MUSEUM

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Memoirs of the
Queensland Museum.

VOL. X, PART IV.

Issued 30th JUNE, 1934.

EDITED BY THE DIRECTOR, HEBER A. LONGMAN, F.L.S., C.M Z.S.

ISSUED BY THE AUTHORITY OF THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR
QUEENSLAND, THE HON. W. FORGAN SMITH.

J

CONTENTS.

Tertiary Fresh Water Fishes from Southern Queensland — Plates

XVIII-XXV ; Text-figures 1-14 ----- Edwin Sherbon Hills, Ph.D.

A New Fish, Reputed to be Poisonous, from Queensland —

Plate XXVI ; Text-figure 1 ----- Gilbert P. Whitley -

Notes on Some Australian Sharks — Plates XXVII-XXIX ;

Text-figures 1-4 - -- -- -- - Gilbert P. Whitley -

Restoration of Euryzygoma dunense — Plates XXX-XXXI - Heber A. Longman -

A Large Spiral Structure from the Cretaceous of Western
Queensland — Plate XXXII ; Text-figures 1-4 - - -

Page.

157-174

175-179

180-200

201-202

F. W. Whitehouse, Ph.D., M.Sc. 203-210

MEMOIRS OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM, Vol. X, Part IV.

TERTIARY FRESH WATER FISHES FROM
SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND.

By Edwin Sherbon Hills, Ph. D.

(Plates XVIII— XXV ; Text-figures 1-14.)

Introduction. — Fossil fishes have for a number of years been known
to occur in Southern Queensland, in freshwater deposits which, with some
reservations, are generally considered to be Tertiary (see Jones, 1926). No
detailed account of them has, however, previously appeared, and interest attaches
both to the recognition of the fossil species, as representatives of a former
piscine fauna in Queensland, and to the possibility of their yielding more
precise information as to the age of the beds in which they occur.

The bulk — 39 specimens — of the material described below was collected
by Dr. F. W. Whitehouse at Redbank Plains, from the two adjacent properties,
Portion 172, Parish of Bundamba and Portion 37, Parish of Stapylton. In
addition there are three fragments from Cooper’s Plains, also collected by Dr.
Whitehouse, one from a well in the Parish of Bundamba, and some crushed
fragments from oil shales near Brisbane collected by Mr. L. C. Ball. I have
also examined a specimen from Redbank Plains in the British Museum (Nat.
Hist.), London, as well as two specimens from the same locality lent to me by
the Geological Survey of Queensland. The present communication is therefore
essentially a description of the fishes of the Redbank Plains Series. I have
not seen the remains recorded by Dunstan (1901 ; 1916) from the Duaringa

district, nor the Ceratodont tooth from Eight Mile Plains recorded by Jack and
Etheridge as Ceratodus forsteri (1892, pp. 647, 740), these being the only other
recorded examples of (?) Tertiary fresh- water fish in Queensland. David’s

reference (1932, Table I — Upper Oligocene) to the occurrence of “ numerous

fossil lish (. Epiceratodus , etc.)” in the Oxley district refers doubtless to Redbank

Plains. At Nimbin, in Northern New South Wales, there are freshwater

carbonaceous shales presumably of Tertiary age, from which Smith Woodward
(1902) has recorded Ctenolates avus Woodward, the only other record of a
freshwater fish from the Tertiary of Australia known to me.

Systematic Descriptions.

Subclass DIPNEUSTI.

Order Sirenoidei.

Family CERATODONTIDiE.
Genus EPICERATODUS TELLER, 1891.
EPICERATODUS DENTICULATUS sp. nov.

(Text -figures ] and 2.)

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MEMOIRS OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM.

Locality . — Redbank Plains.

Material. — [RP/EJ* Five specimens preserved as moulds in concretionary
limonitic mudstone. Holotype, No. 1.

Description . — Both the palatine and “ splenial ” dental plates are separate,
and bear five well-defined comb ridges, and what may be a sixth, ill-defined,
posteriorly. The ridges are striated parallel to the edge of the plate, and on a
few of them, but not all, four or five denticles are present on the outer edge.
The left “ splenial ” plate in specimen No. 1 (see Fig. 1), is abnormal, the
fourth comb ridge being atrophied.

Text-figure 1. — Epiceratodus denticulatus sp. nov. [RP/E] 1. x J (approx.) No. F. 2347,
Qld. Mus. Coll. Holotype. Drawn from a jelly mould. ch, cerato-hyal ; cl,

cleithrum ; c. r., cranial ribs; eth, ethmoid (?) ; l. ang . left angular ; Z. pt, left palatine ;
Z. “ sp,” left “ splenial ” ; par, parasphenoid ; r, ribs ; r. ang, right angular ; r. pt,
right palatine ; x, dermal bone.

The bone labelled ethmoid (?) in Fig. 1 clearly belongs to the median
series of dermal cranial bones, but does not match either the so-called ethmoid
or the occipital in E. forsteri (Krefft). The degree of ossification throughout is
the same as in the type species, and the skeletal elements preserved, including

the scales, are indistinguishable from those of that species (see Text-figs. 1

and 2). In the tail, the axonosts are slender and hollow ended, and the baseosts,

which are overlapped by the thin and flexible but unjointed dermatrichia, are
weakly developed.

* Letters in brackets refer to labels on the specimens. Letters above the line refer
to the localities — thus RP = Redbank Plains, CP = Cooper’s Plains ; letters below the line
refer to the genus — thus E = Epiceratodus, B = Phareodus, N = Notogoneus, and P ==
Percolates. Counterparts are marked a, b, respectively,

TERTIARY FRESH WATER FISHES FROM SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND. 159

Table I. — The Species of Epiceratodus.

Species.

Age.

No. of
Combs.

Denticles.

Size.

Remarks.

E. forsteri (Krefft) 1870

Pleist. —
Recent

(5)-7

-

Medium

Living

E . palmeri (Krefft) 1874

Pleist.

(?)

-

Large

Teeth only known

E. gregoryi White, 1925

Pleist.

7-8

-

Large

Teeth only known

E. eyrensis White, 1925

Pleist.

7-8

+

Medium

Teeth only known

E. pattinsonae White, 1926

Upper

Cret.

6

—

Medium

Palatine tooth only

known

E. denticulatus sp. nov.

Oligo.

5-(6)

+

Small

Teeth and other skeletal
parts known

Text-figure 2. — Epiceratodus denticulatus sp. nov. Specimen in the British Museum x J.
ax, axonosts ; ba, baseosts ; de, dermatrichia ; n. a., neural and haemal arches.

Remarks. E. denticulatus is very close to E. forsteri . The presence or
absence of denticles on the comb ridges is considered by Peyer (1925, p. 13)
not to be a feature of classificatory importance, as they may be present or not,
m what is regarded as the same species. Such is the case with C. africanus
Haug, and C. runcinatus Plieninger. In E. forsteri, however, although the
outer edges of the combs are somewhat serrated, no well-defined denticles are
present. With regard to the number of comb ridges, Longman (1928) has
recorded an aberrant example of E. forsteri possessing only five, but the
possibilities are that in E, denticulatus the smaller number was the rule, and

160 MEMOIRS OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM.

not the exception. From E. pattinsonae the species is distinguished principally
by the possession of narrower comb ridges, of a stouter first comb ridge on the
splenial plate, and by the fact that the valley separating the first from the
second comb ridge on the palatine tooth is shorter than the others in E.
pattinsonae , while this is not the case in E. denticulatus. The distinctions from
the other known species may be gathered from the Table given above.
Sufficient is not yet known of the anatomy of fossil Ceratodontkke to clearly
indicate genetic affinities, and it is to be hoped that further material will be
obtained from Redbank Plains, where parts other than the teeth are found in
a good state of preservation.

Super Order TELEOSTEI.

Order Isospondyli.

Family OSTEOGLOSSIDJE.

Genus PHAREODUS LEIDY, 1873.

PHAREODUS QUEENSLANDICUS sp. nov.

(Plates XVIII-XIX ; Text-figures 3-7.)

Localities. — Redbank Plains and Cooper’s Plains.

Material. — [RP/B]. Thirteen specimens preserved as moulds in con-

cretionary limonitic mudstone. Holotype, No. 7, a, b.

[CP/BJ. Two specimens preserved as moulds in clay shale.

Description. — Moderately large fishes, estimated maximum known length
about 0-5 metres. The body is less elongated than any of the living genera,
resembling that of P. acutus Leidy, although not so deep or so blunt -snouted.
The dorsal and anal fins are opposed, the dorsal somewhat shorter than the
anal. The caudal is probably slightly excavated. The first pectoral ray is
enormously elongated, reaching back beyond the pelvics, which are small and
approximately mid- ventral .

The exact number of vertebrae is uncertain, but there are approximately
23 abdominal and 26 caudal, the last three, possibly four, being turned up
into the tail. The vertebrae are ossified radially into strong longitudinal
laminae. There are short parapophyses, which diminish in size anteriorly, on
the posterior abdominal vertebrae. The neural spines are expanded at their
bases into laminae in the median plane. Epineurals are present, but no
epipleurals. The ribs are long and stout.

The anal fin is composed of 26 jointed rays, each supported by a baseost,
and there are two or three anterior spines. The dorsal has probably about
19 jointed rays, and, by analogy with the anal and with P. acutus, probably
one or more small anterior spines. Each ray corresponds to a baseost. The

I ix -

TERTIARY FRESH WATER FISHES FROM SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND. 161

caudal has about 16 jointed rays, and, to judge from the greater size of these
dorsally and ventrally, was excavated at its posterior margin, which is not
clearly shown in any specimen. The rays are supported by an uncertain
number of hypurals. The haemal spine attached to the seventh vertebra from
the tip of the column is stronger than the others, and probably supported a
robust ray or perhaps a spine in the caudal fin. There is no evidence that
the enlarged first ray of the pectorals was serrated on its inner edge as Jordan
(1905, p. 56) states to be the case in P. acutus. The pelvics have a small

Text-figure 3. — Phareodus queenslandicus sp. nov. Partial reconstruction, based on Specimens

[RP/B] 10, 7, 2, and [CP/B] 1.

anterior spine. The scales are of the typical Osteoglossid type, being large,
granulated on the exposed surface, and divided into a mosaic of compartments.

The dermal cranial bones are sculptured, the operculum and post orbitals
with grooves radiating from the growth centres and separated by rows of
tubercles and fused tubercles. The cranial roof is ornamented w r ith lineally
arranged pits and grooves. The dent ary is somewhat rugose. The cranial
roofing bones (Fig. 4) are firmly sutured, but the sutures cannot all be made
out, as in places the bones are cracked and it is difficult, from the impression,
to distinguish between cracks and sutures. Comparison with the skull roof
of P. acutus (see Plate XIX, Fig. A) and with Ride wood’s figures (1905) of
Sclero'pages , Heterotis, and Arapaima , brings out the close resemblance to
Phareodus , and what is known of Brychaetus (see Smith Woodward, 1901, Plate I)
shows that there is a general resemblance to that genus also. In the
fossil genera the broad lateral and anterior expansion of the nasals and frontals,
and the development of the occiput are comparable and among the living
forms, the closest resemblance is with Scleropages. In P. queenslandicus no
suture is visible between the nasals and frontals, and that between the frontals
and parietals is more anteriorly directed than in P. acutus or Brychaetus.

162

MEMOIRS OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM.

The opercular series consists of a large, sub -semicircular, radially
sculptured operculum, the anterior part of which is overlapped by the expanded
vertical limb of the pie- operculum, and there is a sub-operculum present. The

Text-figure 4. 1 hareodus queenslandicus sp. nov. [RP/B] 2b. x 1. Cranial roof, ep , epiotic ;

fr, frontal ; me mesethmoicl ; na, nasal ; pa, parietal ; pqf, post-frontal ; so, supra-
occipital ; sq, squamosal.

two large sculptured post orbitals overlap the vertical limb of the pre-operculum.
The lower post orbital is smaller than the upper. These bones are longer than

Text-figure 5. — Phareodus queenslandicus sp. nov. [RP/B] Id. x f. Left pre-operculum,

outer aspect.

TERTIARY FRESH WATER FISHES FROM SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND. 163

in P. acutus and resemble those of Scleropages leichardti Gunther. Much of the
quadrate appears to have been visible from the outside, and to judge from
Tanner’s figures (1925) this seems also to have been the case in P. acutus. The
premaxilla is a small bone bearing a few large teeth, and the maxilla is
large, a supplemental bone being apparently present, as in Brychaetus. The
separate bones of the lower jaw cannot be clearly made out, but the jaw' is
strong and capable of a wide gape. The teeth are long, stout, hollow, and
conical, those at the tip of the jaws and about the middle being larger than

Text-figure 6 . — Phareodus queenslandicus sp. nov. [RP/B] lb. X 1. Left hyo -mandibular,
inner aspect. Art-op, opercular articulation.

the others. There are about 34 teeth on either side of the jaws, those near
the angle of the gape being extremely small. The maxillary teeth are slenderer
than those of the lower jaw.

Text-figure 7 . — Phareodus queenslandicus sp. nov. a, [RP/B] 2 a; b, [RP/B] 3. Right
pterygoids and palatine, inner aspect x l. ecp -{- pal , fused ecto -pterygoid and
palatine ; enp, ento-pterygoid.

164

MEMOIRS OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM.

Teeth are present on the pterygoids, and the surface of these bones is
covered with small tubercles. The teeth are short and stout on the entopterygoid,
and slenderer on the fused ectopterygoid and palatine. The pterygoids greatly
resemble the corresponding bones in Scleropage-s leichardti and differ from the
other living genera (see Ride wood 1905). Teeth are not present on either the
parasphenoid or the vomer.

Remarks. — Fossil remains of Osteoglossids are very rare, the only other
occurrences being the well-known Phareodus spp. in the Eocene Green River
shales of Wyoming, Bryehaetus from the London Clay (and possibly the

Oligocene of Germany (Zotz, 1928) and Phareodus from the lower Tertiary of
Sumatra. The latter is an extremely interesting recent discovery, and Dr. de
Beaufort, in a personal communication, states that the Osteoglossids from
Sumatra (one large specimen and some smaller ones) are “ very near

Dapedoglossus ” [Phareodus].

Eastman (1917, p. 288) states of Phareodus acutus , “ Its primitive
characters are evident, and among surviving genera the resemblance is closest
to Heterotis of tropical Africa.” I believe, however, that as Boulenger held
(1922, p. 55 7) it is closest to Scleropages. In support of this the resemblances
in the cranial osteology, which extend to the opercular series, post orbitals,
jaws, pterygoids, and cranial roof, as well as the presence of the elongated first
pectoral ray and the general shape of the body, are notable. As is the case

with Epiceratodus , it seems that the fish living in Queensland represents a

less differentiated survival than any other, of a previously widespread family.

Super Order TELEOSTEI.

Order Isospondyli.

Family GONORHYNCHIDdE.

Genus NOTOGONEUS COPE, 1885.

NOTOGONEUS PARVUS sp. nov.

(Plate XX ; Text-figures 8-9)

Locality. — Redbank Plains.

Material. — [RP/N]. Five specimens preserved as moulds in limonitic

mudstone. Holotype, No. 4, a, b.

Description. — Small fishes, estimated maximum known length about
0-2 metres. The dorsal and pelvic fins are inserted slightly behind the middle
of the fish, the dorsal just behind the pelvics ; the caudal is excavated. The
head is pointed, the mouth ventral, and the head and opercular apparatus
are contained about four times in the total length of the fish to the tip of
the tail. The length of the head exceeds the maximum depth of the body.

TERTIARY FRESH WATER FISHES FROM SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND. 165

There are 14 caudal and 29 or 20 abdominal vertebrae, which bear a
strong lateral ridge between deeply excavated dorsal and ventral hollows.
The last vertebra is continued as a strong urostyle, to which is apposed a
dorsal element covering the end of the spinal cord. There are 5 or 6 hypurals
(see Fig. 8). The neural and haemal spines are slender, the ribs even more
so. Intermuscular bones are present.

Te -ct -figure 8 . — Notogoneus parvus sp. nov. Detail of caudrl fin. <i. [RP/N] 3 ; b, [RP/N] 5 :

c, [RP/N] 4. X about 2.

The caudal fin is slightly excavated at its posterior margin, and has
about 24 jointed rays, with a few fucral spines. The number of rays in the
other fins is uncertain, but there are approximately ten or eleven rays and 2
or 3 small anterior spines in the dorsal, seven rays in the pelvics, and eight
rays and 1 or 2 spines in the anal. The rays are supported by somewhat
expanded baseosts.

