Paraliparis devriesi Andriashev 1980

Stein, David L., 2012, Snailfishes (Family Liparidae) of the Ross Sea, Antarctica, and Closely Adjacent Waters 3285, Zootaxa 3285, pp. 1-120 : 49-50

Paraliparis devriesi Andriashev 1980

Figs. 30, 31, 32

Liparis sp. DeVries 1971:160

Paraliparis DeVriesi Andriashev in DeVries & Lin, 1977:443 (nomen nudum)

Paraliparis devriesi Andriashev 1980:150 , Fig.; Andriashev 1982c:538, Figs. 4–5; Andriashev 1986:61, Figs. 23, 24, 28; Stein & Tompkins 1989:7; Stein & Andriashev 1990:240, Fig. 14; Andriashev 2003:265, Figs. 135, 136.

Holotype. ZIN 43577, female, 170 mm SL, 7 km SW of McMurdo Stn. , 1–6 January 1974, 700 m.

Material Examined. NMNZ P.038577, female, 192 mm TL, 178 mm SL, 71°38.00' S, 176°59.30' E, between Mawson Bank and Iselin Seamount, Ross Sea, F / V San Aotea , Stn. OBS 1595A/pot 6, 1 March 2002, 875 m ; LACM 32735–1 , male, 154 mm TL, 140 mm SL, wire fish trap, McMurdo Stn . 64K, 7/8 distance from McMurdo Station to Williams Field, 46 m off Ross Ice Shelf , 28 July 1964, 500 m.

Diagnosis (modified from Andriashev 2003). V 68–72 (9–10 +58–63), C 7 (3/4), P 22–25, radials 3 (2+0+1), pores 2–6–7–1. Mouth inferior. Snout bluntly rounded and projecting. Teeth banded. Mandibular symphyseal pores very closely set in a shallow pit. Gill opening small, above pectoral fin, about pupil diameter. Head 20–23% SL, preanal fin length 33–37%. Mouth cavity pale, peritoneum black. ( Andriashev, 2003). Fresh color whitish, skin translucent, dorsal and anal fins pale pinkish, black peritoneum clearly visible through body wall. (Fig. 31).

The NMNZ specimen fits the description provided by Andriashev (2003:266) well. Therefore, only Andriashev's 2003 diagnosis is provided.

Distribution. Known only from the Ross Sea. Previous to the capture of NMNZ P.038577, the species was known only from the southwest Ross Sea near McMurdo at depths of 500 to about 900 m and temperatures below 1.9° C. Although the new record possibly extends its distribution to the entire Ross Sea, it is clearly more abundant near McMurdo.

Comparisons. This species is similar to P. monoporus Andriashev & Neelov 1979 in its general body shape, number of radials, vertebrae, and other meristic characters. It differs in having shorter, almost rudimentary, pectoral fin notch rays (vs about 1/3 lower lobe length in the latter), paired chin pores (separate vs a single pore), and longer preanal fin distance (34–37 vs 27–30% SL).

Comments. There are some discrepancies in the collection information for the holotype as given in the original publication ( Andriashev 1980) and in Andriashev 2003:266. Originally, standard length was given as 272 mm, but in 2003 it was 270 mm; the date was originally given as December 1974, but in 2003 as 1–6 January, 1974, which is the date in the ZIN fish collection records. I follow the 2003 data. Additionally and of greater importance, Andriashev (2003:266) gave different vertebral counts in his Russian [“vert. 68–76 (10+58–65)]” and English [“vert. 68–72 (9–10+58–63)”] Diagnoses. The latter data are correct (N. Chernova, pers. comm. July 2011). Furthermore, 10+65 equals 75, not 76. On page 267 he listed vertebral counts from 20 specimens identified as P. devriesi , ranging from 68–76 vertebrae, and further stated that abdominal vertebrae are “usually 10, rarely 9 or 11”. Such great variation in vertebral counts is unusual in other liparid species. These data should be checked, because it’s possible that not all the specimens included were P. devriesi . The NMNZ and LACM specimens listed above have counts of 71 and 72 respectively, so the lower count is used here.