Revision of the Australian species of the fish family Leiognathidae

Abstract

The Australian species of Leiognathidae are revised and their distinguishing features more clearly defined. Fifteen Australian species are recognized: Gazza minuta, Leiognathus aureus, L. bindus, L. blochii, L. decorus, L. elongatus, L. equulus, L. fasciatus, L. leuciscus, L. smithursti, L. splendens, Leiognathus sp., Secutor insidiator and S. ruconius. Diagnostic characters for the species are difficult to ascertain as the family tends to be meristically constant. Identification relies principally on a combination of body proportions, distribution of scales, tooth shape and arrangement, and body pigmentation patterns. Species descriptions, figures, abbreviated synonymies and geographic distributions within Australia are presented for all species, and an identification key is given. Incorrect usage in the literature of several species names, including L. elongatus, L. brevirostris and L. lineolatus, is discussed.