Meteoria pauciradiatus ( Nielsen, 1997 )

Nielsen, Jørgen G., 2016, Revision of the genera Meteoria and Parasciadonus (Bythitidae) with a new Atlantic, abyssal species of Meteoria, Cybium 40 (3), pp. 215-223 : 220-221

Meteoria pauciradiatus ( Nielsen, 1997)

(Tab. II, Figs 1 , 7 )

Parasciadonus pauciradiatus Nielsen, 1997: 79 (type locality off New Caledonia).

Parasciadonus pauciradiatus : Nielsen et al., 1999: 141.

Material examined

Holotype. – MNHN 1994-767 , SL 47 mm, female, off New Caledonia, 20°18.09’S, 167°17.7’E, BIOCAL, R / V Jean Charcot , st. DS 14, epibenthic dredge, 3680-3700 m,

13 Aug. 1985.

Remarks

As a consequence of the description of Meteoria longidorsalis (presented above) it became evident that Parasciadonus pauciradiatus fits better into the genus Meteoria than into the genus Parasciadonus . This is clearly shown in table II especially by many meristic but also by morphometric characters.

Diagnosis

Meteoria pauciradiatus is long and slender with slightly protruding lower jaw and oblique mouth cleft. Head broad and depressed. Palatines edentate. Eyes small and deep-set. Dorsal fin rays 47; origin of dorsal fin well behind midpoint of fish; predorsal length 62% SL. Origin of anal fin below dorsal fin ray no. 11 and below vertebra no. 33. Pectoral peduncle short, higher than long. Pelvic fins absent. Anterior gill arch with minute rakers and filaments.

Description

The principal meristic and morphometric characters are shown in table II. Body elongate and compressed. Skin loose, scaleless and transparent. Head broad and depressed. Mouth opening oblique. Lower jaw slightly protruding. Eyes small, deep-set and situated posterior to a line through end of upper jaw. Nostrils midway between eyes and upper lip. No opercular spine. Dorsal fin origin well behind midpoint of fish. Base of anal fin less than one third of SL. Anterior gill arch with ten minute rakers and a few, minute gill filaments, second arch with small rakers and filaments, third and fourth arches with small rakers and well developed filaments and fifth arch with a few small rakers. Pseudobranchial filaments not observed.

Gonads. – The 10 mm long ovaries (21% SL) extended with 20-25 fertilized eggs, 1-1.5 mm in diameter. Urogenital opening covered ventrally by a small genital hood.

Axial skeleton (from radiographs). – Number of precaudal vertebrae 34. Anterior neural spine equal in length to the following spines. Parapophyses developed only on the posterior three precaudal vertebrae. Ribs absent. Centrum of posterior precaudal vertebra twice as high as long.

Dentition. – Teeth very small. Premaxillaries and dentaries with 2-3 tooth rows anteriorly and one row posteriorly. Vomer with 10-12 teeth in one row. Palatines edentate.

Otolith. – Partly dissolved; less than 1 mm in length.

Coloration. – General colour yellowish without pigmentation, except for black eyes.

Distribution

Meteoria pauciradiatus is known from one specimen caught off New Caledonia at 3680-3700 m in an epibenthic sledge .

Comparisons

Meteoria pauciradiatus is most similar to M. longidorsalis (see above).

Figures

Figure 1. – Records of species of Meteoria and Parasciadonus.

Figure 7. – Meteoria pauciradiatus, MNHN 1994-767, holotype, female, SL 47 mm. A: Drawing; B: Photo after 30 years of preservation.