

~

a>

S

Mai

ae |

’

a7

ry 2s

7

:

t

i