The scales are typically Gonorhynchid in shape, being small, subrect angular,
ornamented with concentric ridges, and possessing a raised posterior border,
but close examination failed to reveal denticles such as are present in other
Notogoneus species and in Gonorhynchus . Scales cover the operculum and
pre-operciilum, and traces of these can be seen on the frontals also, so that
it is possible that the head was completely covered.

Text-figure 9 . — Notogoneus parvus sp. nov. [RP/N] 4. x 2. No. F. 2364, Qld. Mus. Coll.
Holotj pe. or, articular ; b . at, branchiostegal rays ; d, dentary ; fr, frontal ; by,
hyo -mandibular ; i. op, inter -operculum ; op, operculum ; pa, parasphenoid ; p. op,
pre-operculum ; qu, quadrate ; s. op, sub -operculum.

The operculum in one example (No. 4) bears three slits in its posterior
border, in another (No. 2) four. These characteristics are regarded as of less
than specific value, as no other significant differences are to be seen in the

166

MEMOIRS OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM.

various examples preserved. The notch in the operculum itself (see Fig. 9) is
broader than in N. osculus Cope (see Smith Woodward, 1896) and the sub-operculum
is overlapped by the operculum to a greater extent than in that species, and
is also situated higher up on the head. The fact that the scales are still to be
observed in this region indicates that any relative displacement of the bones
has been small. The other cranial bones are very similar to those of N.
osculus (see Smith Woodward. 1896 and the reconstruction given by Hussakof,
1908). There are a few broad branchiostegal rays. No teeth were observed
in any part of the skull.

Remarks. — The above remains have been referred to Notogoneus , in spite
of the absence of denticles on the scales, because of the resemblance of the
cranial and axial skeleton to that genus. Better material may reveal differences
sufficient to separate the Queensland remains from Notogoneus , but the affinities
are certainly with it rather than with Charitosomus.

The recognition of the presence of a Gonorhynchid in fresh water
Tertiary strata in Queensland is perhaps the most interesting result of the
present investigation. Gonorhynchus, the only living genus of the family

Gonorhychidae, is exclusively marine, and restricted in its occurrence to the
Indian Ocean and the Western Pacific. Of the already known fossil genera,
Notogoneus (Upper Eocene to Upper Oligocene of Western Europe and Lower
Eocene of Wyoming) is elsewhere chiefly or exclusively freshwater, and
Charitosomus (Upper Cretaceous of Mount Lebanon and Westphalia) chiefly
or exclusively marine. It is certainly unexpected to find Notogoneus also in
Queensland, and even more so to find the association of Phare, odus and
Notogoneus in the lower Tertiary both there and in Wyoming.

Order Percomorphi.

Family MORONIDiE.

Genus PERCALATES RAMSAY AND OGILBY, 1887.

PERCALATES ANTIQUUS sp. nov.

(Plates XXI— XXIV ; Text-figures 10-13)

Locality. — Redbank Plains.

Material. — [RP/P]. Nineteen specimens preserved in concretionary limonitic
mudstone. Holotype, No. 5 a , b.

Description. — Medium sized fishes, estimated maximum known length
0-25 metres. The dorsal surface from in front of the spinous dorsal to the
tip of the snout is slightly concave, and the maximum depth of the body
is just in front of the spinous dorsal.

TERTIARY FRESH WATER FISHES FROM SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND. 167

There are 30 vertebrae, 12 abdominal and 18 caudal, which are hollowed
out dorsally and ventrally, leaving a strong lateral lamina. In one specimen
(No. 5) the mid-caudal vertebrae are compressed, but the number remains
constant (.see Plate IV). The posterior ribs are attached to stout parapophyses.

There are eight spines in the spinous dorsal, the fourth being the longest.
No gap separates the soft and spinous dorsals, and the soft dorsal has one
anterior spine, slightly longer than the last in the spinous dorsal, and 1 1 or
12 jointed rays. The interneurals are laminate. The anal fin has three spines,
one small anteriorly and the other two subequal and strong, and there are
9 jointed rays. In the caudal (Fig. 10) there are 17 or 18 jointed rays, with
small fulcral spines dorsally and ventrally. The pelvics have a single anterior
spine. The scales are moderately large, (25 in transverse series), ctenoid over

Text-figure 10 .— Percolates antiquus sp. nov, [RP/P] 96. X 2. Detail of caudal fin.

most of the body, and cycloid on the opercular apparatus. The ctenoid scales
are subrectangular and the cycloid are subcircular. Both the opercles and
cheeks are scaly.

c

Text-figure 11 . — Percalatcs antiquus sp. nov. Pre-opercular bones, o, [RP/P] ]o; 6, [RP/P]
13 ; c, [RP/P] 1 ; d, [RP/P] 16 x about 1.

168

MEMOIRS OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM.

The cranial bones do not differ markedly from those of the living
P. colonorum (Gunther). The pre-operculum is spinous, the spines on the lower
limb antrorse, but exhibiting great variations (see Fig. 11). The operculum
has two spines. The upper and lower pharyngeals (see Fig. 12), the vomer,
palatines, premaxillae, maxillae, and dentaries bear villiform teeth. The maxilla
has a supplemental bone. The sub- orbitals are serrated. The skull roof is
simple, and differs little from that of P. colonorum. The parietals. which are

Text-figure 12. — Percolates antiquus sp. nov. a , right lower pharyngeal [RP/P] lb, X 3/2;
b, c, upper pharyngeals ; b, [RP/P] 12 ; c, [RP/P] la.

separated by the supraoccipitals, apparently extend round the sides of the
frontals more than in that species. There are (?) six branchiostegals. The
mouth is large and protrusible (see Plate XXI).

Text-figure 13. — Percolates antiquus sp. nov. [RP/P] 17a. X 1. Roof of skull, eo, ox-occipital
fr, frontal; par, parietal; pt, post -temporal ; so, supra-occipital.

Genus PERCALATES (?) RAMSAY AND OGILBY, 1887.

Locality . — Oil shales, West of Strathpine and East of Bald Hills, near
edge of Bald Hills basin.

TERTIARY FRESH WATER FISHES FROM SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND. 169

Material . — Fragmentary remains very much crushed. The bone is
preserved in a friable condition in black carbonaceous shale.

Description . — All that can be made out is that the remains are those of
a Percoid fish, the spinous dorsal, pre-operculum with spinous border, and
scales with concentric and radial ornament suggesting that, in view of the
probable freshwater nature of the deposit, the remains may be those of
Percolates.

Order Percomorphi.

Family MOBONIDdE.

Genus Indet.

(Plate XXV; Text-figure 14.)

Locality. — Well, Portion 122, Parish of Bundamba.

Material . — Posterior half of a very small fish, the bones replaced by
translucent material ( (?) chalcedony) and preserved in fine shale.

Description . — The estimated length of the fish is about 5 centimetres.

Text-figure 14. — Percoid fish, genus indet., from well, Portion 122, Parish of Bundamba.
X 4. Detail of caudal fin. — d. cr , dorsal caudal radials ; hy , hypural ; Z. v., last
vertebra ; n. a., fused neural arches covering the posterior end of the spinal cord ;
u, urostyle.

The dorsal fin has 12 soft rays, the last two very small. The anal has three
spines, one small anteriorly and two more, subequal and much stronger. The
caudal has about 17 jointed rays and a series of dorsal and ventral filler ul

170

MEMOIRS OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM.

spines ; whether the posterior border was rounded or excavated is uncertain.
There are at least 14 abdominal vertebrae, probably more, the last three
compressed. The last vertebra is continued as a urostyle, to which is apposed
a cover of fused neural arches, and there is a number of hypurals ( see Fig. 13).
The scales are ctenoid, and there are about 17 in a transverse series. Neural
and haemal spines are relatively strong.

Remarks. — In the absence of the head, the fish is indeterminable. It is
not certain whether it is a pigmy perch or the fry of a large fish, but I incline
to the view that the latter is the case and it may be that, as the general
similarity suggests, it is a young specimen of Percolates sp.

This specimen was labelled “ Ipswich or Upper Trias Jura.” Mr. Ball
points out, however, that when it was collected the Tertiary beds in the
Bundamba district had not been mapped, and thus there is no necessary
implication that the fish came from the Triassic Ipswich Series as now known.
The well is situated within the Tertiaries, and from these the fish was obtained.

Order indet.

Locality. — Cooper’s Plains.

Material. — A few fragments, the bone being actually preserved, in soft
mudstone.

Description. — Fragments of the axial skeleton and fin spines of a
Teleostean fish, indeterminable.

Remarks. — There is an extremely close resemblance between the fossil
species P . antiquus and the living P. colonorum , the greatest differences being
in the number of vertebrae — 25 (11 + 14) in the living species and 30 (12 + 18) in
the fossil — and the variability and less regular development of the spines on the
pre-operculum of the fossil species. This close similarity is somewhat unexpected
in view of the presence in the same beds of a distinct genus of Osteoglossidae from
that now living in the same region, and of the Gonorhynchid Notogoneus, of
which no living relatives inhabit fresh waters.

It seems, however, that the more primitively organised Percoid genera
such as Perciththys and Dates , have changed but little throughout Tertiary
time. Percichthys, still living in South America, occurs fossil in the Tertiary
lignites of laubate, Brazil (Smith Woodward, 1898), and Cyclopoma from
the Upper Eocene of Monte Bolca, Italy, is scarcely distinguishable from
Dates , still living in Northern Africa (Smith Woodward, 1901). Percichthys
and Percolates are indeed extremely alike. Boulenger (1895) separates them
in his key to the family Serranidse [s. 1.] solely on the presence of cycloid
scales in Percolates as against ctenoid in Percichthys , The specimens of

TERTIARY FRESH WATER FISHES FROM SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND . 171

Percolates in the National Museum, Melbourne, however, all possess delicately
ciliate ctenoid scales, and Ramsay and Ogilby in their definition of the genus,
state that ciliated scales are present. A means of distinction must therefore
be sought in other characters. The number of vertebrae, for instance, in
the living species of Percichthys, varies from 33-35, as against 25 in Percolates ,
although it will be noted that the fossil Percolates ontiquus approaches
Percichthys in this respect, possessing 30 vertebrae.

GEOLOGICAL AGE OF THE FOSSIL BEARING BEDS.

Redbank Plains Series . — Of the forms occurring here, Phareodus is the
most restricted in time, being found in the Lower Eocene (Paleocene) Green
River Shales of Wyoming, and the (?) Eocene of the Padang Highlands, Sumatra.
The age of the Sumatran beds is certainly Palaeogene, if not Eocene (de
Beaufort, 1931, and personal communication), but it may be that the Osteo-
glossids from there, at present referred to Phareodus, are really a new, though
closely allied genus. Notogoneus ranges from the Paleocene (Green River
Shales), through the Upper Eocene (Gyps de Montmartre) to the Lower
Oligocene of Aix en Provence and the Upper Oligocene of the Mainz Basin.
Percolates, by analogy with Cyclopoma [Lates] and Percichthys , may be expected
to range throughout Tertiary time. Epiceratodus is known to occur in the
Upper Cretaceous of White Cliffs, New South Wales, but E. denticulatus is much
closer to the Pleistocene and Recent E. forsteri than is the Cretaceous species.

The evidence, therefore, is strong that the Redbank Plains Series is of
Palaeogene age — Eocene or Oligocene — certainly not Cretaceous, as has been
suggested. Beyond that it is not possible to particularise with certainty,
although if, as seems possible, Phareodus queenslandicus should prove to be
closer to Scleropages than to the North American species, especially P. acutus,
an Oligocene, rather than an Eocene age would be indicated, and this would
be supported by the resemblance of Percolates ontiquus to the living species,
and of E. denticulatus to E. forsteri. The Redbank Plains Series may therefore
be tentatively (in view of the paucity of comparative material) referred to the
Oligocene, and with this Series the beds at Cooper’s Plains (with Phareodus and
other Teleosts) are clearly to be linked {see Jones, 1926).

Bald Hills Basin . — The evidence is insufficient to indicate more than that
the oil shales with fragmentary fish remains are of Kainozoic age.

I am indebted to Mr. G. Mack, of the National Museum, Melbourne, for the
opportunity of studying and dissecting specimens of Percolates , Gonorhynchus , Scleropages , and
pigmy Perches in his care,

172 MEMOIRS OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM.

CONCLUSION.

In Scleropages and Epiceratodus , Queensland possesses two freshwater
fishes whose only living relatives are found in parts of Africa, South America,
and. in the case of Scleropages, in the East Indies. To account for such a
peculiar distribution, land connections, either continuous at one period or
progressively developed throughout the Tertiary, must be postulated In older
Tertiary times the freshwater fish faunas of North America and Europe were
remarkably similar. The present communication has shown that in Australia,
too, the lower Tertiary freshwater fishes conform, in a general way, to the
types found in those continents, and in the East Ifidies. If the present and
past distribution of freshwater fishes is considered, the case for the former
existence of land connections, in moderately low latitudes, between the chief
continental masses is greatly strengthened. The evidence of the Redbank
Plains fishes is particularly clear as to the existence of a pre-Oligocene land
connection, bridging the Pacific Ocean, between Eastern Australia and North
America.

KEY TO LETTERING USED IN THE PLATES.

a

. . anal fin.

p. ab.

post abdominal bone (s).

ar(t)

. . articular.

par.

parasphenoid.

b. r .

branchiostegal rays.

p. b.

pelvic girdle.

ch(y)

. . cerato-hyal.

pel.

pelvic fin

c(f)

caudal fin.

V ■ /■

pectoral fin.

cl.

. . cleithrum.

p. mx.

pre -maxi 11a.

d ( en )

dentary.

p. o. 1 ,

2 . . first and second post-orbitals.

d.f.

dorsal fin.

p. op.

pre -operculum.

eh (y)

epi-hyal.

pt.

ecto -pterygoid.

hyo.

hyomandibular.

qu.

quadrate.

fr-

. . frontals.

r. 1

enlarged first pectoral ray.

i. op.

. . inter -operculum.

s. d.

spinous dorsal.

m. pt.

. . meta-pterygoid.

so. d.

soft dorsal.

mx.

. . maxilla.

s. op.

sub - operculum .

op ■

operculum.

BIBLIOGRAPHY.

Beaufort, L. F de, 1931. “Pisces, Rept-ilia and Aves [known to occur as Fossils in the
Indo-Australian Archipelago!.” Leid. Geol. Meded ., Deel V (Festbund. K. Martin)
461-470.

Boulenger, G. A., 1895. “ Catalogue of Fishes in the British Museum.” 2nd Edn., Yol I.

— ■; > 1922. 44 Fishes, Ascidians, etc.” The Cambridge Natural History. Macmillan

and Cc., London.

Cope, E. D., 1885. “ Eocene Paddle Fish and Gonorhynchidse.” Amer. Nat., Vol. XIX,

1090-1091.

David, T. W. E., 1932. “Explanatory Notes to accompany a new Geological Map of the
Commonwealth of Australia.” Sydney.

Dunstan, B., 1901. 6 Geology of the Dawson and Mackenzie Rivers, etc,” Queensland Geol.

Surv. Pub. No. 155.

TERTIARY FRESH

WATER FISHES FROM SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND.

173

^ 1916 . i n Tillyard’s “ Mesozoic and Tertiary Insects of Queensland and New

South Wales.” Queensland Geol. Surv. Pub. No. 253.

Eastman, C. R., 1917. “ Fossil Fishes in the Collection of the United States National
Museum.” Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 'Vol. 52.

Hussakof, L., 1908. “Catalogue of Type and Figured Specimens of Fossil Vertebrates
in the American Museum of Natural History.’ Bull. Amer. Mus. Eat. Hist.,
Vol. XXV, Ft. 1.

Jack, R. L., and R. Etheridge, 1892. “ The Geology and Palaeontology of Queensland and

New Guinea.” Govt. Printer, Brisbane.

Jones O. A., 1926. “ The Tertiary Deposits of the Moreton District, South-Eastern

Queensland.” Proc. Roy. Soc. Queensland, Vol. XXXVIII, 23-46.

Jordan, D. S., 1905. “The Study of Fishes.” Vcl. II. Westminster, Constable and Co.

Krefft, G., 1870. “ Description of a Gigantic Amphibian allied to the Genus Lepidosiren,

from the Wide Bay District, Queensland.” Proc. Zool. Soc., 221-224.

, 1874. ( Ceratodus palmeri). Nature, Vol. IX, 293.

Leidy, J., 1873. 4 Notice of Remains of Fishes in the Bridger Tertiary Formations of

Wyoming.” ' Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia.

