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Leucicorus lentibus n. sp. Table 1, Figs. 1C, 2D, 3G, 5 Holotype (and only specimen): ZMUC P 771812, 170 mm SL, female, off Hawaiʽi, 20°01’N, 154°05W, R / V Vityaz, cr. 29, st. 4313, Sigsbee trawl, 5385–5390 m, 1 Feb. 1959. Diagnosis. Dorsal fin with 105 rays, anal fin with 87 rays and 64 (14+50) vertebrae. Transversal scale rows above origin of anal fin 20 (up to 27 rows in presumable life photographs). Reduced squamation on occiput, preopercle and opercle. Diameter of black eye 13% head length with large eye lens of 57% of black eye diameter. Otolith with flat inner and convex outer face; OL:OH = 1.73. Comparison. L. lentibus seems most similar to L. atlanticus with the reduced head squamation and a comparable number of transversal scale rows; however, it differs from L. atlanticus by having more dorsal- (105 vs. 82–93) and anal-fin rays (87 vs. 68–80) and a more slender otolith (OL:OH = 1.73 vs 1.2–1.55). It differs from L. lusciosus by having reduced head squamation, fewer transversal scale rows (20 vs. 35–40) and fewer dorsal- (105 vs. 110–114) and anal-fin (87 vs. 96–99) rays. It differs from L. gerringerae for its reduced head squamation, and by having more dorsal- (105 vs 97) and anal-fin (87 vs 73–80) rays and the flat inner and convex outer face of the otolith (vs convex inner face and slightly convex to flat outer face). It differs from all the three congeners in the presence of a large eye lens (57% of black eye vs 0–10%). Description. The principal meristic and morphometric characters are shown in Table 1. Body elongate and compressed with tapering tail; head broad and flat with a slight concavity above the eyes; head bones thin and fragile. Diameter of black eye 13% head length; the distinct, light, oval lens is 57 % the diameter of the black eye. Opercular spine thin and broadly pointed. Scales and scale pockets show a fully scaled body; 20 transversal scale rows from anal-fin origin; head with reduced squamation on occiput, preopercle and opercle. Dorsal-fin origin above anterior part of pectoral fin; anal-fin origin distinctly closer to tip of snout than to base of caudal fin; pelvic fins each with two tightly joined rays. Mouth terminal with upper jaw ending below posterior part of orbit. Anterior gill arch with four knob-like rakers on upper branch, one long raker in the angle and lower branch with nine long and four knob-like rakers; longest gill raker 3–4 times the length of the longest gill filament; two pseudobranchial filaments. After sixty-two years of preservation in alcohol the specimen is brownish grey with blue eye balls. Axial skeleton (based on radiographs). Precaudal vertebrae 14, all with pointed neural spines. Anterior neural spine half the length of the second one. The six anterior neural spines slightly depressed. Basis of neural spines 4–14 enlarged. Parapophyses on precaudal vertebrae 8–14. Pleural ribs on precaudal vertebrae 3–14. Epineurals not observed. Dentition.All dentigerous bones with many close-set, pointed teeth in irregular rows. Premaxillae and dentaries with teeth along their full length. Vomer boomerang-shaped. Palatines spindle-shaped. A single long and narrow basibranchial tooth patch. Otolith (Fig. 3G). Large otolith of 8.2 mm in length (holotype) with slender, droplet-like shape (otolith length: height = 1.73). Ventral rim shallow; dorsal rim with broad, rounded, predorsal angle; anterior rim broadly rounded; posterior tip slightly tapering, rounded. Inner face nearly flat; outer face convex; otolith height: thickness = 1.9. Sulcus straight, shallow, narrow, with single well-defined colliculum; otolith length: sulcus length = 2.18; sulcus length: height = 4.4. Sulcus connected to the anterior-dorsal rim via collicular crest. Ventral furrow very close to ventral rim of otolith; dorsal depression small. Distribution (Fig. 5). Known from the holotype caught in a bottom working trawl at a depth 5385–5390 m off Hawaii. Etymology. From lentibus (Latin) = lens bearing, referring to the presence of a large eye lens.

