Seleniolycus laevifasciatus ( Torno, Tomo and Marschoff, 1977 )

M. Eric Anderson, 2006, Studies on the Zoarcidae of the southern hemisphere. X. New records from western Antarctica., Zootaxa 1110, pp. 1-15 : 12-13

Seleniolycus laevifasciatus ( Torno, Tomo and Marschoff, 1977)

Oidiphorus laevifasciatus Torno, Tomo and Marschoff, 1977: 3 , text figs. (type locality: South Sandwich Islands ).

Seleniolycus laevifasciatus : Anderson, 1988: 68, figs. 7, 8C, 913; Anderson, 1990b: 275, fig. 23.

Material examined. Falkland Rise, No. of South Georgia : USNM 356641 (1; 176 mm SL), 51°02.2'S, 42°47.8'W, 1509-1525 m, ISLAS ORCADAS coll. UMO 6, 9 May 1975, H. H. DeWitt.

Diagnosis. Placed in a monotypic genus, this species is distinguised from all other zoarcids by the following combination of characters: suborbital bones 6, forming a circle under eye; two postorbital pores; seven preoperculomandibular pores; flesh gelatinous; lateral line mediolateral; gill slit extending to mid-pectoral base; scales and pelvic fins absent; pseudobranch, pyloric caeca, vomerine and palatine teeth present; vertebrae 22-24 + 52-57 = 74-80; P 11-13.

Description. Vertebrae 22 + 52 = 74; D 69; A 53; P 12; C 9; pelvics absent; branchiostegal rays 6; gill rakers 0 + 15; vomerine teeth 20; palatine teeth 25/30; pseudobranch filaments 2; pyloric caeca 2. Following proportions as percent SL: head length 20.2; head width 13.9; head depth 14.5; predorsal length 20.8; preanal length 48.0; pectoral base depth 4.6; pectoral-fin length 9.8; body depth 12.3; gill slit length 5.3. Following proportions as percent HL: head width 68.7; head depth 71.8; upper jaw length 49.6; snout length 23.4; eye diameter 18.0; gill slit length 26.2; pectoral-fin length 48.7; interorbital width 10.4; interpupillary width 37.4; caudal-fin length 31.0. Pectoral base/ length ratio 46.8.

No variation in head pore pattern from that reported by Anderson (1988): preoperculomandibulars 7; suborbitals 5; postorbitals 2; supraorbitals (nasals) 2; occipitals and interorbital absent. Caudal fin with two epural, four upper hypural and three lower hypural rays. Dorsal-fin origin associated with vertebra 2, with no free pterygiophores. Anal-fin origin associated with first caudal vertebra, with no pterygiophores inserted anterior to its haemal spine. Lateral line mediolateral, difficult to trace. Gill slit extending ventrally to mid-pectoral base.

Remarks. Originally described from a single specimen, I redescribed this species from 23 specimens from near the type locality in the Scotia Sea ( Anderson, 1988). Subsequently specimens were taken on Banzare Bank ( Anderson, 1994). The present specimen was taken north of the axis of the Antarctic Convergence, but at its depth of capture the area should still be considered Subantarctic (sensu Anderson 1990a).