Longman, R\, 1928. “ Discovery of Juvenile Lung-Fishes, with Notes on Epiceratodus.”

Mem. Queensland Mus., Vol. IX., Pt. 2, 160-173.

Peyer, B., 1925. “ Wirbelthier-Reste der Baharije-Stufe (unterstes Cenoman). Die Ceratodus-

Funde.” Abh. der Bayer. Akad. Wiss., Math.-naturw. Abt., Vol. XXX, Bd. 5.

Ramsay, E. P., and J. D. Ogilby. 44 Notes on the Genera of Australian Fishes.” Proc. Linn.
Soc. New South Wales, Vol. 2, Pt. i, 181-182.

Ridewood, W. G., 1905. “ On the Cranial Osteology of the Fishes of the Families

Osteoglossidae, Pantodontidae, and Phractolaemidae .” Journ. Linn. Soc. Zool., Vol. XXIX,
252-282.

Tanner, V. M., 1925. “ Notes on the Collection of Fossil Fishes contained in the University

of Utah, etc.” Bull. Univ. Utah, Vol. 15, No. 6.

Teller, F., 1891. “ Uber den Schadel eines fossilen Dipnoers Ceratodus sturii nov. spec, aus

den Schic-hten des oberen Trias der Nordalpen.” Abh. k. k. geol. Reichsamt., Bd.
XV, Hft. 3.

White, E. I., 1925. “ Two New Fossil Species of Epiceratodus from South Australia.” Ann. Mag.
Nat. Hist, Ser. 9, Vol. XVI, 139-146.

. 9 1 9 2 6 . 44 On the Occurrence of the Genus Epiceratodus in the Upper Cretaceous

of New South Wales.” Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., Ser. 9, Vol. XVII, 677-682.

Woodward, A. S., 1896. 44 On Some Extinct Fishes of the Teleostean Family Gonorhynchido? .”

Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., 500-504.

9 18 9 8 . 44 Consideragoes sombre alguno peixes Terciarios dos schistos de Taubate,

Estado de S. Paulo, Brazil.” Rev. Museo Paulista, Vol. iii, 63-70.

f 1901. 44 Catalogue of the Fossil Fishes in the British Museum.” Pt. IV. London.

, 1902. 44 On Atherstonia australis and Ctenolates arms , two new species of Fossil

Fishes from New South Wales.” Rec. Geol. Surv. N. S. Wales, Vol. \ II, Pt. 2, 88—91.

Zotz, L. F., 1928. 44 Die Fische der typischen Fischschiefer aus den Schachten der

ICaliwerke Buggingen.” Mitt. Bad. Geol. Landesanst., Vol. X, 147-174.

174

MEMOIRS OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM .

EXPLANATION OF PLATES XVIII-XXV.

PLATE XVIII.

Phareodus queenslandicus sp. nov. [RP/B] la. Slightly reduced. No. F. 2357, Queensland
Museum Collection. Holotype.

PLATE XIX.

A. Phareodus acutus (Leidy). Roof of skull, to be compared with Text-figure 4. (From
Eastman, 1917, PI. 16.)

B. Phareodus queenslandicus sp. nov. [RP/B] 10. X §. No. F. 1960, Queensland
Geological Survey Museum Collection.

PLATE XX.

Notogoneus parvus sp. nov. [RP/N] 4 a. x 2. No. F. 2364, Queensland Museum Collection.
Holotype.

PLATE XXI.

Percalates antiquus sp. nov. [RP/P] 5 a. X f. No. F. 2370, Queensland Museum Collection.
Holotype.

PLATE XXII.

Percalates antiquus sp. nov. [RP/P] 11. x 1. No. F. 2376, Queensland Museum Collection.

A. [RP/P] 15. x 1.

B. [RP/P] 95. x f.

A. [RP/P] la. x 1.

B. [RP/P] 135. x 1.

C. [RP/P] 13c. X 1.

PLATE XXIII.

Percalates antiquus S]). nov.

No. F. 2380, Queensland Museum Collection.
No. F. 2374, Queensland Museum Collection.

PLATE XXIV.

Percalates antiquus sp. nov.

No. F. 2366, Queensland Museum Collection.
No. F. 2378, Queensland Museum Collection.
No. F. 2378, Queensland Museum Collection.

PLATE XXV.

Percoid fish. Genus indet. from a well in Portion 122, Parish of Bundamba.
X 5. No. F. 1961, Queensland Geological Survey Museum Collection.

tocJ zvd

MEMOIRS OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM, Vol. X, Plate XVIII.

Phareodus queenslandicus sp. nov. [RP/B] 7 a. Slightly reduced. No. F. 2357, Queensland Museum Collection. Holotype.

MEMOIRS OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM , Vol. X, Plate XIX.

, Phareodus queenslandicus sp. nov. [RP/B] 10 X f. No. F. 1960, Queensland Geological Survey Museum Collection.

sod

MEMOIRS OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM , Vol. X, Plate XXI.

Percolates antiquus sp. nov. [RP/P] 5a X J. Xo. F. 2370. Queensland Museum Collection. Holotype,

5.0p

MEMOIRS OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM , Vol. X, Plate XXII.

Percolates antiquus sp. nov. [RP/P] 11 X 1. No. F. 2376, Queensland Museum Collection.

MEMOIRS OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM, Voi.. X, Plate XXIII.

A

Percolates antiquus sp. nov.

A. [RP/P] 15 X 1. No. F. 2380, Queensland Museum Collection.

B. [RP/P] 96 X f. No. F. 2374, Queensland Museum Collection.

MEMOIRS OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM , Vol. X, Plate XXIV.

Percolates antiquus sp. nov.

A. [RP/P] la X 1. No. F. 2366. Queensland Museum Collection.

B. [RP/Pj 136 X 1. No. F. 2378. Queensland Museum Collection.

C. [RP/P] 13c X 1. No. F. 2378. Queensland Museum Collection,

P 05

MEMOIRS OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM, Vox-. X, Plate XXV.

Percojd fish, genus indet, from a well in Portion 122, parish of Bundamba X 5. Xo. P. 1961. Queensland

Geological Survey Museum.

A NEW FISH, REPUTED TO BE POISONOUS, FROM QUEENSLAND. 175

A NEW FISH, REPUTED TO BE POISONOUS,
FROM QUEENSLAND.

By Gilbert Whitley, Ichthyologist, The Australian Museum, Sydney.*
(Plate XXVI ; Text-Figure 1.)

There are few Australian fishes which, when eaten fresh, are poisonous
as food. Toadfishes of the family Tetraodontidse and Porcupine Fishes are
well known as poisonous fishes so that nowadays few persons try to eat them,
but there are other fishes, allied to the Hussars (family Lutjanidse), the
Snappers of our tropical waters, whose flesh is at times edible and at other
times very poisonous.

At the beginning of the seventeenth century, the Spanish navigator,
Pedro Fernandez de Quiros, remarked on poisonous Sparoid fishes of the
Pacific * 1 allied to the European Pagrus. Many years later, the naturalists on
Cook’s voyages, George Forster 2 and William Anderson 3 also encountered these
deceptive fishes, whilst Cook himself was severely poisoned through eating a
toadfish in New Caledonia in 1774.

The Chinaman Fish of North Queensland, whose flesh, at certain
unexplained periods, is poisonous, was earlier described in these Memoirs 4 ,
where it was named as a new genus and species, Paradicichthys venenatus. An
account of its skull was later prepared by Dr. H. L. Kesteven, but this has
not yet been published. Now, a second reputedly poisonous fish has been
forwarded to me from Helix Reef, off Townsville, by the Queensland Museum,
for identification and report. This is a species of Hussar or Sea Perch, known
as the Red Bass, which, according to its donor, Mr. George Coates, <£ has the
reputation of producing a form of muscular paralysis of a rather severe nature.”
Mr. Coates also remarks that “ others of the same kind together with Chinaman
fish have at various times been displayed for sale in the local fish shops.”
This fish is quite different from the Chinaman Fish (which has the soft dorsal

*( Contribution from The Australian Museum.)

1 G. A. Wood, Discov. Austr. 1922, p. 470 and Stevens, New Light Discov. Austr.
1930, p. 127.

2 Forster, Obs. Voy. World, 1778, pp. 201 and 642; Descr. Anim. (ed. Lichtenstein),
1844, pp. 254 and 282.

3 W. Anderson, Account Poisonous Fish, a letter dated 23 April 1776; also Cook,
Voy. S. Pole, ed. 3, ii, 1779, p. 112.

4 Whitley, Mem. Qld. Mus. X, 1930, p. 13, pi. i, fig. 1. See also The Australian
Museum Magazine, iv, 1932, p. 394, where Dr f\ S- Clarke’s notes, from the medical viewpoint,
are reproduced.

176

MEMOIRS OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM.

fill much higher than the spinous, a shorter pectoral fin, smaller scales, more
convex upper profile of head, no vomerine teeth and tail-fin not strongly
forked), and belongs to a new species of the extensive genus Lutjanus which
includes some excellent food-fishes.

Family LUTJAN1DM.

Genus Lutjanus Bloch, 1790.

LUTJANUS COATESI sp. nov. (Red Bass).

(Plate XXVI, fig. 2 and text-fig.)

Br. 6. D. X/14 (15) ; A. iii/9 ; P. i/16 ; V. i/5 ; C. 14.

L. Lat. 50; L. tr. 10/1/19 to 5/1/7 on caudal peduncle.

Head (194 mm.) 2*6 in length to hypural joint (514).

Eye (34) 5*7, snout (70) 2-7, maxillary (84) 2-3, preorbital (44) 4-4,
interorbital (59) nearly 3-3, longest pectoral ray (138) 1*4, depth of caudal
peduncle (60) 3-2, and fourth dorsal spine (61) nearly 3-2 in head.

Head rather long and somewhat pointed, its upper profile convex. Eye
large, apparently resting on a subocular shelf ; interorbital broad, convex over
the eyes and flattened above. A conspicuous fossa before the eye extends to
the nostrils, of which the posterior are sunken and with an oval outline,
and the anterior rounded and with a short tube-like rim. Preorbital deep.

Preoperculum serrated and with a distinct, though not large, notch to receive
the knob over the inter operculum. Operculum entire, with a weak flat spine

at its angle, where there is a narrow opercular flap. Interoperculum entire,
its margin undulating and with a single frill where it joins the chin. The
head is naked except for two rows of scales on the nape and scaly areas on
the preoperculum, interoperculum, and operculum. These opercular scales
are bilaterally asymmetrical in the specimen before me, the left side of the
head having evidently been damaged at some time. On the right side, there
are up to seven more or less upright rows on the preoperculum and slightly
more on the operculum. The naked upper part of the head bears minute
granular papillae and the tips of the jaws are rugose.

Jaws subequal, the lower slightly protruding. Maxillary partly sheathed
by preorbital, without supplemental bone, its extremity truncate, with rounded
angles and reaching below anterior margin of eye. Mandibles with an arched
ascending ramus.

The dentition is very strong yet partly concealed by the coriaceous
lips. A small curved canine on each side of the premaxillary symphysis is

followed by another nearly twice as long, then, after a short gap, comes a single
row of short, strong, pointed teeth along each side of the upper jaw ; none of

A NEW FISH, REPUTED TO BE POISONOUS , FROM QUEENSLAND. 177

the teeth directed outward. Behind these teeth are broad bands of rough
villiform teeth which extend right across the symphysis. In the lower jaw

the teeth are caniniform on each side of the mandibulary symphysis, followed
by two large canines (not quite so long as the longest pair in the upper
jaw) and a single row of sharp pointed teeth. Behind these are bands of
villiform teeth as in the upper jaw. A wide ^-shaped band of villiform teeth
on the vomer, without a median posterior shaft, and patches of rougher
villiform teeth on the palatines, which are shaped as in the accompanying
figure. A buccal flap present in each jaw. Palate longitudinally plicate.
Tongue large, fleshy, rounded, without teeth.

Text-figure 1 . — Lutjanus coatesi , sp. nov. Palatal dentition of Holotype. Natural size.

As the specimen has been gutted and cleaned, no details can be given
concerning branchial arches, gillrakers, stomach contents, sex, etc. Pseudo-
branchise are present.

Body robust, its depth subequal to length of head or about one-third
of the standard length but accurate measurement is impracticable. Large,
regular, weakly ctenoid or ciliated scales cover the body and extend over
the breast and onto the bases of all the fins except the spinous dorsal and
the ventrals. Scales have 12 to 15 basal radiating striae, central portion rather
like ground glass, circuli fine, apical denticles numerous and becoming frayed
at edge of scale. An axillary ventral scale. Fifteen predorsal scales, which
do not reach the level of the eyes, and about fifty scales with obsolescent
tubes on the lateral line, which ceases at the root of the caudal fin. The
scale-rows all slope obliquely upwards and backwards above the lateral line
but run in a longitudinal direction below it. Suprascapular denticulations
obsolete.

Dorsal fins continuous but notched, the fourth or fifth spines were
probably the longest, but the fifth appears to have been damaged and is
shortened in this specimen. The base of the spinous dorsal is longer than that
of the soft, which has a rounded margin ; none of the ra,ys is as long as the
longest dorsal spine. Anal commencing below anterior dorsal rays, its base
is shorter than that of the soft dorsal. Second anal spine very thick but not
so long as third ; the anterior anal rays are about twice as long as the

178

MEMOIRS OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM.

posterior ones, none of which is produced. Pectoral broad and slightly falcate,
the fifth ray longest and reaching to the level of the anal origin. Ventrals

considerably shorter than pectorals and barely reaching vent. Caudal forked,
almost entirely covered by scales.

Colour. — Mr. T. C. Marshall, of the Queensland Museum, made notes on
the colours of the fish when it arrived at Brisbane, frozen in ice, from

Townsville, as follows : —

“ General colour rose doree. Colour of the back along top of head
to tip of snout victoria lake. The dark shades of the back merged
laterally into rose doree passing into eosine pink on the belly. Operculum
mars yellow fading on the ventral surface to strawberry pink, which is
the same colour as the preopercle. Eye peach red encircled with narrow
border of cadmium orange. Inside of mouth, vomer, palate, etc. cream
white faintly tinged with pink. Spinous dorsal with the spines blackish
flushed between with scarlet. Soft dorsal maroon with flushes of scarlet.
Anterior half of pectorals maroon, and rose doree on their posterior

half. Ventrals and anal rose doree basally, passing into blackish on their
outer edges. Caudal darker rose doree somewhat narrowly edged with
black. Head with several small wavy lines and blotches of dark

lavender, thickest in the preorbital areas. Each body scale with a
boomerang-shaped patch, lighter than surrounding colour giving the
fish a decidedly spangled appearance.

Colours taken from Bidgway’s Color Standards and Nomenclature,
1912.”

After preservation in formalin, the general colour is dull greyish becoming
whitish or yellowish on sides of head and body. Eins dark greyish, the
lower parts of the pectorals and ventrals white. Inner axil of pectoral orange,
or yellow, meeting the blackish dark area on the rays. Eye bluish. Teeth
and inside of mouth white. The scales of the upper part of the body each
with a pearly central spot. These spots form rows on the sides, until, towards
the belly, the light areas form bands which are broader than their greyish
interspaces. No dark blotch on sides below dorsal fin.

Described and figured from the holotype of the species, a specimen
514 mm. in standard length or rather more than two feet in total length.

Locality . — Helix Beef off Townsville, North Queensland. Presented by
Mr. George Coates. Queensland Museum regd. no. I. 4977.

Affinities . — This species does not seem to agree with any in Bleeker’s
“ Atlas Ichthyologique ” or in Fowler’s recent key. 5

6 Fowler, Bull. TJ. S. Nat. Mus. 100, xi, 1931, p. 86.

MEMOIRS OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM , Vol. X, Plate XXVI.

Fig. 1. The Chinaman Fish. Paradicichthys venenatus Whitley. Holotype.

Fig. 2. Red Bass. Lutjanus coatesi Whitley.

Reduced to the same scale, from preserved specimens, for comparison.

Photographs: G. C. Glutton.

Face page 178.

A NEW FISH , REPUTED TO BE POISONOUS, FROM QUEENSLAND. 179

The Diacope rivulata of Cuvier and Valenciennes 6 with second anal spine
longer than the third, more elevated soft dorsal fin and several rows of nuchal
scales and different coloration is only superficially similar ; moreover, specimens
from Port Moresby and the Andaman Islands in the Australian Museum have
more strongly denticulated preoperculum and narrower bands of palatine
teeth, also a prominent silver spot below dorsal fin.