Key to species of Leucicorus 1a Extensive squamation on opercle, preopercle and occiput; transversal scale rows ���25; inner face of otolith more strongly convex than outer face.................................................................................... 2 1b Reduced squamation on opercle, preopercle and occiput; transversal scale rows ���21 (not considering ROV live photographs); inner face of otolith nearly flat, outer face distinctly convex................................................... 3 2a Dorsal fin rays 110���114; anal fin rays 96���99; vertebrae 68���69; transversal scale rows 35���40.................. lusciosus 2b Dorsal fin rays 97; anal fin rays 73���80; vertebrae 62; transversal scale rows 25...................... gerringerae n. sp. 3a Dorsal fin rays 88���94; anal fin rays 68���80; no eye lens or lens smaller than 10% of black eye; OL:OH = 1.2���1.55.................................................................................................... atlanticus 3b Dorsal fin rays 105; anal fin rays 87; lens at least 50 % of black eye; OL:OH = 1.73..................... lentibus n. sp., Published as part of Schwarzhans, Werner W., Nielsen, J��rgen G. & Mundy, Bruce C., 2022, Revision of the circumglobal deep-sea genus Leucicorus (Teleostei, Ophidiidae) with two new species, pp. 541-558 in Zootaxa 5100 (4) on page 543, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5100.4.5, http://zenodo.org/record/6224876

Leucicorus Garman, 1899 Leucicorus Garman, 1899: 146 (type species by monotypy Leucicorus lusciosus Garman, 1899). Leucicorus: Nielsen 1974: 348; Nielsen 1975: 106; Nielsen et al. 1999: 73. Diagnosis. Elongate ophidiid with tapering tail. Scales on body, present or reduced on head. Median fins confluent. Pelvic fins with two rays in each. Mouth terminal. Infraorbital bones fragile and much expanded, almost covering maxillaries. Orbit large, equal in length to snout. Eye large, bulged, eye lens degenerated, except large in L. lentibus n. sp. Infraorbital, supraorbital and preopercular head canals extremely widened, covered with skin (when preserved), containing small pores. Opercular spine pointed, but weak. Posttemporal with a posterior, flap-like extension reaching beyond the opercle, bearing posterior part of supraorbital canal. Anterior nostril midway between upper lip and posterior nostril. Teeth small and pointed in irregular rows. No fangs. A single median basibranchial tooth-plate. 17���22 long gill rakers., Published as part of Schwarzhans, Werner W., Nielsen, J��rgen G. & Mundy, Bruce C., 2022, Revision of the circumglobal deep-sea genus Leucicorus (Teleostei, Ophidiidae) with two new species, pp. 541-558 in Zootaxa 5100 (4) on page 542, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5100.4.5, http://zenodo.org/record/6224876, {"references":["Garman, S. (1899) The fishes. Memoirs of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, 24, 1 - 431.","Nielsen, J. G. (1974) List of ophidioid fishes from the 14 th cruise of the \" Akademik Kurchatov \" with a new species of Aphyonus. Trudy Instituta Okeanologii, 100, 348 - 353. [translation No. 72 from NOAA, Washington, D. C.]","Nielsen, J. G. (1975) A review of the oviparous ophidioid fishes of the genus Leucicorus, with description of a new Atlantic species. Trudy Instituta Okeanologii, 101, 106 - 123. [translation No. 74 from NOAA, Washington, D. C.]","Nielsen, J. G., Cohen, D. M., Markle, D. F. & Robins, C. R. (1999) Ophidiiform fishes of the world (order Ophidiiformes). FAO species catalogue, 18, 1 - 178."]}

Leucicorus gerringerae n.sp. Table 1, Figs. 1B, 2B, 3E–F, 5 Leucicorus atlanticus: Sêret & Andreata 1992: 92; Mincarone et al. 2008: 57. Material examined (2 specimens, SL 214–235 mm). Holotype: VIMS 42888, 235 mm SL, male, Silver Abyssal Plain, 23°20–22.5’ N, 68°23–29.4’ W, R / V Columbus Iselin, cr. CI-8113, st. D018, 45’ OT, 5303–5387 m, 25 May 1981. Paratype: MNRJ 52795, male, 214 mm SL, off Brazil, 21°39’S, 31°47’W, R / V Marion Dufresne, cr. MD-55, st. 26 CP 44, beam trawl, 4500–4510 m, 18 May 1987. Diagnosis. Dorsal fin with 97 rays, anal fin with 73–80 rays and 62 (13–14 + 48–49) vertebrae. Head squamation extensive on opercle, preopercle and occiput. 