The following accounts, "Descriptions of Seven New Species of Sharks," were first published on a CD-ROM on 1 June 1999. The procedure for naming these sharks follows the requirements of the 4th Edition of the International Code for Zoological Nomenclature, and may thus represent the first species named in accord with Code designated criteria for publication. Copies of the CD-ROM were lodged with several major natural history museums. Additional copies of the complete work, Keys to the Sharks and Rays of the World, are available for $150 from Young Forest Company. The Keys CD includes the appendices naming these taxa.

Some colleagues may find it objectionable to publish these names from the new species described in Last & Stevens's book; however, only seven of the 94 unnamed taxa were so named, and for two reasons: 1) to demonstrate how electronic publication of names will work, and 2) to name members of the only genus of sharks that was represented primarily of unnamed species. This author does not plan to named additional Last & Stevens species.

Citations should read: Sprackland, Robert G. 1999. [Title]. Keys to the Sharks and Rays of the World. The CURATOR Project, CD-ROM. Young Forest Company, Belmont, CA.

Descriptions of six new species of sharks in the genus Asymbolus Whitley, 1939 (Carcharhiniformes: Scyliorhinidae) from Australian Waters.

Robert George Sprackland

Young Forest Company, 951 Old County Road #134, Belmont, California 94002, USA

The fauna of Australia includes many species that have yet to be named, though they have often been familiar, even common, in collections. The comprehensive book by P. R. Last and J. D. Stevens (1994) has presented an exhaustive review of the continent’s chondrichthyan fauna, but includes over ninety species that have not yet been named.

In producing The CURATOR Project, A Key to Sharks and Rays of the World, it became difficult to include many unnamed species. Our staff reviewed taxonomic literature pursuant to 1994 to determine if any of the species had yet been named. Having found no such literature, we have taken a small step to fulfill the plea of at least two of Last and Stevens’s reviewers, to “name those sharks.”

Without conducting the thorough study good taxonomy requires, I felt hesitant to name any of the taxa; however, certain groups had representatives so distinctive that I felt it necessary to recognize them for the purpose of our keys. I have used data supplied in last and Stevens to prepare the descriptions. The descriptions have been prepared as a prelude to further naming of the remaining taxa, in accord with the guidelines set down by the International Code for Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN), 4th edition. The names chosen honor the members of the team who made The CURATOR Project possible.

Asymbolus diessneri sp. nov. Grey spotted catshark—

Asymbolus sp. E of Last and Stevens (1994:185, pl. 21: 26.13).

Halaelurus analis Ogilby (1885). Descriptions of three new fishes from Port Jackson. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 10: 445-447.

Holotype is the specimen depicted in Last and Stevens (1994: 185, pl. 21.13, female).

Diagnosis: Distinguished from other species of Asymbolus in lacking both dorsal bands and light spots, and in having a single dark spot centrally located on the base of each dorsal fin. Differs from A. analis in being pale grayish yellow (vs. dark gray) with spotted (vs. unspotted) dorsal fins. In A. analis the anal fin origin broadly overlaps the first dorsal insertion, but in A. diessneri there is a short space between the first dorsal and anal fins.

Description: Body long and fusiform, the head slightly depressed. The labial furrows are about the length of the spiracle diameter. The origin of the first dorsal is above or just behind the insertion of the pelvic fins. The origin of the second dorsal is above the insertion of the anal fin. The head (tip to pectoral origin) is more than 4 times the height of the first dorsal fin. The body is grayish-yellow with numerous large dark brown or black spots, but with no dark spot under the eye. Grows to at least 46 cm.

Etymology: For Daniel J. Diessner, chief engineer for The CURATOR Project, and his many courtesies to the author.

Distribution: Known from NE Australian waters, outside the Great Barrier Reef.

Asymbolus diana sp. nov. Western spotted catshark—

Asymbolus sp. F of Last and Stevens (1994: 186, pl. 21: 26.14a & 26.14b).

Halaelurus analis (Ogilby, 1885) in Scott, T., C. Glover, and R. Southcott (1980). The marine and freshwater fishes of South Australia (2^nd ed.). Government Printer, South Australia. 392 pp.

Holotype is the specimen depicted by Last and Stevens (1994: 186, pl. 26.14a, male).

Diagnosis: A greenish-tan shark with 7-8 distinct dark dorsal saddles, numerous large dark spots on the body and dorsal fins, and a dark spot under (but not in contact with) each eye. Differs from A. diessneri in possessing the subocular spots and dorsal bands, and in lacking the central basal dark spot on each dorsal fin.

Description: A shark similar to A. diessneri in form and anatomy. The head (from tip to pectoral origin) is more than 4 times the height of the first dorsal fin. Grows to 60 cm.

Etymology: For Diana Carlson-Sherbo, illustrator for much of The CURATOR Project’s pen and ink drawings, in recognition for her long-term contributions to this project.

Distribution: Much of southwestern Australia, from near Perth to south-central South Australia.

Asymbolus fasciatus sp. nov. Blotched catshark—

Asymbolus sp. B of Last and Stevens (1994: 182, pl. 22: 26.10).

Holotype is the specimen depicted in Last and Stevens (1994: 182, pl. 26.10, female).

Diagnosis: A brown shark with very large, indistinct darker blotches on the back and flanks, and lacking small spots completely. The rectangular (vs. triangular) dorsals distinguish this species from all other Asymbolus except A. analis (which is grey and heavily spotted with dark spots) and A. vincenti, which is lighter in color and is covered in numerous white spots.

Description: Known only from the holotype, a 44 cm female. The dorsal fins are elongate and rectangular, and subequal in size. Dorsal origin positions similar to those of A. diessneri. There is an indistinct dark spot under the eye that is in contact with the lower portion of the eye.

