Pachycara alepidotum

description

Description. Counts and measurements, holotype first followed in parentheses by range of variation in paratypes: vertebrae 25 + 67 = 92 (25 – 26 + 67 – 69 = 92 – 95); D 87 (87 – 90); A 67 (67 – 70); C 9 (8 – 9); P 18 (18); pelv. 2 (2); vomerine teeth 2 (2 – 3); palatine teeth 4 + 4 (4 – 6 + 3 – 5); gill rakers 1 + 14 (1 – 2 + 12 – 16 = 13 – 18); branchiostegal rays 6 (6); pseudobranch filaments 4 (4). Following measurements in percent SL: head length 17.8 (16.3 – 17.8); head width 10.9 (9.6 – 11.1); head depth 11.1 (8.8 – 10.7); pectoral fin length 10.9 (9.4 – 12.5); predorsal length 20.0 (18.5 – 23.9); preanal length 45.3 (44.8 – 47.5); body depth 12.1 (10.6 – 12.3); gill slit length 6.5 (5.4 – 6.1); caudal fin length 7.1 (4.6 – 7.0). Following measurements in percent HL: head width 61.6 (55.1 – 67.5); head depth 62.3 (53.7 – 63.9); upper jaw length 56.1 (36.0 – 51.8); pectoral fin length 61.6 (57.4 – 76.5); snout length 22.7 (20.8 – 24.4); eye diameter 17.9 (16.2 – 19.9); gill slit length 36.4 (33.2 – 36.6); interorbital width 9.3 (8.9 – 12.4); interpupillary width 29.1 (29.3 – 35.9); pelvic fin length 13.3 (10.8 – 17.6). Pectoral base / length ratio: 39.4 (36.7 – 50.2). Head ovo

Studies on the Zoarcidae (Teleostei: Perciformes) of the southern hemisphere. IX. A new species of Pachycara from the southwestern Atlantic

diagnosis

Diagnosis. A species of Pachycara as defined by Anderson (1989, 1994) with the following combination of characters: scales and ventral lateral line absent; caudal vertebrae 67 – 69; gill rakers on upper limb 1 – 2. A

Studies on the Zoarcidae (Teleostei: Perciformes) of the southern hemisphere. IX. A new species of Pachycara from the southwestern Atlantic

discussion

Remarks. The single trawl­caught specimen (MNRJ 27754) was taken in a Great Opening Vertical (GOV) net, mouth size measuring 36 x 47 m. The bottom temperature at 900 m was 3.4 ° C. The trap­caught specimens were collected from galvanized circular crab pots baited with fish. The benthic fauna was diverse in deep­sea corals, echinoderms, mollusks and crustaceans. Fishes observed at and near the trap locations were hag fish (Eptatretus menezesi Mincarone), sharpnose sevengill shark (Heptranchias perlo (Bonnaterre), freckled catshark (Scyliorhinus haeckelii (Miranda Ribeiro), dogfish (Squalus sp.), an undescribed Conger, dragonfish (Idiacanthus atlanticus Brauer), Marini’s grenadier (Caelorinchus marinii Hubbs), Atlantic grenadier (Nezumia aequalis (Günther), common fangtooth (Anoplogaster cornuta (Valenciennes), banded yellowfish (Centriscops humerosus (Richardson), sculpin (Cottunculus granulosus Karrer), tilefish (Lopholatilus villarii Miranda Ribeiro), and corocoro grunt (Orthopristis ruber (Cuvier).

Studies on the Zoarcidae (Teleostei: Perciformes) of the southern hemisphere. IX. A new species of Pachycara from the southwestern Atlantic

distribution

Distribution. Southern Brazil, from Espírito Santo to Rio Grande do Sul, in 788 – 910 m.

Studies on the Zoarcidae (Teleostei: Perciformes) of the southern hemisphere. IX. A new species of Pachycara from the southwestern Atlantic