Histiobranchus cf. australis (Regan 1913)

Melo, Marcelo R. S., Nunan, Gustavo W. A., Braga, Adriana C. & Costa, Paulo A. S., 2009, The deep-sea Anguilliformes and Saccopharyngiformes (Teleostei: Elopomorpha) collected on the Brazilian continental slope, between 11 and 23 S, Zootaxa 2234, pp. 1-20 : 13

Histiobranchus cf. australis (Regan 1913)

( Fig. 3 L)

Material examined. Three specimens, 448.0–559.0 mm TL: USU 0 1303 (1, 559.0 mm, x-rayed), MD, 38 CP 65; UF 231763 (2, 448.0–542.0 mm, x-rayed), R/V Gllis, off St. Paul Rocks, 0 5o 03’ N, 20o 48’ W, 2784 m.

Distribution. Histiobranchus australis is being recorded by the first time in the WSA. It was described from the western Indian and eastern South Atlantic Oceans (46º46’ S, 45º31’ E, 48º06’S, 10º05’ W), and is also known from the East Indian and western South Pacific Oceans.

Remarks. USU 0 1303 was reported by Séret and Andreata (1992) as Haptenchelys texis . The specimen is poorly preserved, lacking skin, dorsal- and anal-fin rays, and infraorbital bones, and the musculature is disintegrating. The bones have also suffered from decalcification, making counts of vertebrae on an x-ray very difficult. The number of vertebrae seems to fit with H. australis : total vertebra ca. 135, precaudal vertebra equal to 60 ( Karmovskaya & Merrett 1998). Additional material collected in Northern Brazil confirms the existence of H. australis in adjacent waters.

Figures

FIGURE 3. (A) Nemichthys scolopaceus (MNRJ 26839, 623.0 mm); (B) Hoplunnis similis (USU 0 1327, 305.0 mm); (C) Nettastoma melanura (MNRJ 26820, 637.0 mm); (D) Venefica cf. procera (MNRJ 26799, 640.0 mm); (E) Venefica sp. 1 (MNRJ 26808, 992.0 mm); (F) Venefica sp. 2 (MNRJ 26809, 494.0 mm); (G) Serrivomer schmidti (MNRJ 26842, 423.0 mm); (H) Stemonidium hypomelas (MNRJ 26838, 267.0 mm); (I) Atractodenchelys phrix (MNRJ 26829, 300.0 mm); (J) Diastobranchus capensis (MNRJ 26783, 642.0 mm); (K) Dysommina rugosa (MNRJ 27126, 242.0 mm); (L) Histiobranchus cf. australis (USU 0 1303, 559.0 mm).