Careproctus inflexidens Andriashev & Stein 1998

Stein, David L., 2012, Snailfishes (Family Liparidae) of the Ross Sea, Antarctica, and Closely Adjacent Waters 3285, Zootaxa 3285, pp. 1-120 : 17

Careproctus inflexidens Andriashev & Stein 1998

Figs. 6, 7

Careproctus inflexidens Andriashev & Stein 1998:26 , Fig. 26; Andriashev 2003:127, Figs. 63, 64.

Holotype. LACM 11142–1 , female, 220 mm TL, 200 mm SL, 75°52' S, 168°53' W, USNS Eltanin, Stn. 2091, 3 Feb. 1968, 2049– 2089 m.

Material examined. Holotype.

Expanded diagnosis. Counts. V 64 (8+56), D 60, A 54, C 10 (1+4/4+1), P 26 (16+3+7), radials 4 (3+1), gr 6, pc 6, pores 2–6–7–1. Ratios. HL 16.5, HW ~14.5, sn 5.2, E 3.3, orbit 5.5, io 7.0, uj 6.0, go 3.0, md 7.7, disk 6.5, da 5.9, bd 18.5, preD 23.5, preA 33.3, sna 22.5, ma 20.0, aAf 10.8, UPL 12.0, LPL ~19, pcl 4.0–7.5% SL. In % HL: HW 89.5, sn 31, E 19.7, orbit 34.1, io 42, go 18.0, disk 39.4, ma 126.6, da 35.5, aAf 66.9, UPL 73, LPL 120.4.

Head short, broad, its width and depth similar, slightly less than its length. Snout blunt, short, not projecting. Nostril with appearance of a large pore without raised rim. Mouth terminal, horizontal, upper jaw extending to below anterior margin of eye. Teeth simple, strong, recurved closely set canines forming a broad band of oblique rows; symphyseal gaps absent in both jaws. Lower jaw teeth larger, blunter. Eye and orbit small. Gill opening short, entirely above pectoral fin base. Pectoral fin upper lobe deeply notched, rudimentary rays absent, lower lobe longer than upper, its ventralmost ray far forward, below front of eye. Radials irregularly rounded; scapula without helve, blade with posterior notch; coracoid with long slender helve, basal notch absent. Disk large, segments and margin well developed, distinctly wider than long, its length more than 1/3 HL. Anus distant from posterior margin of disk. Two pair of pleural ribs present. Hypural plate fused, unslit. Body dark dusky or blackish anteriorly, opaque pinkish-white caudally; orobranchial cavity dusky, peritoneum black, stomach and caeca pale.

Distribution. Known from a single specimen taken by bottom trawl in the northeastern Ross Sea at 2049–2089 m.

Comparisons. This species’ large number of vertebrae (64), dorsal (60), and anal fin (54) rays and its short head (16.5% SL) distinguish it from most Southern Ocean Careproctus (V 46–54, D 41–48, A 33–45, HL 28–32% SL). It is similar to the South African C. albescens Barnard 1927 , but differs in many characters including fewer pectoral fin rays (26 vs 33–35), hypural plate structure (undivided vs divided), pectoral radials (round, unnotched vs notched), and peritoneum color (black vs brown). Its short head is similar to C. leptorhinus Andriashev & Stein 1998 from off Burdwood Bank, but it differs in tooth shape (simple vs trilobed), radials (four unnotched vs two, R1 notched) and other characters.