Neoconger hygomi Smith, 2024

Smith, David G., Marceniuk, Alexandre P., Rotundo, Matheus M., Carvalho, Cintia O. & Caires, Rodrigo A., 2024, A review of the genus Neoconger (Anguilliformes: Moringuidae), with the description of a new species, Zootaxa 5492 (1), pp. 109-128 : 119

Neoconger hygomi Smith n. sp. ( Figures 7 , 8 ; Table 2 )

Neoconger mucronatus (non Girard, 1858); Smith, 1989a: 60 (in part).

Study material. HOLOTYPE: ZMUC P312001 (261 mm TL), Brazil, Cotinguiba, State of Sergipe, ca. 10° 52’ S, 37° 07’ W, coll. 1857.

Diagnosis. Neoconger hygomi has more predorsal vertebrae than any other species in the genus (48 vs. maximum 45), and more preanal vertebrae (55 vs. maximum 49). The number of total vertebrae (107) is matched only by N. torrei (104–107).

Description. See genus account for general appearance. Morphometric characters in % TL: preanal 52.5, predorsal 51.7, head 10.0, depth at anus 2.1. In % HL: snout 17.7, eye 5.4, interorbital 10.8, snout-rictus 28.8, gill opening 11.9, interbranchial 18.5, pectoral fin 20.4. Meristic characters: predorsal vertebrae 48, preanal vertebrae 55, precaudal vertebrae 58, total vertebrae 107. Mandibular pores as in N. mucronatus .

Maxillary and dentary each with one row of rather large, pointed, recurved teeth.Vomer long, ending below eye, anteriorly with two rows of robust, blunt teeth (six teeth in each row) and posteriorly with four less robust teeth in one median row.

Color after many years in preservative light gray with no markings.

The only known specimen is 261 mm TL.

Distribution. The specimen was stated to come from Cotinguiba, Brazil, south of the equator and south of the so-called hump of Brazil. The precise location is uncertain. Cotinguiba refers to a small river that empties into the larger Sergipe River some 15 km from the Atlantic Ocean.

Remarks. Castro & Bonecker (2005: 8, fig. 10; 2006: 41) reported three small specimens of larval Neoconger (5.8–7.9 mm SL) from the Brazilian coast not far south of Sergipe. The specimens were too small to count the myomeres, but they are most likely N. hygomi . This suggests that the species occurs more extensively along the South Atlantic coast of Brazil.

Etymology. Named for Vilhelm Hygom, a Danish ship captain who collected oceanographic material for the Zoological Museum in Copenhagen. The name was applied to the specimen in manuscript form in the museum but never published.

Figures

FIGURE 7. Neoconger hygomi, holotype, ZMUC P312001, whole.

FIGURE 8. Neoconger hygomi, holotype, ZMUC P312001, head.