180 
G.R. Allen 
anal fin origin in one paratype), its length 2.3 (1.6- 
2.0) in head. 
Colour, 
Live colours unknown, but probably similar to 
other members of the subgenus Pristiapogon, which 
are generally whitish with a black midlateral stripe. 
Colour in alcohol as follows: very pale tan with 
relatively narrow midlateral brown stripe from 
upper edge of preopercle to base of caudal fin, 
tapering in width posteriorly. 
Remarks 
This species is known only from the type 
specimens, but further collecting in northern 
Australia and adjacent seas will probably increase 
the distributional limits. It occurs over soft bottoms 
in depths as shallow as 1 m. The maximum depth 
limit requires additional documentation, but it 
apparently ranges onto the outer portion of the 
continental shelf. 
This species belongs to the subgenus Pristiapogon 
Klunzinger as defined by Fraser and Lachner 
(1985). It is very similar in appearance to A. 
abrogramma Fraser and Lachner from scattered 
localities in the tropical Indian Ocean and western 
Pacific. Both species are characterized by a single 
dark, midlateral stripe. However, A. unitaeniatus 
has an increased number of gill rakers and pectoral 
rays (22-25 and 15 versus 17-19 and 13, rarely 14 
respectively). The new species is named 
unitaeniatus (Latin: single-striped) in reference its 
characteristic colour pattern feature. 
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 
John Paxton, Douglass Hoese, Mark McGrouther, 
and Sally Reader provided working facilities and 
assistance with the fish collection and computer 
records during a visit to the Australian Museum in 
1992. Helen Larson of the Northern Territory 
Museum directed my attention to the specimens of 
A. unitaeniatus in the NTM collection. Mark Cowan 
and Suzanne Longbottom (WAM) assisted with 
proportional measurements. The drawing of 
Apogon unitaeniatus was prepared by Mark Cowan. 
REFERENCES 
Fraser, T.H. (1972). Comparative osteology of the 
shallow water cardinalfishes (Perciformes: 
Apogonidae) with reference to the systematics and 
evolution of the family. Ichthyological Bulletin. Rhodes 
University 34:1-105. 
Fraser, T.H. and Lachner, E.A. (1985). A revision of the 
cardinalfish subgenera Pristiapogon and Zoramia 
(genus Apogon) of the Indo-Pacific region (Teleostei: 
Apogonidae). Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology 
412: 1—47. 
Manuscript received 6 May 1994; accepted 13 February 1995. 
