Paraliparis freeborni, Stein, David L., 2012

Stein, David L., 2012, A Review of the Snailfishes (Liparidae, Scorpaeniformes) of New Zealand, Including Descriptions of a New Genus and Sixteen New Species, Zootaxa 3588, pp. 1-54 : 25-27

Paraliparis freeborni n. sp.

Fig. 20

Holotype. NMNZ P. 040874, female, 118 mm SL, 128 mm TL, 43°37.09' S, 174°01.43' W, northeastern Chatham Rise, R/V Tangaroa, Stn. TAN 0408/045, 22 July 2004, 1218 m. NMNZ P. 040874 /1, cleared and stained right pectoral girdle.

Diagnosis. Vertebrae 66, dorsal fin rays 62, anal fin rays 52, caudal fin rays 6, pectoral fin rays 20. Teeth forming wide bands of 17–18 obliquely curved rows of up to 12 small teeth each. Chin pores small, very close together, not in a pit. Pectoral radials 2 (2+0+0), unnotched. Snout to anus about 19% SL, anus below anterior of opercular blade and upper notch rays. Predorsal length 21% SL. Upper pectoral fin lobe short, 71% HL or longer.

Description. Counts. V 66, D 62 (1+61), A 52, C 6, P 20, radials 2, pc 4. Ratios. HL 18.1% SL, HW 9.7, HD 14.2, sn 3.6, E 4.2, orbit 5.8, uj 8.0, go 3.9, UPL 12.9, LPL 9.8, bd 21.6, bdA 16.6, preD 21.4, preA 38.6, sna 18.7, ma ~16, aAf 25.8, mabd 35.6, pabd 28.8. In % HL: HW 53.7, HD 78.5, sn 19.6, E 23.4, orbit 32.2, uj 44.4, go 21.5, UPL 71.0, LPL 54.2, bd 119.2, bdA 91.6, preD 117.8, preA 213.1, sna 103.3, ma ~90, aAf 142.1, mabd 196.3, pabd 158.9.

Head small, less than 1/5 SL, its dorsal profile flat, sloping evenly downward to snout. Snout short, slightly protruding above mouth. Nostrils single, similar in size to pores, about on horizontal through middle of pupil. Mouth terminal, small, horizontal, oral cleft only reaching to below anterior margin of orbit, upper jaw reaching to below mid pupil. Teeth small canines with weak lateral shoulders, inner teeth largest, on premaxilla arranged in about 17–18 obliquely curved rows of up to 12 teeth each; dentary teeth in about 20 similar rows. Teeth in both jaws forming wide bands. Eye moderately large, about 1/4 HL, dorsal margin of orbit well below profile of head. Gill opening completely above pectoral fin, short, about equal in length to diameter of eye. Opercular flap sharply tipped, not lobate or rounded; supported by strongly dorsally curved opercular spine, its posterior end behind pectoral fin base. Pore counts 2–6–?–? owing to damage; chin pores small, round, very close together but separated by pigmented skin, distance between pm1–pm1 about 1/5–1/6 that between pm1–pm2 on each side. Other pores much larger, pale, clearly visible against blackish skin.

Pectoral fin well developed, upper ray about on a horizontal slightly below lower margin of orbit. Pectoral rays 14–15+2–3+3, upper lobe of 14 (R) –15 (L) rays, longest ray reaching posterior to below fourth or fifth dorsal fin ray, about 2/3 length of abdominal cavity. Notch deep, its rays short but fully developed, not rudimentary. Lower lobe rays clearly exserted, reaching middle of abdominal cavity and below middle of upper pectoral fin lobe. Pectoral girdle radials 2 (2+0+0), round, unnotched. Scapula with long helve, coracoid with long helve and basal notch.

Body relatively deep, evenly tapered to caudal. Vertebrae 10+56. Predorsal length a little more than 1/5 SL, first dorsal pterygiophore not bearing a ray, between vertebrae 4–5. Anal fin origin between vertebrae 12–13. Preanal fin length about 2/5 SL. Dorsal and anal fins broadest about 2/3 to 3/4 SL towards caudal. Anus below anterior part of opercular blade, on a vertical through upper pectoral fin notch ray base. Abdomen swollen, long and prominent. Pyloric caeca ventral, digitate, pointed. Hypural fused, slit not evident in radiograph. Caudal fin rays 3/3. Skin thin, translucent, easily damaged.

In alcohol, body and fins blackish, head darker. Orobranchial cavity dusky blackish, peritoneum black, stomach pale, pyloric caeca pale.

Distribution. Known only from the holotype, taken on the Chatham Rise off New Zealand at a depth of 1218 m.

Etymology. Named in honor of Michelle Freeborn, the artist who drew the figures for this and other papers and for the forthcoming guide to New Zealand marine fishes.

Comparisons. Most similar to P. trunovi Andriashev 1986 in number of pectoral radials, dorsal, anal, and pectoral fin rays and general proportions and color. The new species differs from P. trunovi in size and number of tooth rows (17–18 obliquely curved rows of up to 12 teeth each vs 40–45 rows of up to 12–15 teeth each), narrower head (10 vs 15–18% SL), more posterior anus (sna about 18% SL, below anterior of opercular blade and upper notch rays vs 13–15% SL, below preopercle), shorter predorsal length (21 vs 26–27% SL), and longer upper pectoral fin lobe (68–71 or possibly longer vs 57–58% HL), and other proportions. It is also similar to Paraliparis exilis in dorsal, anal, and pectoral fin ray counts, but that species differs from P. freeborni in number of caudal rays (8 vs 6), its much more slender body shape (bd ~15, bdA 69 vs 22 and 92% HL respectively), snout length (30 vs 20% HL), color (dense even black vs blackish translucent skin), position of the first dorsal fin ray (anterior to opercle tip vs behind it), upper pectoral fin lobe length (almost reaching end of abdominal cavity vs to about 2/3 its length), and pectoral radials (4 vs 2).

Paraliparis freeborni differs from all the Australian species having two radials in having a shorter snout (20 vs 29–39% HL), longer snout-anus distance (19 vs 13–15% SL, 103 vs 75–90% HL), and greater body depth (22 vs 16–20% SL, 119 vs 83–110% HL).

Figures

FIGURE 20. Paraliparis freeborni n. sp. Holotype. NMNZ P. 040874, 118 mm SL. A. lateral view; B. NMNZ P. 040874 / 1, right pectoral girdle.