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| Hydrolagus erithacus
Walovich, Ebert & Kemper, 2017
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Abstract
A new species of chimaerid, Hydrolagus erithacus sp. nov., is described from nine specimens collected from the southeast Atlantic and southwest Indian oceans from depths of 470–1,000 meters. This species is distinguished from all other Hydrolagus species based on the following characteristics: head bulky, relatively large, followed by stocky body; head and body height from about pectoral fin origin to pelvic fin origin similar, then tapering rapidly to filamentous tail; first dorsal fin spine height about equal to, or slightly less than first dorsal fin apex height; second dorsal fin up to 81% of total body length and uniform in height; trifurcate claspers forked for approximately 20% of total length; robust frontal tenaculum nearly uniform in width, prepelvic tenaculae with five to seven medial spines, and a uniform black coloration with robust, non-deciduous skin. Comparison of mitochondrial NADH2 gene sequences with other morphologically similar Hydrolagus species suggests that H. erithacus is a distinct species.
Keywords: Pisces, Chimaera, ghost shark, taxonomy, NADH2 gene
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| FIGURE 1. Photograph of the Hydrolagus erithacus holotype, SAIAB 200578, mature male, 1290 mm TL, 790 mm BDL. Scale bar = 5 cm. |
Hydrolagus erithacus sp. nov
Common Name: Robin’s Ghostshark
Hydrolagus sp. nov. (Big black chimaera): Compagno 1999: 120.
Etymology. The species name erithacus derives from the avian genus of the robin (Aves: Passeriformes: Muscicapidae: Erithacus Cuvier, 1800). Named after Robin Leslie of South African Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF), a fanatic birder, in recognition of his help and support on this project, and his overall contribution to Chondrichthyan research in southern Africa.
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| Kristin Walovich holds the 50th described species of ghost shark, Hydrolagus erithacus, on record. The animal's nose is usually pointy, but it became crooked during its preservation. |
Kristin A. Walovich, David A. Ebert and Jenny M. Kemper. 2017. Hydrolagus erithacus sp. nov. (Chimaeriformes: Chimaeridae), A New Species of Chimaerid from the southeastern Atlantic and southwestern Indian oceans. Zootaxa. 4226(4); 509–520. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4226.4.4
A new species of chimaerid, Hydrolagus erithacus sp. nov., is described from nine specimens collected from the southeast Atlantic and southwest Indian oceans from depths of 470–1,000 meters.
Smile! New Bucktoothed Ghost Shark Species Discovered
https://shar.es/192FtT via @LiveScience
