Physiculus karrerae Paulin, 1989

Pires, Alessandra M. A., Carvalho-Filho, Alfredo, Ferreira, Rômulo C. P., Viana, Danielle, Nunes, Diogo & Hazin, Fabio H. V., 2019, Review of the Brazilian species of Physiculus (Gadiformes: Moridae), with description of a new species from Saint Peter and Saint Paul Archipelago, equatorial Atlantic, Zootaxa 4671 (1), pp. 67-80 : 70

Physiculus karrerae Paulin, 1989

Table 2 and 3 .

Diagnosis. This species differs from all other Atlantic species, except P. helenaensis , P. dalwigki and P. kaupi , by the smaller scales in longitudinal series and consequently larger number (134–160 vs.70–130). From P. helenaensis , which does not have the number of scales in longitudinal series known to date, it differs by the discontinuous lateral line (vs. continuous to posterior part of body). From P. dalwigki , which has 119–135 longitudinal series of scales, it differs by the greater distance of the light organ to interventral line (8.2–16.8 Inv-af vs. 0–2.4 Inv-af). And from P. kaupi , it differs by the absence of scales on vertical fins and gular region (vs. scales present on vertical fins and gular region), according to Paulin (1989, 1990), Trunov (1991), Shcherbachev (1993), Anderson & Tweddle (2002), and our examination of vouchers of this species, and of the new species herein described.

Brief Description. Light organ large, 10.0–22.0% InV-af and placed closer to interventral line than anus; distance from interventral line to anterior margin of light organ 8.2–16.8% InV-af; distance from posterior margin of light organ to anterior margin of anus 13.3–17.6% InV-af; teeth subequal. Continuous tube of lateral line reaching beyond origin of second dorsal fin, almost to tenth second dorsal-fin ray. No scales on vertical fin membranes, gular region, tip of snout, and around nostrils. Nostrils contiguous, the anterior covered by a skin flap, the posterior open, oval, with a short anterior projection. Gill rakers long, slender, 1–3 + 7–9. Upper jaw reaching to below middle of the orbit; orbit 24–29% of head length. Dorsal-fin rays 7–8, 64–76; anal-fin rays 68–81; pectoral-fin rays 24–27; scales in longitudinal series 134–160; scales between base of first dorsal fin and lateral line 14–20; vertebrae 56–59. Color of preserved specimens: head and body brown, smaller specimens light pinkish tan on head and body; abdominal region bluish; gular region, branchiostegal membranes, lips, anterior margin of orbit, base of pectoral fin and tips of vertical fins dark brown; light organ dark brown to blackish. Color of fresh specimen: head and body uniform reddish brown; abdominal region dark bluish black often over whitish background; fins margins and lips dark brown; light organ dark brown to blackish. Maximum known size 274 mm SL.

Distribution. Tropical Atlantic Ocean, from Gulf of Mexico, Bermuda, off North Carolina, and Caribbean Sea to southern Brazil, and from Saint Helena Island, Tristan da Cunha Island, and Walvis Ridge (Eastern Atlantic). Depth range 50–800m, usually 200–500m, shallower (50–150m) waters of Tristan da Cunha ( Paulin, 1989; Edwards, 1990; Trunov, 1991; Andrew et al., 1995; Iwamoto and Cohen, 2002; Smith-Vaniz et al., 1999).