Ogilby 7 recorded Lutianus gibbus (Forskal) from the “ Torres Group 55
and his specimen may belong to this new species.

The Australian Museum has specimens labelled as Lutjanus gibbus (mostly
small) from Samoa ; Funafuti, Ellice Group ; Hog Harbour, New Hebrides ;
and Port Moresby, New Guinea. These have the eye comparatively larger,
preopercular notch deeper, and upper profile of head much less convex than
in my new species. The lower jaw is included, and the specimens in general
resemble Day’s 8 figure of an adult, less than one foot long. The species was
originally briefly described as “ Scicena gibbet ” by Forskal 9 from the Red
Sea, as being red, with white spots on the scales and- the back gibbous, etc.

Through the courtesy of Mr. John She wan, Curator of the Macleay
Museum, the University of Sydney, I have been enabled to examine the type-
specimens of several of Sir William Macleay ’s species of Mesoprion and
Genyoroge (= Lutjanus , sensu latissimo) for comparison with the new species.

Mesoprion obscurus Macleay, from the Endeavour River, has the
pre-operculum scarcely notched, body crossed by 9 or 10 dark bands, and
some silvery streaks below eye.

M. roseigaster Macleay, from Rockingham Bay, has deeper form, Sc. 40,
eye large, and no fossa between it and nostrils.

M. bidens Macleay, from New Guinea, has the preoperculum triangularly
gashed to receive the interopercular knob, a broad patch of vomerine teeth,
and Sc. about 50, the scale rows ascending obliquely both above and below
the lateral line.

The types of Genyoroge unicolor Alleyne and Macleay, from Percy
Islands, Queensland, are small specimens, yet they bear a superficial resemblance
to my new species, which might well be identified as unicolor from the original
figure. However, the actual specimens have more than 50 transverse scale-rows
which ascend obliquely both above and below the lateral line, an increased
number of nuchal scales, vomerine teeth in a broader triangular band, and
palatine teeth in a narrow strip, whilst the second and third anal spines are
subequal. As the name unicolor was anticipated by Castelnau, I renamed
this species Lutjanus castelnaui in 1928.

6 Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. ii, 1828, p. 414, pi. xxxviii. Coromandel, etc.

7 Ogilby, Ann. Qld. Mus. ix, 1908, p. 5.

8 Day, Fish. India, 1875, p. 43, pi. xiii, fig. 2.

0 Forskal, Descr. Anim. 1775, p. 46.

180

MEMOIRS OR THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM.

NOTES ON SOME AUSTRALIAN SHARKS.

By Gilbert Whitley, Ichthyologist, The Australian Museum, Sydney.*

( Plates XXVI I -XXIX ; Text-figures 1-4.)

The study of sharks is of considerable interest and importance from
many points of view. To most persons sharks are noteworthy on account
of their size, ferocity, and the fact that they attack human beings from time
to time * 1 . No practical scheme for combating the 3hark menace has yet been
evolved. Nets and fences enclosing small bathing areas are best, but hooters
and alarms given from a lookout on a tower, or, more recently, coloured
lights fired from aeroplanes, are the usual form of warning in open waters.

The biologist sees in the sharks a group of animals quite distinct from
ordinary fishes and occupying a unique position in the vertebrate series. Their
general physiology and their breeding habits, ranging from oviparous to
viviparous, and the development in some forms of a structure foreshadowing
the placenta of higher animals, are of the highest interest. Their relationships
with fossils, and the general antiquity of the group allow the palaeontologist
to visualise the original appearance of the remains of long extinct fossil species.

The bibliographer or historian will find many quaint legends and
descriptions of sharks in old books of travel, natural histories, and other
literature.

Sharks are of considerable commercial value both as food and for their
by-products so that any attempt to clarify the study of them may have a
potential economic importance 2 . They are usually caught by means of special
nets or lines, but I have seen them experimentally killed by electrocution, a
method which may be more extensively employed in the future.

The notes given in this paper are mainly in the nature of preliminary
descriptions with figures of some Australian species. In the last twelve years
I have studied many specimens both in the Museums of Australia and New
Zealand, and in the field. I have corresponded widely with colleagues and
card-indexed a large amount of literature. At some future time, I hope to
prepare a “ Shark Book ” which will form a popular guide to all the
Australian species, with a figure of each, for the use of the general public.

* By permission of the Trustees of The Australian Museum.

1 See Coppleson, “Shark Attacks in Australian Waters,” in Medical Journal of
Australia, April 15, 1933, pp. 449-467, illustr.

2 A sample of tanned shark skin was presented to the Australian Museum by a Mr.
Horatio Tozer so long ago as 1858. A description of the latest methods of tanning is given
by F. A. Coombs in “The Australasian Leather Trades Review,” July 1928, pp. 13-19, illustr.

NOTES ON SOME AUSTRALIAN SHARKS.

is i

Family HE FT BA N CHI I DM .

Genus Notorynchus Ayres, 1855.

NOTORYNCHUS CEPEDIANUS (Peron).

Squalus cepedianus Peron, Voy. Austr. i, 1807, p. 337 and Voy. Terres Austr. ed. 2, ii,
1824, p. 218. Adventure Bay, Tasmania (Baudin’s expedition).

Notorynchus macdonaldi Whitley, Rec. Austr. Mus. xviii, June 29, 1931, p. 138, pi. xx,
figs. 3-5. Manly, New South Wales. Type in Australian Museum.

I find that Peron named the south-eastern Australian Seven-gilled Shark
Squalus cepedianus , so his name, published in 1807, and hitherto overlooked,
must take precedence over my macdonaldi. It is also earlier than Squalus
platycephalus Tenore 1810, which is generally regarded as the first-named
seven-gilled shark referable to the genus Notorynchus. Though Peron gave
sufficient characters for the recognition of his Squalus cepedianus , the same
cannot be said- of S. rhinophanes, which he named at the same time, and
which I am unable to identify. Perhaps drawings of these Tasmanian sharks
still exist amongst the Peron and Lesueur relics in the Havre Museum.

The seven-gilled shark is not uncommon around the North Island of
New Zealand, and there is a skin, feet long, from Oriental Bay, in the
Dominion Museum, Wellington. Mr. Phillipps tells me that the Maoris called
it Tuatini and used its teeth to make a saw-like instrument {Ripi or Mira
Tuatina ) for cutting human flesh.

Family HETERODONT1DJE.

Genus Heterodontus, Blainville, 1816.

HETERODONTUS PORTUSJACKSONI (Meyer).

(Plate XXVII, fig. A.)

Squalus portus jacksoni, Meyer, Zool. Entdeck. 1793, p. 71, Based on the Port Jackson
Shark figured in Phillip’s Voyage, p. 166, pi. 42.

Squalus jacksoni Suckow, Naturges. iv, 1799, p. 102 (fide Sherborn, Index Animalium). Id.
Turton, Syst. Nat. (Linne), 1806, p. 922.

Squalus philippi Bloch and Schneider, Syst. Ichth. 1801, p. 134. “ New Holland.” Based

on Phillip.

Squalus philippinus Shaw, Gen. Zool. v, 2, Pise. 1804, p. 341. Latinization of “ Squale
phillip ” of Lacepede. Botany Bay.

Squalus jacksonii Bullock, Companion Bullock’s Mus. ed. 8, 1810, p. 60. “ This is a new
species, lately discovered in the harbour of Port Jackson, Botany Bay.” Figured

in the 1814 edition (Compan. London Mus. ed. 17, 1814, p 90 pi

figs. 1-2.)

Acanthias philippi Eichwald, De Selachis, 1819, p. 67. Ex. Bloch and Schneider.

Cestracion heterodontus Sherrard. Ulustr. Offic. Handbk. Aquar, &c., Melbourne, circa 1896,
pp. 42 and 88, figs. . Hobson’s Bay, Victoria.

Heterodontus phillipi Ogilbv. Mem. Qld. Mus. v, 1916, p. 82. Emended orthography.

The synonyms of the Common Port Jackson Shark are here tabulated
for the first time. The earliest specific name appeared in Meyer’s Systematisch-
Summarische Uebersicht der neuesten Zoologischen Entdeckungen in Neuholland

182

MEMOIRS OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM.

and Afrika, where Phillips’ illustration of ” Lieut. Watts’ shark” was also named
Squalus Wattsii, but the latter name is a synonym of Orectolobus maculatus
(Bonnaterre).

Genus Molochophrys Whitley, 1931.

MOLOCHOPHRYS GALEATUS (Gunther).

(Plate XXVII, fig. B.)

Gestracion galeatus Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. viii, 1870, p. 416. “ Australia ” (Dr.

G. Bennett), probably from near Sydney, N. S. Wales.

Molochophrys galeatus Whitley, Austr. Zool. vi, 1931, p. 310.

The Crested Port Jackson Shark is here figured from a specimen trawled
by the “ Endeavour ” in 35-40 fathoms off Sandon Bluff, New South Wales. In
comparison, there is shown the common species (Heterodontus portusjacksoni) ,
from a specimen caught at Manly, New r South Wales. These beautiful illustrations
were drawn by the late A. R. McCulloch, and indicate the differences between
the two better than any previously published descriptions or figures.

Family HEMISCYLLIIDJE.

Genus Brach.elurus Ogilby, 1907.

BRACHZELURUS WADDI (Bloch and Schneider).

Squalus waddi Bloch and Schneider, Svst. Ichth. 1801, p. 130, “New Holland ” (Latham).
The Squalus waddi of Bloch and Schneider w r as briefly described : —

“ Sq(ualus) corpore superius bruneo, nigro fasciato, ventre flavicante, capite
depresso, obtusiusculo, cirrhis nasalibus 2, dorso unipinnato, pinna remota, caudali
longa, cauda longitudine ceteri corporis.

“ Habitat circa novam Hollandiam, Waddi appellatus.

“ Picturam Dr. Latham communicavit. ,,

The type painting was evidently prepared from a specimen collected near
Sydney, New South Wales, by Dr. Latham, and the description most nearly
applies to the “ Blind Shark,” which v'as later called Chiloscyllium , modestum by
Gunther and C. furvum by Ramsay.

I may note here that Dr. Latham, w T ho w r as a famous ornithologist,
described our Saw Shark ( Pristiophorus cirratus) in the Trans. Linn. Soc.
London (ii, 1794, p. 281, pi. xxvi, fig. 5 and pi. xxvii) from Port Jackson.
This species was named Squalus anisodon by Lacepede (Hist. Nat. Poiss.
iv, 1802, p. 680), and S. tentaculatus by Shaw (Gen. Zool. v, 2, 1804, p. 359.)

Family OEECTOLOB1DM .

Genus Stegostoma Muller and Henle, 1837.

STEGOSTOMA TIGRINUM (Pennant).

Squalus tigrinus Pennant, Ind. Zool. 1769, p. 24. India.

Squalus maculatus Bloch and Schneider, Syst. Ichth. 1801, p. 130. “Habitat in oceano
orientali.” Preoccupied by S. maculatus Bonnaterre, Tabl. Encycl. Meth. (Ichth).
1788, p. 8, which is the Australian Wobbegong ( Orectolobus).

Stegostoma varium Garman, Mem. Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard xxxvi, 1913, p. 59. Ex.

“ Squalus varius ” Seba 1761, non. binom. East Indies, etc.

Stegostoma tigrinum McCulloch. Austr. Mus. Mem. v, 1929, p. 7 (synonymy). “ Zebra
Shark ” Welsby, Sport and Pastime in Moreton Bay, 1931, p. 35. Rous Channel,
Queensland.

NOTES ON SOME AUSTRALIAN SHARKS.

183

I here is a small skin in the Museum at Perth from Wyndham (West
Australian Mus. regd. no. P. 1065). New record for Western Australia.

A fine specimen from Moreton Bay occupies a case in the Queensland
Museum. A living example, evidently a straggler, was recently captured in Botany
Bay, New South Wales, and kept in captivity.

The preoccupied name Squalus maculatus may now be added to the
synonymy of this species.

Family GIN GL YM 0 STOMA T I DAE .

Genus Nebrodes Garman, 1913.

Nebi ius Ruppell, Neue Wirbelth. Abyssin. Fische, 1837, p. 62. Haplotype, N. concolor,
Ruppell. Preoccupied by Nebria Latreille, Sonnini’s Buffon., Ins. iii, 1802, p!
89, a genus of Coleoptera, as noted by Muller and Henle (Plagiost. 1838, p. 22),
under Gingly mo stoma.

Nebrodes Garman, Mem. Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard xxxvi, 1913, pp. 43 and 56. Logotype
N. concolor (Ruppell). ^

NEBRODES CONCOLOR OGILBYI, subsp. nov.

(Text-figure 1.)

Nebrius concolor Ruppell, Neue Wirbelth. Abyssin. Fische, 1837, p. 62, pi. xvii, fig. 2.

Massowah, Red Sea. Not Nebria concolor Dejean, Catal. Coleopt., 1821, p. 7,
a nomen nudum in Coleoptera ( fide Sherborn).

Gin glymostoma concolor Macleay, Proc. Linn. Soc. N. S. Wales, vii, April 1883, p. 597,
Port Moresby, New Guinea.

Nebrius concolor Ogilby, Mem. Qld. Mus. ii, 1913, p. 90, et ibid iii, 1915, p. 130; v 1916,
p. 75 (Darnley I., Queensland).

Nebrodes concolor ogilbyi Whitley. — Holotype of subspecies from Darnley Island, Queensland.

Qld. Mus. regd. no. I 1216.— A, entire specimen, B ventral view of head, C lateral
view of head, D teeth showing worn functional series, E various forms of dermal
denticles. Gilbert Whitley del.

184 MEMOIRS OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM .

A large specimen of “ Nebrius concol-or 955 mm. or a little over 3 feet
long, from Darnley Island (Qlcl. Mus. regd. no. I 1216) resembles RuppelPs
figure but has a longer snout, longer paired fins, and slight differences in
dentition, nasal cirrhi, etc., wherefore, 1 give a figure of the Australian specimen,
with a subspecific name in honour of the late James Douglas Ogilby, in
appreciation of his “Check List” in these Memoirs (1916).

Family CARCHARHINUS.

Genus Carcharhinus Blainville, 1816 , ' sensu novo.

Carcharhinus Blainville, Bull. Sci. Soc. Philom. Paris (Aug. 1816), p. 121 ; Journ. Physique,
lxxxiii, 1816, p. 264 (fide Sherborn, Index Anim.). Logotype, Squalus carcharias
Linne, designated by Bose, Nouv. Diet. Hist. Nat. v, 1816, p. 277.

There has always been some confusion as to the correct application of
the etymologically similar generic names Carcharias, Carcharhinus, Carcharodon ,
etc.

The generic name Carcharias was proposed by Rafinesque in 1810. I
have not seen his original description, but Jordan and Evermann (Bull. U. S.
Nat. Mus. xlvii, i, 1896, p. 33) show^ that C. taurus Raf. is the genotype,
and this selection has been confirmed by the International Commission. Thus
Carcharias is available for the Grey Nurse sharks.

Carcharhinus was the name given by Blainville to some fourteen species
of sharks in 1816. Most authors have accepted C. cormnersonii Blainville as
the genotype, but I find that Bose (Nouv. Diet. Hist. Nat. v, 1816, p. 277)
designated Squalus carcharias Linne as the type. Unfortunately, Blainville’s
works are not available to me, but it is now obvious that if he mentioned
Linne' s species in 1816, the Great White Shark Squalus carcharias, and not
the Grey Shark, Carcharhinus commersonii , will be the genotype of Carcharhinus.
This will cause Carcharhinus to be utilised for the White Shark usually known
as Carcharodon. The name Car char orhinus of Agassiz, 1846, being an
emendation for Carcharhinus must also be transferred to the synonymy of the
White Shark. The name w r as also spelt Carcharinus by Bory de St. Vincent
(Diet. Class, iii, 1823, p. 203).

Carcharodon was proposed by Muller and Henle (Mag. Nat. Hist.
(Charles worth), new ser. ii, Jan. 1, 1838, p. 37), who quoted it from A. Smith's
manuscripts. The haplotype is C. ca/pensis, figured in Smith’s 111. Zool. S.
Africa (iii, 1839, pi. iv.). This is a White Shark, generally regarded as a
synonym of Squalus carcharias Linne (= Carcharhinus carcharias, according to
the present showing).

Cuvier (Regne Anim. ii, Dec. 1816, p. 125) brought in Carcharias for
Squalus carcharias, but his name is invalidated by Ralinesque’s earlier use for
the taurus type.

NOTES ON SOME AUSTRALIAN SHARKS.

