328 
L.E.L.M. Crowley, W. Ivanstoff, G.R. Allen 
C. eyresii group and the C. honoriae (marine) group 
(Crowley and Ivantsoff 1992). 
Although members of the C. stercusmuscarum 
group are genetically and morphologically very 
similar, the new species has a number of unique 
characters, in particular the crenulate scales, 
number of predorsal scales and extent of labial 
ligament. Despite these characters, Craterocephalus 
fistularis, is most closely related to C. lacustris on 
the basis of osteological and morphological 
characters. Craterocephalus lacustris is a lacustrine 
hardyhead species found in Lake Kutubu, Papua 
New Guinea. Crowley et al. (1991) have shown how 
closely related genetically are the other members 
of the C. stercusmuscarum group, from the southern 
drainages of Papua New Guinea and Irian Jaya. 
However, it was not possible to find the genetic 
affinities of the new species as no fresh or frozen 
material was available for electrophoretic analysis. 
The number of freshwater hardyhead species of 
the C. stercusmuscarum group now known from 
Papua New Guinea and Irian Jaya, is the same as 
Table 1 Comparison of holotype and para type of Craterocephalus fistularis with C. lacustris. Last double ray of second 
dorsal and anal fins counted as one. 
Character 
C. fistularis 
holotype 
C. fistularis 
paratype 
C. lacustris 
(n=42) 
In SL (standard length) 
3.2 
3.3 
3.4(3.2-3.8) 
Head Pectoral length 
5.1 
7.2 
6.4(5.1-9.4) 
Max. body depth 
4.2 
4.4 
4.6(3.5-6.0) 
Min body depth 
10.7 
11.2 
11.7(10.6-12.9) 
Pec/anus 
2.8 
3.1 
3.4(3.0-4.0) 
SnODl 
1.9 
1.9 
2.1(2.0-2.2) 
SnOD2 
1.4 
1.4 
1.4(1.4-1.5) 
SnOV 
2.2 
2.3 
23(2.2-2.4) 
SnTV 
1.7 
1.7 
1.7(1.6-1.8) 
SnOA 
1.4 
1.4 
1.5(1.4-1.6) 
SnTA 
1.2 
1.3 
1.2(1.0-1.5) 
In Head 
Eye 
4.1 
3.5 
3.4(2.9-5.0) 
Interorbital 
2.9 
3.1 
3.2(2.9-3.6) 
Postorbital 
2.3 
2.4 
23(2.0-2.7) 
In Eye 
Snout 
0.7 
1.0 
1.2(0.7-1.5) 
Premaxilla 
0.8 
1.1 
1.1(0.7-1.4) 
Lips in premaxilla 
1.7 
1.6 
2.0(1.5-2.4) 
Premax. process 
1.0 
1.4 
13(0.8-1.9) 
Meristics 
Scales and vertebrae 
Midlateral 
38 
37 
34.3(32-38) 
Transverse 
8.5 
8.5 
73(6-8) 
Predorsal 
23 
22 
13.8(11-18) 
Interdorsal 
7 
8 
7.4(6-9) 
Vertebrae 
- 
36 
36.5(35-39) 
Finrays 
First dorsal 
6 
5 
7.1 (5-8) 
Second dorsal 
Ii 7 
Ii 6 
Ii 6-8 
Anal 
Ii 9 
Ii 8 
Ii 7-9 
Pectoral 
Ii 13 
Ii 13 
Ii 11-15 
Other 
Gill rakers 
14 
15 
11.7(10-13) 
Posit anus 
B4 
B1.5 
FI (F0-2) 
OD1-TV 
FI 
FI .5 
F5.2(F3-7.5) 
ODl-TPec 
B2 
B2 
B0.8(F1-B3) 
OV-TPec 
F3 
F2.5 
F1.5(F0-3) 
Abbreviations: Pec/anus - length from origin of pectoral fin to anus; Posit, anus - position of anus in relation to tips of 
ventral fins; OD - origin of first dorsal fin; OD2 - origin of second dorsal fin; OV - origin of ventral fin; Sn - snout; OA 
- origin of anal fin; TA point of insertion of last double ray of anal fin; TV - tips of ventral fins; TPec - tips of pectoral 
fins; F or B — number of scales in front of or behind reference point 
