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| Abyssobrotula hadropercularis
Ohashi & Nielsen, 2016 DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4132.4.7
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Abstract
A new abyssal ophidiid fish, Abyssobrotula hadropercularis, is described on the basis of two specimens caught at two stations at ca. 5000 meters of depth in the Kuril-Kamchatka Trench. The genus Abyssobrotula Nielsen, 1977 was previously known from the type species, A. galatheae Nielsen, 1977 of which 40–50 specimens now are reported from all oceans at depths greater than 2000 m. One of the specimens from the Puerto Rico Trench captured at 8370 m is still the deepest record for fishes. The new species differs from A. galatheae in having great number of pectoral-fin rays 14–15 (vs 10–11); greater eye diameter (1.2–1.3% SL vs 0.7–0.9% SL); larger prepelvic 14.0–14.5% SL (vs 10.5–12.5% SL) and preanal lengths 42.5% SL (vs 33.0–41.5% SL); opercular spine strongly developed (vs poorly developed); gill rakers on anterior arch robust and close-set (vs rakers thin and well separated). The description of A. hadropercularis makes it necessary to slightly modify the generic diagnosis.
Keywords: Pisces, Abyssal water, Abyssobrotula hadropercularis, Neobythitinae, Western North Pacific
Distribution.— Known from two abyssal (5179–5223 meters) locations in the Kuril-Kamchatka Trench,Western North Pacific Ocean.
Etymology.— The specific name, hadropercularis, derives from hadros (bulky) and opercularis (gill cover) in reference to the robust opercle.
Shinpei Ohashi & Jørgen G.Nielsen. 2016. A New Species of Abyssobrotula (Ophidiiformes, Ophidiidae) from the Kuril-Kamchatka Trench. Zootaxa. 4132(4): 559–566. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4132.4.7