J 85

This problem has also been discassed by Fowler (Proe. Acad. Nat. Sci.
Philad., 1908, p. 62), who has access to Blainville’s paper, but was unaware of
Bose’s genotype designation. Fowler notes that Carcharhinus commersonii cannot
be the type of Carcharhinus Blainville as it is a nomen nudum. The next of
Blainville’s names, C. lamia (Baf.) is a synonym of Squalus carcharias Linne, and
this, Fowler considered, would be the type “ which would upset Carcharodon of
Smith, in which case I shall consider the Squalus vulpes Gmelin the type of
Carcharhinus Blainville.”

This would make Carcharhinus a synonym of Alopecias , the Thresher
Shark. However, Bose’s selection of a genotype antedates Fowler’s, and the
interpretation of Carcharhinus I have given above appears to be the correct
one.

Family Galeid^.

The genera of Grey Sharks have been listed in Jordan’s “ Classification
of Fishes,” 1923, p. 100, and only a few additions are to be noted, as follows : —

Galeolamna Owen, Descr. Cat. Osteol. R. Coll. Surg. i, 1853, p. 96, no. 427. Haplotype,
G. greyi, Owen, from South Australia. Id. Whitley, Rec. Austr. Mus. xviii,
1932, p. 324. At present indeterminable.

Hemitriakis Herre, Philippine Journ. Sci. xxiii, 1, 1923, p. 71. Orthotypo, H. leucoperip'era
Herre, from Dumaguete, Philippines.

Rhizoprionodon Whitley, Austr. Zool. v, 1929, p. 354. Orthotype, Carcharias ( Scoliodon )
crenidens Klunzinger. Substitute for Rhizoprion Ogilby, preocc.

Negogaleus Whitley, Austr. Zool. vi, 1931, p. 334. Orthotype Hemigaleus microstoma ,
Bleeker. Substitute for Hemigaleus Bleeker, preocc.

Notogaleus Whitley, Austr. Zool. vi, 1931, p. 310. Orthotype, Galeus australis Macleay.

The genera of Galeidse may be conveniently divided into subfamilies,
although Scylliogaleus deserves family rank. I would restrict Galeus and its

allies to the Galeinse and separate other subfamilies as Galeocerdinse and

Loxodontinse. Then the genera allied to the Carcharhinus of authors (not
of Blainville, s. str.) would enter the subfamily Scoliodontinse, and it is to this
group that the Queensland Grey Sharks belong. The identification of the

genera is assisted by the keys given by Gill (Ann. Lyceum Nat. Hist. N. York
vii, 1862, p. 399-400) and Ogilby (Mem. Qld. Mus. v, 1916, pp. 90-95).

The “ Carcharhinus ” of Ogilby is no longer valid and requires

subdivision, wherefore I propose Mapolamia, gen. nov. for C. melanopterus
Quoy and Gaimard, and Gillisqualus gen. nov. for the Queensland Shark
identified by Ogilby as Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos Bleeker. I have considered
our Whaler Sharks as perhaps belonging to the genus Galeolamna of Owen,

but more detailed research has convinced me that the status of Owen’s name
is at present indeterminable, so I provide Galeolamnoides gen. nov. for
Carcharias macrurus Bamsay and Ogilby, the Whaler Shark of New South
Wales.

186

MEMOIRS OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM.

Subfamily SCOLIODONTIN^.

Genus Scoliodon Muller and Henle, 1837.

Scoliodon Muller and Henle, Ber. Verh. K. Pr. Akad. Wiss. Berlin 1836 (1837), p. 114;

Arch. Naturgesch. (Wiegmann) iii, 1, 1837, p. 397 ; Mag. Nat. Hist. (Charlesw.)
ii, 1838, p. 35. Logotype, Carcharias laticaudus Muller and Henle. Id. Ogilby,
Mem. Qld. Mus. i, 1912, p. 27.

Scoliodon jordani Ogilby.

(Text -figures 2 and 3).

Carcharias acutus Ogilby, Cat. Fish. Austr. Mus. i, Pala?ichth., July 1888, p. 1, and Proc.

Linn. Soe N. S. Wales (2) iii, 1889, p. 1766. Burnett River, Queensland.
Specimen in Austr. Mus. seen. Not C. acutus Ruppell, Neue Wirbelth., Fische,
1837, p. 65, pi. xviii, fig. 4, from the Red Sea.

Scoliodon jordani Ogilby, Ann. Rept. Amat. Fish. Assoc. Qld. 1906-7 (July 1907), p. 12.

Nom. nud. Id. Ogilby, Proc. Roy. Soc. Qld. xxi, 1908, p. 88. Outer Caloundra
Bank, South Queensland ; 25 fathoms. Type lost.

Scoliodon ajffinis Ogilby, Mem. Qld. Mus. i, Nov. 27, 1912, p. 29, et. ibid v, 1916, pp. 79
and 94. Noosa Head, Queensland. Holotype (No. I. 1526) in Queensland
Museum examined.

Scoliodon longmani Ogilby Mem. Qld. Mus. i, Nov. 27, 1912, p. 30 et ibid v, 1916, pp. 80
and 94. Moreton Bay, Queensland. Holotype (No. I. 292) in Queensland
Museum examined.

The type-specimen of Scoliodon jordani cannot now be found in the
Queensland Museum, the “ Endeavour ” collections, or the Australian Museum,
though the jaws may be preserved amongst those in the Amateur Fisherman’s
Association of Queensland’s collection, though not labelled as such. Ogilby
noted that he was present at the time this shark was captured so undoubtedly
described it, with other fishes, aboard the c ' Endeavour,” and did not retain
the type.

The nominal species affinis and longmani have been fully described by
Ogilby. but 1 do not regard the differences in the shape of the dorsal fin and
the extent of the labial folds as sufficiently characteristic to distinguish more
than one species. However, I now offer the first illustrations of the type-
specimens so that other workers may judge for themselves.

The jaws and teeth have been removed from the type of affinis and
the corners of the mouth have been cut away so that it is now impossible
to distinguish the upper labial fold which Ogilby described as “ very short
and directed outwards at a right angle to the jaw.”

As for the type of longmani , the specimen is curved and somewh
hardened so that it is difficult to represent it in side view. Measurements
taken on one side of the specimen do not coincide with those taken on the
other and thus may be explained any slight discrepancies between my figure
and the original description by Ogilby. In any case, the pectoral fins of
lonqmani do not reach to below middle of first dorsal,”

188

ME MO IB IS OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM.

In the Australian Museum there is still preserved the foot-long specimen
(Regd. No. B. 7028) recorded by Ogilby from the Burnett River, where Henry
Sm it hurst obtained it in 1885. It has short labial folds, apparently inter-
mediate in form between those of affinis and longmani and approaches the
latter form in having the dorsal fin longer than high. A slightly larger female
from Moreton Bay is also preserved in the Australian Museum (regd. no.
I. 12621).

An ascarid parasite from a Townsville Scoliodon has been described by
Baylis (Aim. Mag. Nat. Hist. (10) viii, 1931. p. 95 and figs.).

Mapolamia, gen. nov.

Orthotype, CarcJiarias mdanopterus Quoy and Gaimard.

Small sharks, rarely more than five feet in length, common inshore in
tropical Pacific waters and easily recognised by the contrasted black tips
to the fins. The genus may be defined as follows : —

General form of Eulamia but with the head broad and depressed and
not more than one-fourth of the total length. Vent slightly nearer shout
than tip of tail. Eye small, its longitudinal diameter greater than its vertical
diameter ; a w r ell developed nictitating membrane. Snout rounded. Nostrils
large, nearer eye than tip of snout, and with triangular flaps. Fifth gillslit
smallest and situated over pectoral base. Labial folds very small. Teeth
triangular, serrated, broader in upper jaw than in lower, in one or two
functional series, those of the upper jaw notched and serrated. Tongue broadly
rounded.

Body tapering. Caudal peduncle compressed, and with a slight dip
above and below. Scales minute, forming rough shagreen.

First dorsal large, opposite the interspace between the paired fins.
Second dorsal well developed, and opposite anal. Pectorals falciform. Ventrals
opposite the long interdorsal space. Upper lobe of caudal fin notched. All

the fins conspicuously bordered with black.

Generic definition drawn up from a male specimen, 21 inches long, from
the Ellice Islands, Oceania. Austr. Mus. Regd. No. 1A-5523.

This genus is typified by the C archarias m£lanopterus of Quoy and
Gaimard (Voy. Uranie, Zool, 1824, p. 194, pi. xliii, figs. 1-2. Waigiou). These
authors included the Squalus carckarias minor of Forskal and Squalus ustus ,
Humeri 1 as synonyms, but these are a distinct species, ustus Blainville 1816.
Squalus malapterus Lesson (Diet. Class. Hist. Nat. v, 1829, p. 596), is the same
as Quoy and Gaimard’s name, which is probably again a synonym or sub-
species of Squalus Spallanzani Lesueur (Journ. Acad. Philad. ii, Nov. 1822, p.

NOTES ON SOME AUSTRALIAN SHARKS.

189

351. Terre de Witt, New Holland) from North Western Australia. Thus the
Black-tip Shark of the Queensland and Northern Australian coasts, ranging
also to New Guinea and Oceania, should now be called Mapolamia Spallanzani
(Lesueur). The occurrence of melanopterus in Victoria was noted by McCoy
(Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (3) xx, 1867, p. 183, Hobson’s Bay, 15 feet !) but this
is more likely to refer to a Whaler Shark (Galeolamnoides macrurus = ?
Galeolamna greyi). Again, the Hawaiian form called melanopterus may represent
a new' subspecies, as it appears to differ from the type in the shape of the
head, especially about the nostrils and mouth, and, to a less extent, in the
relative position of its fins.

GILLISQUALUS gen. nov.

Orthotype, G. amblyrhynchoides , sp. nov.

Teeth compressed, erect, serrated in upper jaw and minutely serrated in
lower jaw r , the points not markedly deflected outwards. Spiracles obsolete.

First dorsal originating over posterior part of pectoral base. General characters
as described for the species. Differs from Hypoprionodon Gill 1862 mainly in
having the teeth of the upper jaw serrated.

Named in honour of Theodore Gill, the great American ichthyologist
whose taxonomic work on sharks and fishes resulted in a tremendous advance
in the knowledge of their classification and nomenclature.

GILLISQUALUS AMBLYRHYNCHOIDES sp. nov.

(Text Figure 4.)

Carcharinus amblyrhynchos Ogilby, Mem. Qld. Mus. iii, 1915, p. 132, Cape Bowling Green.
Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos Ogilby, Mem. Qld. Mus. v, 9, 6, pp. 81 and 94, Cape Bowling
Green, Coast of North Queensland. Not Carcharias ( Prionodon ) amblyrhynchos
Bleeker, Nat. Tijdschr. Ned. Ind. x, 1856, p. 467. Near Solombo, Java Sea.

C. amblyrhynchos was described by Bleeker, and Dumeril added further
details from Bleeker ’s manuscript but the species was unknown to Gunther and
to Garman and has apparently never been figured. Ogilby identified as C. ambly-
rhynchos the shark from Cape Bowling Green described below, but it does not
agree with the typical description.

Head, measured to fifth gill opening (145 mm.) about one-quarter of
the total length (about 600 mm.) Anterior margin of vent midway between
snout and tip of tail. Head broader than high and longer than broad. Snout
38 mm. between parallels. Eye 13 mm. deep and 10 long. Interorbital 68,
eye to first gill opening 69, internarial space 37, preoral length 45, gill openings
24/25/26/23/18, depth of body about 90.

Snout to first dorsal 185 mm ; first dorsal base 70 ; first dorsal, height
about 67 ; interdorsal space 113 ; second dorsal base 28, its height 18*5,
caudal peduncle 39 or 34 behind anal fin. Lower caudal lobe (61) 2*7 in upper
c

190

MEMOIRS OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM .

lobe (165). Anal base 39, its height 27. Length of pectoral 95, but tips
have been damaged.

Snout acutely rounded. Nostrils nearer eye than end of snout, the
tips of the valves forming right angles and the width of the nostril equals
the longitudinal diameter of the eye. Distance between nostrils about five-sixths
of preoral length. The eye lies over the anterior part of mouth ; pupil vertical
and of lenticular form ; nictitating membrane present. No spiracle. Last
two gill openings closer together than others and overlying pectoral fin.
Two lines of pores between eye and mouth and groups of pores on other
parts of head. Mouth more than twice as wide as it is long (width 63 mm.
and length of arc of lower jaw 35). A very small labial fold in upper jaw.

(Text-figure 4.)

Gillisqualus amblyrhynchoides Whitley.

Ogilby’s specimen of “ Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos ” (non Blkr.), from Cape Bowling Green,
Queensland. Q. M. regd. no. 1 2003 — A Lateral view of entire specimen, B ventral
view of head, C dermal denticles, D teeth of upper jaw, near symphysis, E teeth of
lower jaw, near symphysis. Gilbert Whitley del.

Dental formula

13. 1. 13

11 . 1 . 11

27.

— Median teeth small,
23

others long and

acutely pointed and with broad cusps ; teeth noticeably serrated in upper
jaw and minutely serrated in lower ; two functional series, erect.

Habit gracefully fusiform, the body broadest just before the gills. Caudal
peduncle rounded with a large superior and a smaller inferior lunate pit.
Scales extremely minute,

NOTES ON SOME AUSTRALIAN SHARKS.

191

First dorsal originating over posterior part of pectoral base. Pectorals
rather short, and with rounded extremities, but they have evidently been
damaged and the tips regenerated. In any case, they would not be nearly as
long as the head and their length is about 1J times their width. Length of
anterior margin of pectoral, from base to tip, less than distance between eye
and last gill -opening ; the adpressed fin does not quite reach the vertical of
posterior angle of dorsal base (Ogilby says it reaches to below anterior third
of first dorsal, but this is incorrect). Ventrals below interdorsal space. Second
dorsal and anal almost opposite, the anal origin being almost imperceptibly
posterior ; the fins subequal. Upper caudal lobe notched.

Coloration in formalin, dull plumbeous, darkest on dorsal surface and
on fins.

Described and figured from Ogilby ’s specimen of “ Carcharhinus
avnblyrhynchos , 5 ’ the holotype of my new species, a female nearly two feet long.

Locality . — Cape Bowling Green, Queensland. Qld. Mus. Regd. No. I. 2003.

It differs notably from the descriptions of Bleeker’s type in having much
shorter pectorals and in having the first dorsal base longer than the height
of that fin, and in having the snout acutely pointed rather than almost semi-
circular. The proportions and coloration are different and the new species
has tricarinate dermal denticles. There are minor discrepancies as well which
induce me to separate the present form as a new species.

GALEOLAMNOIDES, gen. nov.

Orthotype, Carcharias macrurus Ramsay and Ogilby = Galeolamnoides
macrurus.

Upper teeth triangular, very oblique laterally, and serrated on both
edges ; their outer edges are more or less notched, the angle being very much
greater in those on the sides than near the symphysis. Lower teeth narrow,
erect, and more or less obscurely serrated. Snout rather long and rounded.
Spiracles obsolete.

Dorsal fin entirely behind vertical of pectoral base. A detailed
description and figure of the typical form has been given by McCulloch (Proc.
Linn. Soc. N. S. Wales, xlvi, 4, 1921, p. 457, pi. xxxvii, figs. 1-4).

GALEOLAMNOIDES STEVENSI (Ogilby).

Carcharhinus stevensi Ogilby, Ann. Qld. Mus. x, Nov. 1911, p. 37, and as Carcharias on
p. 38. Bustard Bay and Nor-West Islet, Qld.

Carcharhinus stevensi Ogilby, Mem. Qld. Mus. v, 1916, pp. 80 and 94 (the Check List
referred to below). Id. McCulloch, Austr. Zool. i, 7, 1919, p. 220. Id.

Coppleson, Med. Journ, Austr. April 15, 1933, p. 458.

MEMOIRS OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM.

192

The late A. R. McCulloch made a sketch of a mounted specimen, in the
Queensland Museum, which he tentatively identified as this species. In his
card-index, he made the following MS. notes : —

“It is labelled as C. spenceri Ogil. from Moreton Bay, on the authority of
Ogilby, but it cannot be that species according to his key in his Queensland
Check-list, as the length from the vent to the end of the tail is much less than
that from the vent to the tip of the snout. I regard it as C. stevensi, Ogil.,
but it differs from the description of that species in having the anal inserted
behind the vertical of the middle of the second dorsal. The types of C. stevensi
cannot be found in the Queensland Museum ; they were first described as 164-187
mm. long but in the check -list these measurements are said to be centimetres.
Iso other specimen appears to be preserved in Qld. Mus. which can be referred
to either spenceri or stevensi.