25 scales transversely across trunk above the anal-fin origin. Bluish eyes large (15–19% HL), without lens. Otolith elongate (OL:OH = 1.62), with inner and outer faces equally convex. C omparison. L. gerringerae is most similar to L. lusciosus with the extensive head squamation; however, it differs from L. lusciosus by having fewer dorsal-fin (97 vs. 110–114) and anal-fin (73–80 vs. 87–99) rays, larger head scales (2.0– 2.5 mm vs ~ 1 mm) and fewer scales across trunk above beginning of anal fin (25 vs. 35–40). It differs from L. lentibus by having an extensive head squamation, fewer rays in dorsal (82–94 vs. 105) and anal (73–80 vs. 87) fins and by lacking an eye lens. It differs from the sympatric L. atlanticus in having complete head squamation (vs reduced on occiput), higher number of dorsal-fin rays (97 vs 82–93), larger eye size (15–19% HL vs 10–13.5% HL except one eye in one case 18.4% HL), and the more elongate otolith (OL:OH = 1.62) with equally convex inner and outer faces (vs roundish otolith, OL:OH = 1.2–1.55, with flat inner face and strongly convex outer face). Description. The principal meristic and morphometric characters are shown in Table 1. The description is based on the holotype; characters in which the paratype differ from the holotype are given in brackets. Body elongate and compressed with tapering tail; head broad with dorsal profile straight except for a slight concavity above eyes; head bones thin and fragile. Anterior nostril placed midway between upper lip and posterior nostril and the larger posterior nostril close to orbit. Orbit equal in length to snout. Black eye about 15 to 19% of HL; no eye lens discernible. Opercular spine thin and pointed. Body fully scaled, with 25 scale rows transversely above beginning of anal fin, head with scales on opercle, preopercle and occiput. Dorsal-fin origin above anterior part of pectoral fin; anal-fin origin below dorsal fin ray 21(19), much closer to tip of snout than to base of caudal fin and with a preanal length ca. 40% SL. Pelvic fins each with two tightly joined rays. Pectoral fins placed on midbody. Mouth terminal; upper jaw ends below posterior edge of orbit; supramaxilla well developed. Anterior gill arch with four knob-like and one long raker on upper branch, one long raker in the angle between upper and lower branches and lower branch with nine(7) long and five(6) knob-like rakers; longest gill raker almost three times as long as longest gill filament. 2–4 pseudobranchial filaments. The color is brownish grey except for the bluish eyes. Axial skeleton (based on radiographs). Precaudal vertebrae 14(13) all with pointed neural spine tips. Anterior neural spine half the length of second spine whereafter the neural spines decrease in length. Six anterior neural spines somewhat depressed. Bases of neural spines 5–14(5–13) enlarged. Parapophyses on precaudal vertebrae 5–14(4–13). Pleural ribs on precaudal vertebrae 3–13(2–12). Epineurals not observed. Dentition. All dentigerous bones with many, small and pointed teeth arranged in irregular rows. Dentaries and premaxillae with teeth along their entire length with decreasing rows posteriad. Palatines with spindle shaped dentition and vomer ‘boomerang’-shaped with rather few teeth. One median basibranchial tooth patch, 6.5 mm long, 2.5 mm broad anteriorly and 0.8 mm broad posteriorly, with dentition similar to that on dentaries. Otolith (Fig 3E–F). Large otoliths up to 10.5 mm in length (holotype) with slender, droplet-like shape (otolith length: height = 1.62). Ventral rim shallow; dorsal rim with broad, obtuse, predorsal angle; anterior rim broadly rounded; posterior tip slightly tapering. Inner face about as convex as outer face; otolith height: thickness = 2.3. Sulcus slightly inclined, shallow, narrow, with single well-defined colliculum; otolith length: sulcus length = 2.28– 2.88; sulcus length: height = 3.3–4.5. Sulcus connected to anterior-dorsal rim via indistinct channel. Ventral furrow variably expressed; no distinct dorsal depression. Distribution (Fig. 5). Known from two localities (north of the Bahama Isl. and west of Rio de Janeiro) caught abyssally (4500 to 5303 m). Etymology. The species is named after Dr. Mackenzie Gerringer (State University of New York at Geneseo, USA) for her contribution to the knowledge of the biology of hadal fishes.