Etymology: From the Latin word meaning “banded.”

Distribution: Known from a single specimen captured off the Recherché Archipelago of Western Australia.

Asymbolus nanogaleus sp. nov. Dwarf catshark —

Asymbolus sp. A of Last and Stevens (1994: 181, pl. 22: 26.9).

Holotype is the specimen depicted in Last and Stevens (1994: 181, pl. 22: 26.9, male).

Diagnosis: A tiny catshark, and the only member of the genus that lacks dark spots or saddles. Differs from A. vincenti in lacking saddles, being orange-tan rather than brown in color, and lacking distinct light spots on the head.

Description: Body elongate, head slightly depressed. Origin of the first dorsal just over insertion of pelvic fins. The origin of the second dorsal over or slightly anterior to the insertion of the anal fin. The head (from tip to pectoral origin) is more than 4 times the height of the first dorsal fin. The body is rusty orange dorsally, intermixed with pale salmon to cream on the sides, forming characteristic “tiger stripes.” Light spots unequal in size, largely confined to dorsal and upper flank areas. Fins unspotted. There is a single distinct, dark orange-brown band near the tail tip. Grows to 33 cm.

Etymology: From the Greek words for “dwarf” and “shark,” in reference to the comparatively small size of this species.

Distribution: The northwest coast of Western Australia.

Asymbolus terrencemilleri sp. nov. Orange spotted catshark—

Asymbolus sp. D of Last and Stevens (1994: 184, pl. 21: 26.12).

Asymbolus analis in Last, P., E. Scott, and F. Talbot (1983). Fishes of Tasmania. Tasmanian Fisheries Development Authority, Hobart. 563 pp.

Holotype is the specimen depicted in Last and Stevens (1994: 184, pl. 21:26.12, female).

Diagnosis: A light-bellied, brown shark with indistinct large dark dorsal saddles, large orange-rimmed dark spots, and spotted dorsal and pectoral fins. A. diana has spotted fins, and a taller first dorsal relative to head length. A. diessneri has sparsely spotted fins, but no saddles, and is gray.

Description: Similar to other Asymbolus in general morphology. The head is more depressed than in most other species. The origin of the first dorsal fin is over the insertion of the pelvic fins, and the origin of the second dorsal is over the insertion of the anal fin. The head length (tip to pectoral origin) is less than 4 times the height of the first dorsal fin. The body is brown, with dark brown spots with orange borders. Grows to 53 cm.

Etymology: A patronym for Terrence C. Miller, Ph.D., a long-time diver who has made numerous contributions to both The CURATOR Project and other research by the author. Dr. Miller’s avocational interest in sharks helped bring the attention of numerous unnamed species to our attention.

Distribution: Eastern Tasmania north to Moreton Island, Queensland.

Asymbolus teriae sp. nov. Variegated catshark—

Asymbolus sp. C of Last and Stevens (1994: 183, pl. 22: 26.11).

Holotype is the specimen depicted in Last and Stevens (1994: 183, pl. 26.11, female).

Diagnosis: A gray-brown shark with both light and dark spots on the body, unspotted dorsal fins, and large faint, darker blotches. The dorsal fins are rounded, and the second dorsal base broadly overlaps the anal fin. The only Asymbolus where the interdorsal space is less than 1.5 times the length of the first dorsal fin base (in most other species, the distance is 2+ times).

Description: Body subcylindrical, head high but depressed. The origin of the first dorsal fin is behind the insertion of the pelvic fins. The origin of the second dorsal fin is over the middle of the base of the anal fin. Body gray-brown, darker above than below. Large, dark brown blotches present on back and sides. Numerous pale and dark spots on the back and flanks. Nocturnal and secretive. Known to reach 43 cm.

Etymology: For Teri Sprackland in recognition of her long-term efforts in development and promotion of applied taxonomy as embodied in The CURATOR Project.

Distribution: “Collected from southern Western Australian waters between the Recherché Archipelago and Cape Naturaliste to a depth of 150 m. Possibly more widely distributed in the Great Australian Bight” (Last and Stevens, 1994: 183).

A new species in the genus Orectolobus Bonaparte, 1834 (Orectolobiformes: Orectolobidae) from Australian Waters.

Robert George Sprackland

Young Forest Company, 951 Old County Road #134, Belmont, California 94002, USA

Family Orectolobidae

Orectolobus chipmilleri sp. nov. Velvet wobbegong—

Orectolobus sp. A. in Last and Stevens (1994: 128, pl. 26:14.2).

Holotype is the female specimen depicted in Last and Stevens (1994: 128, pl. 26:12.2).

Diagnosis: a wobbegong similar in form to O. wardi from which it differs in possessing a dark reddish brown body, with an intricate lace-like pattern of irregular cream or yellow saddle markings across the back, and light spots scattered around the body. Also distinct from other wobbegongs in having two (vs. one or no) dermal lobes posterior to the spiracle. Distinguished from other species of Orectolobus except O. wardi in possessing unbranched fleshy barbels around the mouth.

Description: A medium-sized (to 200 cm), slender wobbegong. The body is conspicuously tapered from mid body. Two dermal lobes behind each spiracle, no lobes on chin. Nasal barbels have only one small branch. Fleshy circumorbital barbels unbranched. The height of the first dorsal is subequal to the length of its base.

Chocolate brown above, with pale tan to cream markings with dark centers. Head and tail predominantly light, pectoral and pelvic fins predominantly dark. Dorsal pattern symmetrical. Pale tan below.

Etymology: A patronym for Dr. Chip E. Miller, in recognition of his many years of support of research into the biology of “lower” vertebrates, and his support for The CURATOR Project.

Distribution: Coastal Western Australia, from Coral Bay to Cape Leeuwin.