“ Compared with melanopterus and amblyrhyncho[ide]s, this specimen presents
the following characters : — Length from middle of vent to tip of tail equal to
distance from vent to about half-way between first gill opening and eye. Eye
small, longer than deep, its horizontal diameter much less than its distance
from the nostril, and about half the width of the widest gill opening. Length
of anterior margin of pectoral fin from base to tip equal to the interspace
between the eye and the posterior gill-opening. Preoral length equal to about £ width
of mouth ; snout broadly rounded. Darker above, light below ; fins apparently
uniform.

“ This specimen agrees with Waite’s figure of C. brachyurus (Rec*. Austr.
Mus. vi, pi. 39), and I believe them to represent the same species, whatever
it may prove to be.”

To the present writer this specimen appears to represent a northern
form of the Whaler Shark. The teeth are small, those from middle of side of upper
jaw serrated and somewhat notched.

Family SPHYRN1DM.

Genus Sphykna Rafinesque, 1810.

SPHYRNA LEWINI (Griffith).

(Plate XXVIII.)

Zygcena lewini Griffith, Animal Kingdom (Cuvier) x, 1834, p. 640, pi. L. “ Off the south
coast of New Holland,” i.e., Sydney, New South Wales. Also spelt Z. lewisii
by Bleeker, 1854, and Z. leemvini by Gunther, 1870.

Sphyrna zygcena Studer, Zool. Forsch. Gazelle iii, 1889, p. 263 (Moreton Bay, Queensland).
Sphyrna tudes Ogilby, Ann. Qld. Mus. ix, Oct. 1908, p. 4. Moreton Bay, Queensland, and
Tweed Heads, New South Wales. Id. Borodin, Bull. Vanderbilt Mus. i, 1932,
p. 69 (Southport, Queensland). Not S. tudes Muller and Henle, Syst. Plagiost.
ii, 1839, p. 53 = Zygcena tudes Valenciennes, Mem. Mus. Hist. Nat. Paris ix, July
1823, p. 225, from Mediterranean, Cayenne, and Coromandel.

Cestracion tudes Ogilby, Mem. Qld. Mus. v, 1916, pp. 82 and 94 (South Queensland Iocs.).

Head (130 mm.) 4*4 in total length (580). Vent nearer tip of snout
than that of tail. Head wider than long, the breadth of the “ hammer ”
being 165 mm. Eye 14 mm. Interorbital 157 (below) to 160 (above the head).

NOTES ON SOME AUSTRALIAN SHARKS.

193

Gill openings 15/20/20/19/13 mm. Preoral length 41, width of mouth 39,
length of arc 22. Depth of body about 65 mm. Snout to first dorsal 170.
First dorsal base 59, its height 80. Interdorsal 127. Second dorsal base 20,
its height 11. Caudal peduncle 40. Upper caudal lobe rather more than 3
times length of lower. Pectoral fin 71. Anal base 29. Anal-caudal interspace 36.

Form elongate and tapering, the body broadest and deepest near first
dorsal fin, if the lateral expansions of the head be excluded. Head hammer-
shaped, the cephalic extensions sloping slightly backwards and the anterior
margin of the head with five concave sinuations. Eye large with round pupil
and nictitating membrane. Slit of nostril subequal to eye, valve small ; an
anterior groove runs a short distance along each side of the profile of the
head. Numerous sensory canals and pores on head. First and second gill
opening more separated than the others ; the fifth is above the pectoral.
Mouth almost semicircular, labial folds obsolescent. The teeth are erect, with
their acute points directed outwards and number about 20 to 25 in each jaw ;
one series in function and median teeth smallest.

Lateral line conspicuous ; a large lunate pit above and a smaller one
below the caudal peduncle. Scales exceedingly minute, forming a satiny shagreen.

First dorsal elevated, arising behind vertical of pectoral base. Second
dorsal originating over the first third of the anal whose base is one and a-half
times as long as that of the second dorsal. Pectorals short and somewhat
rounded. Ventrals small. Lower caudal lobe rounded ; upper notched below.
Caudal fin about one-third of length without hammer.

General colour, in formalin, browiiish, lighter below. The margins of
the fins with peacock blue and greyish iridescence.

Described and figured from the specimen recorded by Ogilby as 8. tudes,
a female, 23 inches long.

Locality . — Moreton Bay, Queensland. Qld. Mus. Regcl. No. I. 740.

Distinguished from Platysqualus (Valenciennes) by the arrangement of
the sensory organs and pores on the head 5 and by general details of proportion,
shape, etc.

A mask modelled after a Hammerhead Shark has been figured from
Jervis Is., Torres Strait, by Meyer (K. Ethnogr. Mus. Dresden vii, 1889, pi.
iii), and a shrine to this remarkable shark is mentioned in Frazer's Golden
Bough (v, 1919, footnote 1 on page 139) from Torres Strait also.

3 Lloyd and Sheppard, Proc. Zool. Soc. (Londcn), 1922, iv, pp. 971-98], figs. 1-7,
give an account of Ihe anatomy of the head of a hammerhead shark.

194

MEMOIRS OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM.

Family SQUALL DAL
Genus Squalus Linne, 1758.

The Australian Dogfishes are perhaps not strictly congeneiic with Squalus
acanthias Linn', the genotype of Squalus selected by Jordan and Gilbert (Bull.
I . S. Nat. Mus. iii. 16, 1882, p. 16). Synonyms of this genus have the same
genotype and are : Squallus Scopoli, 1777 ; Acanthorhinus Blainville, 1816 ;

Acanthias Eichwald, 1819 ; and Carcharias Gistel, 1848, preoccupied.

SQUALUS MEGALOPS (Macleay).

(Plate XXVII, fig. C.)

Acanthias megalops Macleay, Proc. Linn. Soc. N. S. Wales vi, 2, Sept. 12, 1881, p. 367.

Port Jackson.

My friend, Mr. W. J. Phillipps, recently supplied a brief review of the
Piked Dogfishes of New Zealand and Australia (N. Z. Journ. Sci. Tech, xii,
6, 1931, pp. 360-361), in connection with which it is of interest to reproduce
the accompanying drawing by the late A. R. McCulloch of a Victorian example
of Squalus megalops , 404 mm. long. Austr. Mus. regd. no. I. 10826.

Family Isuridjs.

Genus Isuropsis Gill, 1862.

Isuropsis mako (Whitley).

Isurus mako Whitley, Rec. Austr. Mus. xvii, 1929, p. 101, New Zealand.

This is the Mako shark of the New Zealand fishermen and the Blue
Pointer of Australia. I have examined specimens in the Museums of Sydney,
Adelaide, and Wellington, and freshly caught examples.

Making allowance for shrinkage in preserved specimens, the Australian
form seems more slender than the South African, 7. bideni (Phillipps), and has
a shorter snout ; height of dorsal about £ head, slightly more than \ depth
of body. A three-foot mounted specimen (Austr. Mus. regd. no. I. 2756) of
the Blue Pointer from Manly, New South Wales, has depth 7 in total length.
Eye 3 in snout. Distance from anterior border of eye to that of nostril 4 in
distance from posterior margin of eye to first gill slit. Interocular width (67)
longer than length of snout from level of anterior margins of eyes (81).
Internarial space (46) 1*2 in distance from nostril to end of snout (58).

Lower caudal lobe (126) 1*24 in upper (157). Caudal peduncle not
nearly twice as wide as deep. Depth of body more than 5 in length without
caudal in mounted specimen. Second dorsal entirely in advance of anal.

Another specimen of Isuropsis maho from Rosa Gully, South Head,
Port Jackson (a young male caught 15/10/30 on line over a sandy bottom)
had the following characters : —

13 + 13

Dental formula— — . Teeth in two functional series.

13 + 13

NOTES ON SOME AUSTRALIAN SHARKS.

195

Total length 43 inches ; depth 7| inches ; head to last gill opening 14 ;
head to first gill opening 10J ; eye 1 in. ; snout 2f ; snout from level of
anterior eye margins 3J ; snout from nostril 2| ; mouth 4J ; ant. teeth,
lower jaw, J ; ant. border of nostiil to that of eye, 1 T 5 ^ ; internarial space,
1| ; post, margin of eye to first gill slit, 6 ; interocular, 2f ; pectoral length
6f ; pectoral base 3J ; pectoral, inner length from middle of base. 7f ; first
dorsal, height 3J ; first dorsal, base 3 \ ; termination of first dorsal to origin of
second dorsal 12] ; second dorsal entirely in advance of anal. Origin of anal
to that of ventral 8 ; ventral base 2. Clasper If ; axilla of pectoral to origin
of ventral 12^ ; axilla of pectoral to vertical of dorsal 7 J ; upper caudal lobe
8 ; lower caudal lobe 6| ; width of caudal peduncle, including keel, 3 ; depth
half-way between second dorsal and caudal about If. Nostril above anterior
border of jaw, when lip is retracted. Dorsal nearer pectoral than ventral but
behind pectoral base. Precaudal pits above and below. Spiracle a minute black
spot well behind eye. Weight 18J lb.

General colour very dark navy blue above, changing to dull greyish
after death. Ventral surface whitish. Eye very dark grey. Shagreen rough,
satiny. Eive very wide gill slits, before the pectorals ; the last two
approximate and crowded by insertion of pectoral fin.

A head of a New South Wales specimen, preserved in
(22*5 mm.) 3-6 in snout (83).

Dental formula

10 + 11
10 + 10

spirit, has

eye

Interocular width (64) 1-1 in length of snout from vertical of anterior
margins of eyes (75). Internarial space (38) 1-5 in distance from nostril to
end of snout (58). The snout in this specimen is much more acute than in
others, a sexual character, according to Phillipps.

As regards the South Australian form, Mr. Herbert M. Hale has kindly
supplied the following information (in lit., 4/3/30) : —

“ The cast of the Blue Pointer illustrated by Waite in his Fish list and
Handbook is not in this Museum, and I think it is in the Canterbury Museum.
Fishermen state that the species is common in our waters but I have seen
very few specimens. We have a cast of a small example ; it is impossible to
furnish accurate details cf the dentition, but I have made the following

measurements, all in mm.

Snout to mid-caudal region . . . . . . 1,300

Snout to ant. border of eye . . • • • • 110

Snout to level of ant. borders of eyes . . . . 100

Snout to first gill-slit . . . . • • • • 300

Interorbital space . . • • • • • • 90

Distance between nostrils • • • • • • 50

The nostrils are 10 mm. in advance, and 10 mm. above the level, of the
anterior border of the mouth. The spiracle is apparently absent or minute.
The specimen was caught by H. Kemp, in Moonta Bay, Spencer Gulf, South
Australia.”

196

MEMOIRS OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM.

Family HA LS Y DR I L)JE .

Genus Halsydrus Fleming, 1809.

( Plate XXIX : Fi gures 1 -3 . )

Halsydrus Fleming, Scots Mag. 1809, p. 7 ; Brewster’s Edinb. Encycl. xi, 1817, p. 713,
and Philos. Zool. ii, 1822, p. 380. Haplotype, Halsydrus pontoppidiani Fleming.
Based on the “ Sea Serpent” of Stronsav, Orkney Islands, which was later
identified as a Basking Shark.

Tetroras Rafinesque, Carat. Ale. X. Gen. Spec. Sicil., April 1, 1810, p. 11. Haplotype, T.
angiova Rafinesque {fide Jordan, Gen. Fish, i, 1917, p. 77).

Tetnoras Rafinesque, Analyse Nat. 1815, p. 93, Nom. nud. { fide Sherborn).

Cetorhinus Blainville, Bull. Sci. Soc. Philom. Paris, Aug. 1816, p. 121 ( fide Sherborn).

Haplotype C. gunner i Blainville = Squalus maximus Gunner — Linne {fide Jordan,
Gen. Fish, i, 1917, j). 95).

5 el ache Cuvier, Regne Anim. ed. 1, ii, “ 1817” = Dec. 1816, p. 129. Haplotype, Squalus

maximus Blainville = Linne. Id. Schinz, Das Thierreich (Cuvier) 1822, p. 220.
Id. Cuvier, Regne Anim. ed. 2, ii, 1829, p. 396. Id. Lesson, Diet. Class. Hist.
Nat. v, 1829, p. 597.

Selanche Jarocki, Zoologiia, iv, 1822, p. 452 {fide Sherborn).

Selachus Minding, Lehrb. Naturg. Fische 1832, p. 52 {fide Sherborn). Id. Yarrell, Hist.

Brit. Fish, ii, 1836, p. 296. Id. Pavesi, Ann. Mus. Civ. Stor. Nat. Genova
xii, 1878, p. 416. Emend, pro. Selache Cuvier.

Ceteorhinus Agassiz, Nomenel. Zool. 1846, Index. Univ. p. 75. Emendation for “ Geterhinus ”
Blainville, 1816. Type, Squalus maximus Linne, by present designation.

Polyprosopus Couch, Hist. Fish. Brit. Is. i, 1862, p. 67. Logotype, Squalus rashleighanus
Couch, selected by Jordan and Evermann, 1896, Id. Gill, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci.
Philad. 1864, p. 207.

? Hannovera Van Beneden, Bull. Acad. Roy. Belg., xxxi. 1871, p. 504. Orthotype,

H. au-ata Van Beneden {fide Jordan, Gen. Fish, iii, 1919, p. 360). Id. Smith
Woodward, Cat. Foss. Fish. Brit. Mus. i, 1889, p. 429. Fossil Shark.

T have not seen Rafinesque’s original description of Tetroras , but Jordan
and Evermann, in 1896, note it as stating ‘ Two dorsals;' one anal; four

gill openings ; tail unequal, oblique ; snout blunt ; teeth rasp-like ; a keel on
each side of tail : eyes very small ; gill openings rather large ; length about

6 feet. Called Angiova at Palermo." They regard it as applicable to Cetorhinus

but suggest that it may be a melange of Isurus and Heptranchias, the latter
now being called Anciova at Palermo. The rasp-like teeth and blunt snout,
however, preclude Isurus and one hesitates to make scientific identifications
on the treacherous basis of vernacular names, especially as Heptranchias has
seven gill slits and the basking shark has only five, the last of which is

sometimes overlooked by casual observers, hence the name Tetroras.

The earliest name for this genus appears to be Halsydrus Fleming,
based on the famous “ Sea-serpent ” of the Orkney Is. which was later shown
to be a basking Shark, II. maximus (Linne).

NOTES ON SOME AUSTRALIAN SHARKS.

197

This large selachian was first recorded from Australia by McCoy, whose
specimen I have seen in the Exhibition Building, Melbourne, besides a half-
grown example from Williamstown , Victoria, in the National Museum,
Melbourne. The South Australian Museum, Adelaide, has several specimens,
including a magnificent cast of a very large example. The Australian Museum,
Sydney, has the gill rakers of Waite’s specimen from southern New South Wales
and the teeth of another from Mungo Beach, near the Myall Lakes, New South
Wales. Photographs of the latter specimen are here reproduced as this
constitutes the most northerly Australasian record. The tail of this shark was
about one-fifth of the total length which was 25 feet.

Our Basking Shark ranges from New South Wales southward to Tasmania
and New Zealand and westward to the Great Australian Bight. Mr. W. J.
Phillipps has kindly supplied the following Neozelanic localities : — near mouth
of Wade River, Davenport; Whangaparaoa. Peninsula (‘every spring 5 ');
Kapiti Island, Wairoa, Makara, and off Wellington, New Zealand.

If the Australasian form prove distinct from the European, the name
Halsydrus maccoyi is available for it (Barrett, Sun Nature Book iv, “ Water
Life, 55 1933, p. 13 ex Tetroras maccoyi Whitley and Phillipps M.S.).

LIST OF AUSTRALIAN SPECIES.

In conclusion, I offer the following list of the Sharks of Australia and
New Zealand, with an indication, whenever known, of their size, breeding
methods, and harmfulness or otherwise, to man. The distribution of the
species will in most cases be found in McCulloch’s £k Check-List ” and
Phillipps’ “ Bibliography.”

J . One-finned Shark, Heptranchias dakini Whitley. Length about three feet.

2. Seven-gilled Shark, Notorynchus cepedianus (Peron). Over 94 feet. Regarded as harmful

to man in South Australia (Waite), but not looked upon as dangerous in New
Zealand (Phillipps).

3. Port Jackson Shark, Heterodontus portusjacksoni (Meyer). 4 feet. Oviparous ; egg case

without tendrils. Harmless.