Leucicorus lusciosus Garman, 1899 Table 1, Figs. 1D���E, 2A, 3J���K, 5 Leucicorus lusciosus Garman, 1899: 146. Leucicorus lusciosus: Grey 1956: 218; Nielsen 1975: 109. Material examined (2 specimens, SL 225���245 mm and a radiograph of SIO 81���148). Holotype: MCZ 28680, 245 mm SL, male, eastern tropical Pacific, 14 �� 46���N, 98��40���W, R / V Albatross, st. 3415, beam trawl, 3436 m, 10 Apr. 1891. Non-types: ZMUC P 771814, 225 mm SL, female, off Peru, 17��42���S, 78��59���W, R / V Akademik Kurchatov, st. 271, Sigsbee trawl, 2710���3080 m, 20 Dec. 1968. Radiograph and otolith of SIO 81���148, 251 + mm SL, female, Panama Basin, 5.175��N, 81��68���W, R / V Melville, 40��� otter trawl, PA 3, 3900���4000 m, 31 Mar. 1931. Diagnosis. Dorsal-fin rays 110���114 and anal-fin rays 87���99; total vertebrae 68���69. Extensive squamation on opercle, preopercle and occiput; 35 to 40 transversal scale rows on trunk above beginning of anal fin. Otolith elongate (OL:OH = 1.65���1.75), with inner face more strongly convex than outer face. Comparison. L. lusciosus is most similar to L. gerringerae, due to the extensive squamation on head; however, it differs from L. gerringerae by having more dorsal- (110���114 vs. 97) and anal-fin (96���99 vs. 73���80) rays, smaller scales on head (~ 1 mm vs 2.0��� 2.5 mm) and more scale rows on trunk above anal-fin origin (35���40 vs. 24���25). It differs from both L. atlanticus and L. lentibus by the extensive head squamation and a high number of transversal scale rows above origin of anal fin. Description. The principal meristic and morphometric characters are shown in Table 1. Body elongate and compressed with tapering tail; head broad with dorsal profile straight except for a slight concavity above eyes; head bones thin and fragile. Anterior nostril placed midway between upper lip and posterior nostril and the larger posterior nostril close to orbit. Orbit equal in length of snout; lens poorly developed or absent. Opercular spine thin and pointed. Body fully scaled, head with scales on opercle, preopercle and occiput. Pelvic fins each with two tightly joined rays. Pectoral fins placed on midbody. Mouth terminal; upper jaw ends below posterior edge of orbit; supramaxilla well developed. Anterior gill arch with 9���10 long developed and eight knob-like rakers. 1���2 pseudobranchial filaments. Otolith (Fig 3J���K). Large otoliths up to 11.4 mm in length with slender, droplet-like shape (OL:OH = 1.65��� 1.75). Ventral rim shallow; dorsal rim higher, broadly rounded, with obtuse pre- to mediodorsal angle; anterior rim broadly rounded; posterior tip slightly tapering. Inner face convex, outer face flat to slightly convex; otolith height: thickness = 2.0���2.6. Sulcus straight, shallow, narrow, with single well-defined colliculum; otolith length: sulcus length = 1.80���1.9; sulcus length: height = 3.6���4.3. Sulcus not connected to anterior-dorsal rim. Ventral furrow well expressed, close to ventral otolith rim; indistinct dorsal depression. Distribution (Fig. 5). Known from three localities in the East Pacific Ocean. Caught in bottom trawls at 2710��� 4000 meters. Leucicorus lusciosus is the only species in the genus caught at bathyal depth. Two sightings by ROV from the NOAA ship Okeanos Explorer campaign south of