Careproctus novaezelandiae Andriashev 1990

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 : 11-12

Careproctus novaezelandiae Andriashev 1990

Figs. 7 , 8

Careproctus novaezelandiae Andriashev 1990: 13 , fig. 3; Andriashev & Stein 1998: 34, fig. 19; Andriashev 2003: 51, figs. 19, 20.

Material Examined. Holotype. ZIN 49540, female, 87 mm SL, 100 mm TL, 48°53.3ʹ S, 178°39.2ʹ E, 20 April 1973, F/S Milogradovo, ~ 800–1000 m. Other material. NMNZ P.027141, female, 95 mm SL, 109 mm TL, 44° 41.22' S, 175° 08.46' E, east of Canterbury Bight, 19 September 1990, R/V James Cook, Stn. JCO 9015/001, 802–870 m; LACM 11085–3, male, 55 mm SL, TL unknown, 53°49.5ʹ S, 169°57.2ʹ E, USNS Eltanin, Stn. 1990, 1 January 1968, 954– 971 m; NMNZ P. 052989, male, 52 mm SL, 60 mm TL, R/V Tangaroa, Stn. TAN 1116/058, 44°46.817ʹ S, 174°08.150ʹ E, southwest Chatham Rise, 9 November 2011, 821– 822 m.

Expanded diagnosis. Counts. V 53 –55 (9–10+43–45), D 47–48, A 40–43, C 12 (1+5/5+1), P 34?–38. Ratios. HL 24–30%, HW 16.7–17.4, HD 21.4–22.3, sn 6.5–8.1, E 7.5 –8.3, orbit 9.6–10.4, uj 10.0–11.2, lj 9.8–11.2, go 4.0–6.7, UPL 18.3–20.2, LPL 12.1, md 9.9–11.3, disk 5.6–6.7, da 3.6–4.5, preD 28.3–31.3, preA 41–45, ma 18.5–21.5, aAf 19.6–23.9. In % HL: HW 63.5–72.4, sn 27.2–30.6, E 25.0 –33.3, orbit 39.4–39.9, io 36.4–39.4, uj 40.8–42.3, go 15.3–28.1, UPL 69.3–84.2, LPL 46.0, md 41.2–43.1, disk 20–24.7, preD 118.0–119.0, preA 159.8–182.0, ma 77.2–81.8, aAf 74.4–99.6, LLD 2.2–3.9.

Head large, snout blunt, lateral profile rounded. Nostril immediately anterior to orbit, with slightly raised or thickened rim. Mouth terminal. Inner teeth with distinct but small lateral lobes in adult, similar in juvenile ( NMNZ P. 052989) but lateral lobes more difficult to see. Mandibular symphyseal pores small, round, widely spaced. Cephalic pores difficult to find, 2–6–7–2. Suprabranchial pore paired, not single as previously reported ( Andriashev 2003: 52). Gill opening completely above pectoral fin base. Opercular flap distinctive, almost forming a right angle. Pectoral fin of adult unnotched, rays gradually shortening ventrally to lowest (most anterior) ray; juvenile with shallow notch; dorsal and ventral notch rays indistinct from those of upper and lower lobes. In all individuals, spacing of notch rays gradually increasing ventrally, then decreasing, determination of notch ray number somewhat arbitrary. Pectoral fins very close together. Radials 4 (3+1), R1, R2, R3 notched, interradial fenestrae 2–3.Dorsal fin origin between vertebrae 4–5, anal fin origin between vertebrae 10–12. Pleural ribs well developed, three pairs present in adult, two pair saber-like; radiograph of juvenile shows only two pair. Hypural plate single, slit.

Fresh color rosy anteriorly, head somewhat darker; black peritoneum visible through body wall; last third of body rosy black. In alcohol, body pale, orobranchial cavity black dotted. Peritoneum black; in NMNZ specimens, stomach and entire intestine densely black streaked rather than all black as stated in Andriashev (2003: 53).

Distribution. Known from only a few specimens, the range of this benthic species extends from east of the Canterbury Bight south to near Campbell Island at depths of about 800– 970 m.

Comparisons. Also in the subgenus Careproctus . See C. pellucicauda below for comparison with that species. It is also similar to the Antarctic C. catherinae Andriashev & Stein 1998 and C. parini Andriashev & Prirodina 1990 (see Andriashev & Stein 1998 for a detailed comparison).

Comments. This species was well described by Andriashev and Stein (1998) and Andriashev (2003) and the two NMNZ specimens do not differ enough from previous descriptions to merit redescription. However, they are not only the third and fourth known specimens, they are also in much better condition than the previously known specimens, allowing more and better data to be obtained about them. Therefore an expanded version of the 1998 diagnosis is provided above, including the new data. Furthermore, because of the condition of the earlier specimens, previous descriptions did not provide a full lateral view of C. novaezelandiae ; one is included here. Specimens identified as C. novaezelandiae should be compared to the full description provided by Andriashev (2003; in Russian) or by Andriashev & Stein (1998; in English). Note that the number of interradial fenestrae is given by Andriashev (2003:52) in his text as three, but the accompanying figure (ibid., fig. 19) shows only two.

Figures

FIGURE 7. Careproctus novaezelandiae Andriashev 1990. NMNZ P. 027141, 95 mm SL. A. lateral view; B. pectoral girdle of holotype ZIN 49540, from Andriashev 1990, fig. 3.