4. Crested Port Jackson Shark, Molochophrys galeatus (Gunther). About 4 feet. Oviparous ;

egg case with tendrils. Harmless.

5. Northern Catshark, Hemiscyllium freycineti (Quoy and Gaimard). About one foot.

Oviparous. Harmless.

fi. Bpaulette Shark, Hemiscyllium ocellatum (Bonnaterre). Over 3 feet. Oviparous. Harmless.

7. Speckled Catshark, Hemiscyllium trispeculare (Richardson). Two feet. Oviparous.

Harmless.

8. Brown-banded or spotted Catshark, Chiloscyllium punctatum (Muller and Henle). Over

2 feet. Oviparous. Harmless.

9. Collared Catshark, Parascyllium collare Ramsay and Ogilby. Nearly 3 feet. Oviparous.

Harmless.

10. Rusty Catshark, Parascyllium ferrugineum McCulloch. 2^ feet. Probably oviparous.

Harmless.

198 MEMOIRS OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM.

11. Southern Catshark, ParascyUiuin variolatum (Dumeril). Three feet. Probably, oviparous.

Harmless.

12. Blind Shark, Brachcelurus waddi (Bloch and Schneider). About 3 feet. Ovo-viviparous

(Waite, Rec. Austr. Mus. iv, 1901, p. 32, pi. iv).

13. Carpet Shark, Orectolobus ornatus (De Vis). Six or seven feet. Ovo-viviparous. May

attack a wader or, when caught, may snap at a man.

14. Wobbegong, Orectolobus maculatus (Bonnaterre). Five to six feet. Similar to O. ornatus.

15. Ogilby’s Wobbegong, Orectolobus ogilbyi Regan. Four feet. Probably like O. ornatus

and maculatus.

16. Cobbler Shark, Orectolobus tentaculatus (Peters). Three feet. Feared by children in

West Australia, but probably harmless.

17. Zebra Shark, Stegostoma tigrinum (Pennant). Six feet (or nine, according to Ogilby).

Oviparous. Harmless.

18. Tawny Shark, Nebrodes concolor ogilbyi Whitley. Over 3 feet. Oviparous ? Harmless.

19. Blue-grey Shark, Heteroscy Ilium colcloughi (Ogilby). Only known from the type, 14 feet

long. Harmless.

20. Black-spotted Catshark, Aulohalcelurus labiosus (Waite). Only known from the type.

about 2 feet long. Doubtless oviparous. Harmless.

21. Spotted Catshark, Scyliorhinus analis (Ogilby). Over 2 feet. Oviparous. Harmless.

22. Gulf Catshark, Scyliorhinus vincenti (Zietz). Two feet. Oviparous. Harmless.

23. Sawtail Shark, Figaro boardmani Whitley. Two feet. Doubtless oviparous. Harmless.

24. Draughtboard Shark, Gephaloscyllum Isabella (Bonnaterre). About 1 foot. Oviparous.

Harmless.

25. Swell Shark, Cephaloscyllium laticeps (Dumeril). About 1 foot. Oviparous. Harmless.

26. Marbled Catshark, Atelomycterus marmoratus (Raffles). About 2 feet. Oviparous.

Harmless.

27. Black Tip Shark, Mapolamia Spallanzani (Lesueur). Rarely more than 5 feet, but Ogilby

records 10 feet for “ Car char hiinus melanopterus Probably viviparous, and
harmless.

28. Shark, Galcolamna greyi , Owen. Only known from jaws in the Royal College of

Surgeons.

29. Graceful Shark, Gillisqualus amblyrhynchoides Whitley. About 2 feet ; only known

from type.

30. Ganges Shark, Platypodon gangeticus (Muller and Henle). Nine feet. Viviparous.

Dangerous to bathers.

31. Grey Shark, Platypodon menisorrah (Muller and Henle). Over 5 feet. Viviparous. Not

regarded as dangerous.

32. Whaler, or Cocktail, Galeolamnoides macrurus (Ramsay and Ogilby). 'Twelve feet.

Viviparous. Known to attack man.

33. New Zealand Whaler, Galeolamnoides brachyurus Gunther. About 8 feet. Probably

viviparous and dangerous.

34. Northern Whaler, Galeolamnoides stevensi (Ogilby). About 6 feet. Probably viviparous

and potentially harmful. Type missing.

35. Estuary Shark, Galeolamnoides spenceri (Ogilby). Over 6 feet. Viviparous and probably

dangerous. Type not traced.

36. Great Blue Shark, Prionace glauca (Linne). Twenty feet. Viviparous. May be dangerous.

37. Long-nosed Shark, Hypoprion hemiodon (Muller and Henle). No data. About 24 feet.

38. Maclot’s Shark, Hypoprion macloti (Muller and Henle). At least 3 feet ; no data as to

breeding, etc.

NOTES ON SOME AUSTRALIAN SHARKS.

190

39. Jordan’s Blue Dog Shark, Scoliodon jordani Ogilby. Type, nearly 3 feet long, lost.

For synonymy, vide supra , in this paper.

40. Sharp -toothed Shark, Aprionodon acutidens (Ruppell). Over 6 feet.

41. Tiger Shark, Galeocerdo rayneri Macdonald and Barron. Over 16 feet. Viviparous

Known to attack man.

42. Northwestern Tiger Shark, Galeocerdo cuvier (Lesueur). Probably like G. rayneri. See

Journ. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philad. ii, Nov. 1822, p. 351, apparently a tiger shark.

43. Little Nurse, Triakis scyllium Muller and Henle. Two and a-half feet. Harmless.

44. School Shark, Notogalcus australis (Macleay). At least 6 feet. Viviparous. Not known

to attack man.

45. Gummy or Sweet William, Mustelus antarcticus Gunther. Three and a-half feet.

Ovo-viviparous, with a structure like a placenta. Harmless.

46. New Zealand Gummy, Mustelus lenticularis Phillipps. Probably like M . antarcticus.

47. Little Blue Shark, Rhizoprionodon crenidens (Klunzinger). Four feet. Harmless.

48. Muller’s Shark, Physodon midleri ^Muller and Henle). No data.

49. Taylor’s Shark, Physodon taylori (Ogilby). Type over 2 feet long, now missing.

50. Hammerhead Shark, Eusphyra blochii (Cuvier). Over five feet, probably much larger.

Viviparous and perhaps dangerous.

51. Lewin’s Hammerhead, Sphyrna lewini (Griffith). Ten feet. Probably viviparous. Harmless,

so far as is known.

52. Large Hammerhead, Sphyrna zygoena Linne. Length over 15 feet or well over 400 lb.

weight. Viviparous. Regarded as likely to attack man.

53. Mackerel Shark, Lamna nasus (Bonnaterre). Ten feet. Dangerous.

54. Mako or Blue Pointer, Isuropsis malco (Whitley). Twelve feet or nearly 800 lb. weight.

Very savage and dangerous.

55. White Shark or White Pointer, Carcharhinus carcharias (Linne). Said to grow to more

than 40 feet. A New Zealand specimen, 12£ feet long, weighed 910 lb.

Dangerous.

56. Grey Nurse, Carcharias arenarius Ogilby. Fifteen feet ; an 8-foot specimen weighed

370 lb. Viviparous. Dangerous to bathers.

57. Blue Nurse, Carcharias tricuspidatus Day. At least 12 feet. Probably viviparous and

dangerous.

58. Thresher, or Fox Shark, Alopias caudatus Phillipps. Sixteen feet and over 900 lb.

weight. Not regarded as harmful to man.

59. Goblin Shark, MitsuJcurina owstoni Jordan. Length 7 feet.

60. Basking Shark, Halsydrus maximus (Linne). Over 35 feet. Harmless.

61. White-spotted Dogfish, Squalus kirki (Phillipps). Three feet. Harmless, bu all the

dogfishes may cause wounds by means of their dorsal spines.

62. Piked Dogfish, Squalus megalops (Macleay). Less than 3 feet. Ovo-viviparous ; the

spines of the embryo protected by knobs before birth.

63. Victorian Dogfish, Squalus whitleyi, Phillipps. Probably like the preceding species.

64. Dogfish, Entoxychirus uyatus (Rafinesque). The record of this species from Australia

may be referable to a Squalus.

65. Prickly Dogfish, Oxynotus bruniensis (Ogilby). Two feet. Harmless.

66. Plunket’s Shark, Proscymnodon plunketi (Waite). Four feet. Viviparous. Harmless.

67. Thompson’s Deepsea Dogfish, Centrophorus kaikoura?, nom. nov. pro. C. calceus

Thompson (Rec. Canterb. Mus. iii, 4, 1930, p. 275, pi. xlii, figs, a-i), not of Lowe.
Nearly 4 feet. The species of Centrophorus are harmless deepsea sharks and of the
breeding habits in Australia or New Zealand little is known, though all are
probably viviparous.

200

MEMOIRS OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM.

68. Nilson’s Deepsea Dogfish, Centrophorus nilsoni Thompson. Three and a-half feet.

69. Waite’s Deepsea Dogfish, Centrophorus waitei Thompson. About 1 foot long.

70. Deep-sea Dogfish, Centrophorus harrissoni McCulloch. Nearly 3 feet.

71. Endeavour Dogfish, Centrophorus scalpratus McCulloch. Three feet.

72. Long-snouted Dogfish, Deaniops quadrispinosus (McCulloch). Four feet. Probably

viviparous. Harmless.

73. Black Shark, Scymnorhinus phillippsi Whitley. Four feet. Viviparous ( see Parker,

Trans. N. Z. Inst, xv, 1882 (1883), pp. 222-234, pis. xxxi-xxxii). Harmless.

74. Bramble Shark, Echinorhinus ( Rubusqualus ) mccoyi Whitley. Over 7 feet. Harmless.

75. Luminous Shark, Lexus ferox Kner. Type about 7 in. long, but grows larger. Harmless.

76. Leiche, Euprotomicrus bispinatus (Quoy and Gaimard). {Small and harmless. Recorded

from New Zealand by Hutton on the basis of jaws which have since been lost
(Phillipps).

77. Sherwood’s Shark, Scymnodon sherwoodi Archey. About 3 feet. Harmless.

78. Frill-gilled Shark, Chlamydoselachus sp. Only known from Stead’s identification of some

decomposed remains from Port Jackson which do not appear to have been
preserved.

79. Angel Shark, Squatina australis Regan. Five feet. Viviparous. Harmless.

80. Ornate Angel Shark, Squatina tergocellata McCulloch. About 1| feet. Probably

viviparous. Harmless. The New South Wales form belongs to a new subspecies.

81. Saw Shark, Pristiophorus cirratus (Latham). Four feet. Viviparous, the rostral teeth

of the embryo lie flat against the sides of the snout before birth. Harmless.

82. Southern Saw Shark, Pristiophorus nudipinnis Gunther. Four feet, very similar to

P. cirratus.

MEMOIRS OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM, Vol. X, Plate XXVII.

Heterodontus portus'jacksoni (Meyer). A specimen, 550 mm. long, from Manly, New South Wales.

Austr. Mus. regcl. no. I 9307.

Drawing by Allan B. McCulloch.]

Molochophrys galeatus (Gunther). A specimen trawled off Sanclon Bluff, New South Wales.
“Endeavour” Collection, no. E. 1760.

Drawing by Allan B. McCulloch.]

Squalus megalops Macleay. A specimen, 404 mm. long, from the coast of Victoria.

Austr. Mus. regd. no. I. 10826 (ex “Endeavour” coll.). Face page 200.

Drawing by Allan B. McCulloch.]

MEMOIRS OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM , Vol. X, Plate XXVIII.

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13. Ventral surface of head of same specimen.

C. Teeth of same.

D. Type of lewini (after Griffith).

E. Type of tudes (after Valenciennes). Joyce E. Allan del.]

MEMOIRS OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM, Vol. X, Plate XXIX.

Figs. ]. and 2. Halsydrus maximus (Linne). A specimen, 25 feet long, washed up at Mungo Beach,

New South Wales, in September 1930.

Fig. 3. Halysdrus maximus (Linne). Some of the teeth of the same specimen with inch-rule for comparison..
Photographs: A. I. Marshall, Bullahdelali, N.S.W.

RESTORATION OF EURY ZYGOMA DUNENSE.

201

RESTORATION OF EURYZYGOMA DUNENSE.

By Heber A. Longman, Director, Queensland Museum.

(Plates XXX-XXXI).

A restoration of Euryzygoma clunense , modelled by Mr. Wilfrid Morden,
illustrated in Plates XXX-XXXI, has been placed on exhibition in the Queensland
Museum. The remarkable cranium on which the genus Euryzygoma was established
by the writer in 1921 1 was found at a depth of about 70 feet, during

the sinking of a well on the property of Mr. G. A. F. Kleidon, Brigalow,
Darling Downs. Supplementary material was recorded in 1929. 2 The specific
name dunense was given by De Vis hi 1887 to mandibles which he associated
with Nototherium.

Although most attempts at reconstructions from incomplete remains are
necessarily provisional and inadequate, the writer has pleasure fin publishing
illustrations of Mr. Morden’s restoration of this very specialised and extra-
ordinary marsupial. The outstanding features of the skull are the inferior

lateral processes of the anterior part of the zygomata and the contours of the
prominent suborbital platform. The maximum width of the skull (680 mm.)
actually exceeds the maximum length (634 mm.), a most unusual characteristic
among mammals. The lateral extensions relatively exceed the dependent
processes of the malar in such Entelodonts as Megachccrus, described by
E. L. Troxell. 3

In the original description, it was tentatively suggested that the extra-
ordinary development of the zygomatic arches was associated with the presence

of large cheek pouches, and no more satisfactory explanation of these curious

processes can be made to-day. Although allied to species of Nototherium ,

Euryzygoma evidently represents a very specialised offshoot from this group of
bulky herbivorous marsupials.

The restoration of the head was definitely built up on the actual contours
of the fossil cranium (Plate XXX, fig. 2). Careful measurements were made
and the proportions worked out in detail. The body contours are mainly
based on the proportions of the skeletons of allied species of Nototherium with
some reference to Dijorotodon,

1 1921. Longman, Mem, Qkl. Mus., vol. VIT, pp. 65 80.

2 1929. Longman. Mem. Qlcl. Mus., vol. IX, p. 247.

3 1920, Troxell, Amer. Journ, Sci,, 4th ser, ? yoj. 50, p. 433.

202

MEMOIRS OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM.

The restoration, which is approximately one-fifth natural size,
much preliminary study and experiment, and warm appreciation is
of Mr. Mor den’s work.

PLATE XXX.

Figure 1. — Eury zygoma dunense. Head of Restoration by Wilfrid Morden.
Figure 2.- — Euryzygoma dunense. Anterior view of Brigalow cranium.

involved

expressed

PLATE XXXI.

Euryzygoma dunense. Restoration by Wilfrid Morden in Queensland Museum.

MEMOIRS OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM , Vol. X, Plate XXX.

Figure 1. Euryzygoma dunense ; Head of Restoration, by Wilfrid Morden.

Figure 2. Euryzygoma dunense; anterior view of Brigalow cranium.

Face page 202.

MEMOIRS OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM , Vol. X, Plate XXXI.

Face page 202.

Ptjryzycoma dtjnense. Restoration by Wilfrid Morden, in Queensland Museum,

A LARGE SPIRAL STRUCTURE FROM WESTERN QUEENSLAND.

203

A LARGE SPIRAL STRUCTURE FROM THE
CRETACEOUS BEDS OF WESTERN QUEENSLAND.

By F. W. Whitehouse, Ph.D., M.Sc. (Department of Geology, University of

Queensland).

(Plate XXXII ; Text-figures 1-4).

Explanation. — Mr. J. K. Ellis of Blackall recently forwarded to th e

Queensland Museum several portions of a large spiral object found by Mr.

C. Catchlove and himself at a locality 8 miles north of Duthie Park homestead
and about 25 miles east-north-east of Blackall. With it was sent a group
of associated nodules. All these objects are now lodged in the collections

of the Museum.

Description . — The spiral object, illustrated on Plate XXXII, figs, la,

16, is not complete. When the several portions of it are put together a gap
is noticed (indicated by a dotted line on the figure) where a section

representing one or more whorls is missing.

The specimen, to this extent incomplete, is 203 centimetres long. The
maximum width is 22*5 cms.

In form it is a dextral, helicoid spiral with 25 whorls preserved. The
individual whorls are in contact and impressed at their junctions but they
do not overlap. The whorls are approximately circular in cross-section except
the end members in which a flattening takes place, while the externa] surface
of each whorl is arched convexly. On the average the diameter of each
whorl is approximately four times its length.

