] 4 
MEMOIRS OF TUB QUEEN SLANT) MUSEUM. 
The following is a preliminary diagnosis of a new Lutjanoid fish from 
North Queensland popularly known as the Chinaman Fish. It is hoped that 
an extended description will be published later with an account of the skull 
which has been prepared by Dr. H. L. Kesteven. The holotype is a large 
specimen (7.4. 1554) from Townsville in the Australian Museum, and easts of 
it are also exhibited in the Queensland Museum and in the Townsville Institute 
of Tropical Medicine. Dr. Kesteven states (in MS.) that “ The skulls of 
Paradicichthys and Etdis differ from the Lutjanoid skull in the peculiar shape 
of the basioccipital bone, and in the form of the prefrontal bone and the 
acrartete condition of the maxilla. This last feature is, perhaps, the most 
important difference and fdone would justify the segregation of these and other 
forms with similar skulls from the Lutjanidac.” Paradicichthys is, however, 
nearer the Lutjanidse than the Sparidae, from which it differs mainly in having 
a small patch of teeth on each palatine. It also has a subocular shelf and 
the premaxillary separate from the maxillary. 
D. x/lG ; A. iii/9 ; P. i/15 ; V. i/5 ; C. 15. L. lat. 56. L. tr. 9/1/21. 
General bodily form of Lutjanus but with upper profile of head more 
convex. An oblique groove before eye to below nostrils. Cheeks and opercles 
scaly. Preoperculum entire, without notch. Greater part of nape, preopercular 
border, preorbital, and the broad, convex interorbital area naked. Premaxillary 
separate from maxillary which almost reaches vertical of anterior margin of 
eye ; no supplemental bone. A single exterior series of strong, blunt, canine 
teeth in each jaw, behind which are bands of smaller blunt conical teeth. Outer 
canines enlarged anteriorly. A small patch of small tubercular teeth on each 
palatine ; vomer toothless. 
Body covered with cycloid scales which lie parallel with the dorsal profile 
above the lateral line and do not extend over the dorsal or anal fins. Spinous 
dorsal much lower than soft. Anal base short, the spines small. Pectorals 
and ventrals long and pointed. Caudal strongly emarginate. Vent somewhat 
in advance of anal fin. 
General colour rosy or pinkish with darker and lighter zones arranged 
transversely and longitudinally. After death, the colour is more uniformly 
pinkish with some irregular violet spots on the body. 
The flesh of this fish is sometimes poisonous as food. Dr. P. S. Clarke, 
of Cairns, North Queensland, has treated many cases of Chinaman Fish 
poisoning and has kindly supplied me with some interesting notes. He states 
that this fish is generally found at a depth of ;\bout 60 feet and grows to a 
weight of about 16 lb. Dr. Paradice noted that a weight of 9 kilograms or 
20 lb. is attained. Length nearly 3 ft. 
Specimens are in the Australian Museum from Townsville (Dr. Cilento ; 
I A. 1554 , holotype) and from between 17° S. and 19° S. Lat. on the Great 
Barrier Reef (Dr. Paradice; I A. 2073-2074); one of the latter, was illustrated 
in Paradice’s reports. 
