Paraliparis rossi Chernova & Eastman 2001

Stein, David L., 2012, Snailfishes (Family Liparidae) of the Ross Sea, Antarctica, and Closely Adjacent Waters 3285, Zootaxa 3285, pp. 1-120 : 97-98

Paraliparis rossi Chernova & Eastman 2001

Figs. 69, 70

Paraliparis rossi Chernova & Eastman 2001:98 , Figs. 4b–6; Andriashev 2003:341, Figs. 180, 181.

Holotype. USNM 361867 , female, 124 mm TL, 110 mm SL, 74°16.54' S, 171°58.08' E, R / V N.B. Palmer Cruise 97–9 Stn. 46, 30 December 1997, 465– 466 m.

Material examined. None

Expanded diagnosis (modified from Chernova & Eastman, 2001). Counts. V 54–56 (9+45–47), D 49–50, A 44, C 9 (4/5), P 20–22 (15–16+2+2–4), radials 3 (2+0+1), pc 7, pores 2–6–7–1. Ratios. HL 25.5–27.8, HW 18.6– 19.6, sn 10.4–10.9, E 5.4–5.5, io 13.6–17.1, uj 11.8–12.9, go 6.8–7.5, bd 22.7–24.5, preD 27.3–28.4, preA 34.5– 35.5, aAf 18.6–22.3, UPL 17.5–18.2, LPL 18.2–19.4, pcl 6.4% SL. In % HL: HW 70–76, sn 37.4–43, E 19.2–21.8, io 54–63, go 25.2–29.6, uj 46.3–49.3, go 25.2–29.6, bd 88–89, UPL 63–70.

Head large and low, its depth equal to its width. Snout gelatinous, projecting anteriorly, broadly rounded. Nostril tubular, its length almost 1/3 eye. Eye moderately large, not touching dorsal profile of head. Mouth horizontal, subterminal, oral cleft reaching to below anterior margin of eye. Teeth lanceolate, sharp, with weakly developed shoulders, arranged in about nine oblique rows forming bands in both jaws; symphyseal gaps absent. Symphyseal pores not closely set. Interorbital space wide, about 1/2 head length. Gill opening above pectoral fin and extending ventrally in front of 2–3 pectoral rays; gill flap large, rounded. Cephalic pores small, all about similar diameter. Pectoral fin dorsal ray below lower margin of orbit, upper lobe almost reaching anal fin origin; notch moderately deep, rudimentary rays absent; lower lobe rays elongated, fleshy, not reaching to below tip of upper lobe, ventralmost ray below posterior margin of eye. Anus anterior to vertical through gill opening, about mid-way between mandibular symphysis and anal fin origin. Dorsal and anal fins overlap caudal by about 50% its length. Pyloric caeca thick, short, tips rounded, of unequal length. Dorsal fin insertion between V 4–6. Color in life pink, in alcohol body uniformly pale, mouth gray, inside of upper lip pigmented. Gill cavity and peritoneum black, stomach pale. Snout, chin, lower surface of head, and anterior halves of dorsal and anal fins gelatinous.

Distribution. The four known specimens were collected southwest of Mawson Bank at 465– 466 m.

Comparisons. Most similar to P. macrocephalus Chernova & Eastman 2001 but differs in tooth characteristics (teeth larger, lanceolate with weak shoulders vs simple), small circumoral pore diameter (vs large and contoured), proportions, and color (pale vs grayish, darker caudally).

Comments. Chernova and Eastman (2001) present conflicting information regarding snout and eye lengths in P. rossi and P. macrocephalus . The description of P. rossi states (p. 99) that “in lateral view distance between vertical through tip [of snout] and anterior margin of eye about equal”, and this is reflected in the figure of P. rossi . However, the comparative notes (p. 101) for P. rossi state explicitly that it differs from P. macrocephalus in having a “much shorter snout (about equal to eye v. much larger, almost two eye diameters” but the proportions given for P. rossi are “snout 10.9 (10.4, 10.7), eye 5.5 (5.4, 5.5)” % SL, and “snout 43 (37.4, 41.5), eye 21.8 (19.2, 21.1)” % HL. Therefore, I conclude that both species have the snout about twice the eye diameter and the latter statement in the comparative notes is an error.

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rossi 361867 Paraliparis girdle USNM,.

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FIGURE b pectoral.