A very slight curvature is developed on what has been determined as
the horizontal plane of the specimen.

At one end (the right-hand end in the figures on Plate XXXII) the
final whorl is pillow-shaped, relatively large, and with its axis oblique to the
maximum length of the specimen. The transverse diameter of each succeeding
whorl is approximately normal to the general length. There is a noticeable
decrease in the size of the whorls towards the middle of the specimen, after
which a progressive increase in size takes place. At the opposite end the
final whorl is unfortunately incomplete and abuts upon a mass of nodular
structures. The seven whorls adjacent to this end have, on what would
appear to be the lower surface, a shallow^, transverse, median depression that
is shown on Plate XXXII, fig. 1 a.

Dimensions . — The following measurements were made upon the specimen.

I here is of course a variation in. each individual whorl, The figures for the

204 MEMOIRS OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM.

length of each whorl were obtained measurements along a line at about
the middle of the lower surface. The measurements of the diameters of the
whorls were made at right angles to the line. Whorl No. 1 is that shown
at the right-hand side of the figure.

—

Length of Whorl,
(in cms.)

Diameter of Whorl,
(in cms.)

1

15-8

2

9-5

22-5

3

9-2

20-7

4

8-5

170

5

6-4

18-1

6

8-3

181

7

7-7

18*0

8

6*3

16-8

9

7-5

16-1

10

5-6

16-2

11

7-5

17 0

12

7-0

16-0

13

5-4

16-6

14

7-4

17-2

15

4-9

18*4

16

8-1

19-9

Break

17

18

8-2

18-8

19

6-9

' 18-6

20

7-8

19-8

21

6-0

18-5

22

8-4

20-8

23

6-8

19-6

24

7-8

25

8-8

21-2

Composition . — Microslides have been made of the substance from each
end and from about the middle of the specimen. These all agree in being a
brown, calcareous sandstone with fontainebleau structure, and with the grains
small in size, angular and composed mainly of quartz but with some fresh
felspar fragments present. A certain amount of argillaceous matter is present
also. This is one of the commonest rock types in the beds of the Great
Artesian Basin.

Occurrence . — Along two opposite faces the specimen shows a slight
grooving. On one side of this the surface is washed clear of extraneous
matter. On the other side of the grooving the surface is covered with a
structureless, white, calcareous substance identical with the precipitated lime
deposits in the normal pedocalcic soils of this region. This suggests that the
specimen has been embedded in the ground or in the rock up to the level
of the grooving, the coated portion being thus the lower part. This pulverulant
lime coating has nothing to do with shell substance ; and it may be pointed
out that nowhere on the surface of the whorls or in the impressed zone between
them is there any trace of shelly calcareous matter.

t 7 %J *

A LARGE SPIRAL STRUCTURE FROM WESTERN QUEENSLAND.

205

The grooving is at an angle, of 7° to the general length of the specimen.
On Plate XXXII, fig. 16 the line of junction of the two surfaces may be seen
starting from the base of the main break in the specimen and running upwards
and to the right from that point. In this orientation the upper portion as
shown on Plate XXXII, fig 16 was the embedded side.

The Cretaceous beds of Western Queensland outcrop over vast areas
of plains and dip at. only very gentle angles. This angle of 7° on the specimen
suggests that it was contained in the rocks lying along, or else at a very
slight angle to the bedding plane.

Associated Structures . — Accompanying the specimen were masses of
closely packed, flattened, nodule-like structures that Mr. Ellis in his letter
appropriately compared to "a batch of buns.” These are composed of similar
brown, calcareous sandstone of the fontainebleau type. As has been mentioned
the whorls at one end of the spiral abut upon a mass of such objects ; but,
unfortunately, owing to the specimen being there incomplete, the relationship
of the spiral to the associated nodules is not to be determined.

Age . — -Duthie Park is near the margin of the Great Artesian Basin in a
region where the lowest beds (Roma Series) are overlapped by those of the
Tambo Series. In this great basin of Cretaceous deposits the lower beds are
of marine origin and are divisible into two series, the lower of Roma Series
being of Aptian age and the upper or Tambo Series belonging to the Upper
Albian ( see Whitehouse 1928). Above the Tambo Series lies the Winton Series
of non-marine beds and which, from available evidence, has a maximum
thickness of at least 4,000 feet. The gradation from the Tambo Series to the
Winton Series is complete. The lithology of the two Series is identical, the
typical rock types being blue clays with bands of concretionary, calcareous
sandstones. It is never possible in the field to place a line dividing the two
Series ; for the Tambo Series, so richly fossiliferous in its lower phase is, in
its upper beds, almost entirely barren of fossils. Prolonged search in such
upper beds of the Tambo Series may bring to light some fragments of
Inoceramus or an Aucellina. With identical lithology in the two Series and a
progressive decrease in the abundance of fossils in the lower it is usually impossible
to say, in any pertinent area, where the marine Tambo Series ends and where begins
the Winton Series, which has yielded plant remains from a few localities but never
marine fossils. The work of Mr. C. Ogilvie and myself shows that, as a field
guide, there are only two criteria that at present serve to distinguish definitely
Tambo from definitely Winton Series beds. The typical concretions of the
Tambo series are flattened, oval things (" Damper shaped ”), while those of the
Winton Series are usually spherical (" Cannon-Ball types ”). Also, yellow-
shale pellets are common in the sandstones of the Winton Series but rare in
such beds from the Tambo Series.

There are no fossils in the matrix of these specimens ; but from their
geographical position in the basin it would seem that the beds of Duthie Park

D

206

MEMOIRS OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM.

would be in the upper part of the Tambo Series or in the lower part of the
\\ inton Series and so tentatively may be regarded as being of Cenomanian
age.

Comparable Forms— Three other groups of strange, large, spiral structures
are on record. In 1892 Barbour recorded gigantic spiral forms from Miocene
beds in Nebraska to which he gave the name Daimonelix (later changed to
Daemonhehx bv von Ammon). Similar forms recorded under this name have
been found in Pleistocene beds in America (Wood & Wood, 1933) and in the
Oligocene of Bavaria (von Ammon, 1900). On these forms there is now a
considerable literature that has been summarised recentlv bv Wood & Wood
(1933).

In 1922 Woodward described some gigantic spirals, over seven feet in
length, from the lower Wealden Beds (Wadhurst Clay) of England and.
diagnosing the form as a gastropod, gave to it the generic name Dinocochlea .

A recent addition to our knowledge of these weird, giant spirals was
made by Cox (1929) who figured a form dredged from the bottom of the
North Sea.

In addition to these forms spirals of small size and of puzzling origin
are known from many formations, paleozoic, ,mesozoic, and tertiary. References
in literature to many of these have been given by Wood & Wood (1933. p. 830).

Daemonhelix reaches a length of many feet with a width of sometimes
one foot. The spiral generally maintains a fairly uniform width. Both dextral and
sinistral forms are known. It has a feature unique among such spiral structures,
that near the base a long, straight, lateral process is given off from the main
structure. Another feature of some interest is that occasionally in these forms an
axial, cylindrical process is found.

Among the spirals described as Dinocochlea both dextral and sinistral
forms occur. Starting from a protoconch -like process the spiral slowly increases
in width in a most regular manner, the increase corresponding to a logarithmic
spiral.* The final whorl is considerably larger than any preceding. The very
regular spiral and the appearance of the ends of the specimen temptingly
suggest that the form is an internal mould of a gigantic gastropod of
undetermined affinities. A coincidence that may be worthy of remark is that
this form, like the Queensland specimen, is preserved in a calcareous sandstone
with fontainebleau structure.

The mode of occurrence and the age of the North Sea specimen are of
course unknown. Like Dinocochlea this is in the form of a widening spiral
resembling a gastropod. It is, however, a more globular type and with fewer
whorls than any of the other forms.

Dinocochlea and the present form agree in that they are embedded more
or less in the plane of bedding of the rocks. Daemonhelix occurs in both vertical

* In one of these forms (a dextral specimen) Woodward (1922, p. 244) determined the ratio
for the logarithmic spiral to be 102. For a sinistral form he quotes the ratio of 1-055.

A LARGE SPIRAL STRUCTURE FROM WESTERN QUEENSLAND.

207

and horizontal position. This new form and Daemonhelix are similar in that the
spirals retain a general cylindrical shape. The other special features of Daemonhelix
render more detailed comparison unnecessary. With Dinocochlea , however, the
resemblances are closest. The two types differ in that the English form has a
regularly widening spiral. En length they are comparable. Restored, the most

Text-figures 1-4. The several large Spirals. 1, The Queensland form. 2, The Wealden form
(after Woodward). 3, The North Sea form (after Cox). 4, The Nebraska form (after
Barbour). Figures one -eighteenth natural size.

complete English specimen has a length of 220 cms. The Queensland form is 203
cms. long but when complete would be somewhat greater than this. In this length
of 220 cms. on the English form there are 23 whorls. The Queensland spiral has-
25 whorls in a length of 203 cms.

The close comparison that is possible between the Australian and English

208

MEMOIRS OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM.

forms is of particular interest since both are from Cretaceous beds — Dinocochlea
from the early part of the period and the new form apparently from near the middle.

Origin. — In attempting to explain the origin of such a spiral object it is
necessary to summarise and to stress the following points : —

1 . The structure is a relatively uniform helicoid spiral with no regular

increase or diminution in size of whorls,

2. One end is bulbous suggesting that the structure was closed at that

point. Unfortunately, the opposite end is not preserved.

3. No trace of an investing shell is to be found on the surface of

the specimen or on the impressed zone between the whorls.

4. The object lay more or less in the plane of bedding in lacustrine

or estuarine sediments of Cretaceous age.

5. The material of which it is composed is an arenaceous rock type

common to Cretaceous sediments in the Great Artesian Basin.

Considering the great bulk of the specimen, the last of these premises
suggests that the structure was formed either by concretionary action within
an ordinary rock type or else by the infilling of a spiral cavity existing at the
time of deposition of the beds.

The absence of any investing shell is important. In the marine beds of
the Great Artesian Basin molluscs and other forms are very well preserved,
and even with thin-shelled species it is rare to find an internal mould devoid
of some traces of the shell. The fact that over the whole great surface of
this spiral and in the impressed zone between the whorls there is no trace
of any shell substance, renders improbable a suggestion that the specimen is
an internal mould of an organism with a calcareous test.

As possible explanations of similar, large, spiral structures previously
described, the following suggestions have been made by various authors : —

(A) An Inorganic Origin —

1. Infillings of potholes.

2. Concretions.

(B) An Organic Origin —

3. Internal moulds of Gastropods.

4. Coprolites.

5. Burrows.

6. Roots.

As Woodward (1922 p. 242) has pointed out for Dinocochlea the
horizontal position of the specimen makes the suggestion of an infilled pothole
untenable.

If it were possible to record a process producing horizontal, spiral
structures in a concretionary way such an action would be the most favourable
explanation of the origin of this form. Like Dinocochlea it occurs in a sedi-
mentarv series notably rich in concretions. As mentioned previously the

A LARGE SPIRAL STRUCTURE FROM WESTERN QUEENSLAND. 209

Winton Series in which it is developed is characterised by spherical concretions.

A close, axial development of such spheres could lead to the production of a
linear series of impinging, rounded, disc-like forms superficially similar in

lateral view to this spiral. But I know of no method in which, by such
means, a spiral coiling could be produced.

Woodward's suggestion of an internal mould of a giant gastropod,

although capable of explaining the form of Dinocochlea and the North Sea
specimen, is inadmissible for this spiral. There is no gradual increase in the
size of the whorls ; and the free end that is preserved suggests neither the
proximal nor the distal end of a gastropod shell. Furthermore, considering
the conditions of preservation, the absence of any trace of shell substance is
opposed to such a conclusion.

Many coprolites, as Buckland (1835) long ago showed, are spiral things ;
and most of the giant spirals now discussed can be compared in superficial
form with the small things figured by him. The great size of these spirals
has been regarded as militating against such an origin. This is unreasonable ;
for both the Wealden and the Queensland spirals occur in beds where giant
dinosaurs are known. Austrosaurus mclcillopi, a dinosaur recently described by
Longman from the Tambo Series, was estimated to be of the order of fifty
feet in length (Longman, 1933, p. 142). With beasts of such size a coprolite
of seven feet in length is possible. Some interest is added to this suggestion
by the piled nodular masses associated with the spiral and conceivably of
faecal origin. However, a serious objection to the coprolite theory is that the
microslides show the minerals of a normal, arenaceous, sedimentary rock and
have no fragments of fish scales or other organic matter — undigested food
particles — that might be expected if it were a coprolite. It is possible, of
course, and easy to imagine that the substance of a coprolite shortly after
being embedded in a loose sediment could be dissolved away and the cavity
so produced infilled by arenaceous sedimentary material. But it is difficult
to conceive of this happening without some collapse of the walls, particularly
on the upper surface ; and the only deformation noticed on the specimen is
slight and on what appears to be the lower surface.

Replaced root structures and the infilling of a burrow* are the theories
most favoured to explain Daemonhelix. Each is capable of explaining the form
of the Queensland spiral but neither can be proved. The closed end preserved
on the specimen suggests that, if it be an infilled burrow, that end is the
underground termination, and the other end should then be open. It is
unfortunate that this end is incomplete. For the Wealden and the North
Sea spirals, where both ends are preserved, the burrow theory is unlikely.
If the Queensland form should be an infilled burrow the question arises what
animal with a horizontally burrowing habit could dig the cavity.

* With Daemonhelix the burrow has been attributed to some form of rodent.

210

MEMOIRS OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM.

Two other coincidences may be noted about these spirals generally

1. The two forms most similar (the Queensland and the Wealden

specimens) are comparable in age ;

2. Excluding the North Sea form the derivation of which is unknown,

all these large spirals seem to occur in lacustrine or estuarine
beds.

The first of these coincidences may suggest an organic origin — that the
two forms are species of the one genus (Dinocochlea) of obscure relationships.
If so, considering the Queensland evidence, Woodward’s suggestion of a
gastropod would be untenable. However, with only v two occurrences for a

problematical structure it would be unwise to stress this point of view

On the second coincidence too it is probable that little weight should be
placed ; for the twofold form of Daemonhelix (the spiral and the lateral
processes) suggests an origin different from that of the other and simpler forms.

Thus the problem of the origin of this spiral cannot be decided on the
evidence available. No proffered explanation is free from grave objection,

and it would be useless at present to press the claim of any one theory as a
valid explanation of such a puzzling form.

References.

Ammon, L. von., 1900. “ Ueber das Vorkommen von Steinsrauben ( Daemonhelix ) in der oligocanen
Molasse Oberbayers ” (Geogn. Jahreshefte, 13 Jalirg., pp. 55-69).

Barbour, E. H., 1892. “ Notice of New Gigantic Fossils.” (Science, vol. 19, pp. 99-100).

Buckland, W., 1835. “ On the Discovery of Coprolites or Fossil Fasces in the Lias at Lyme Regis ”

(Trans. Geol. Soc. Lond., Ser. 2, vol. 3, pp. 223-236).

Cox, L. R., 1929. “ A Spiral Puzzle ” (Nat. Hist. Mag., vol. 2, No. 9, pp. 16-27).

Longman, H., 1933. “ A New Dinosaur from the Queensland Cretaceous ” (Meins. Q’land Mus.,
vol. 10, pt. 3, pp. 131-144).

Whitehouse, F. W., 1928. “ The Correlation of the Marine Cretaceous Deposits of Australia ”

(Rept. Aust. Assoc, for Adv. Sci., vol. 18, 1926, pp. 275-280).

Wood, H. E., and Wood, A. E., 1933. “ Daemonhelix in the Pleistocene of Texas ” (Journ. of

GeoL, vol. 41, pp. 824-833).

Woodward, B. B., 1922. On Dinocochlea ingens n. gen. et sp., a Gigantic Gastropod from the
Wealden Beds near Hastings ” (Geol. Mag., vol. 59, pp. 242-248).

EXPLANATION OF PLATE XXXII.

Figs, la, 16. Two views of the large spiral structure, (a) lower surface ; (6) lateral view. The
dotted line marks the break from which portion of the specimen is missing.

Figs. 2, 3, 4. Nodular masses associated with the spiral structure.

(Figures are reduced according to the scales shown.)

[End of Part IV. of Volume X, Memoirs of the Queensland Museum.]

tflf

David Wiiyte, Government Printer, Brisbane.

MEMOIRS OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM. Vol. X, Plate. XXXII.

Photographs : TP J. Sanderson,

\

*