Hawaii and near the southern Line Islands may also belong to L. lusciosus (see below)., Published as part of Schwarzhans, Werner W., Nielsen, J��rgen G. & Mundy, Bruce C., 2022, Revision of the circumglobal deep-sea genus Leucicorus (Teleostei, Ophidiidae) with two new species, pp. 541-558 in Zootaxa 5100 (4) on page 548, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5100.4.5, http://zenodo.org/record/6224876, {"references":["Garman, S. (1899) The fishes. Memoirs of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, 24, 1 - 431.","Grey, M. (1956) The distribution of fishes found below a depth of 2000 meters. Fieldiana: Zoology, 36 (2), 1 - 337.","Nielsen, J. G. (1975) A review of the oviparous ophidioid fishes of the genus Leucicorus, with description of a new Atlantic species. Trudy Instituta Okeanologii, 101, 106 - 123. [translation No. 74 from NOAA, Washington, D. C.]"]}

The cuskeel genus Neobythites (Ophidiidae) is recorded for the first time from the Solomon Sea, SW Pacific, and a new species, N. solomonensis n. sp., is described based on five specimens (SL 137-166 mm) caught at 498-839 m depth in the eastern Solomon Sea. The new species is characterized by having two spines on hind margin of preoperculum, a distinct lateral body stripe and dark-brown or grey dorsal-fin margin. The most similar species is N. somaliaensis Nielsen, 1995, of which 14 specimens are compared. Neobythites solomonensis n. sp. differs from the latter in the following characters (N. somaliaensis in brackets): total vertebrae 58-61 (61-64), developed gill rakers 12-14 (9-11), orbit length 4.0-4.9 (5.0-6.1) in % SL, longest gill filament on anterior arch 4.6-5.3 (11.0-14.0) in % head length and presence (absence) of body stripe. The significance of studying colour patterns in the speciose genus Neobythites (55 valid species) is discussed.

Neobythites malhaensis Nielsen, 1995 (Figures 1���2, Tables 1, 3) Neobythites malhaensis Nielsen, 1995: 6, fig. 5a. Holotype. ZM MGU P-18915 (male, 123 mm SL), Saya de Malha Bank, Western Indian Ocean, 11��02' S, 62��15' E, 250 m depth (probably same cruise as paratypes). Paratypes (n = 3; 117���135 mm SL). Saya de Malha Bank, Western Indian Ocean: ZM MGU P-18916 (female, 117 mm SL), 11��08' S, 62��16' E, RV Professor Mesiatzev, trawl 476, 235 ��� 239 m depth, 7 Oct 1977; ZM MGU P- 18917 (female, 132 mm SL), 11��06' S, 62��19' E, RV Professor Mesiatzev, trawl 478, 240 m depth, 7 Oct 1977; ZMUC P77840 (female, 135 mm SL), RV Fiolent, 1973 (no other data). Diagnosis. Indistinct or flat spine on hind margin of preopercle; dorsal fin-rays 99���103; anal-fin rays 78���82; pectoral fin-rays 30; precaudal vertebrae 13; total vertebrae 57���59; pseudobranchial filaments 3���4; long gill rakers on anterior arch 12���13; head length 21.0���21.5 % SL; pelvic-fin length 12.5���13.0 % SL, pelvic fins not reaching anus; orbit length 4.1���4.9 % SL, 19.5���23.0 % head length, and 2.2���2.4 times in upper-jaw length; longest gill filament 1.6���1.9 % SL and 7.5���8.9 % head length; ocellus spot placed behind a vertical line through anus, the ocellus-spot distance being 42.5���45.5 % SL, and the spot covering 13 dorsal-fin rays; dorsal and anal fins not pigmented; one vertical, dark bar on body below ocellus spot; otolith length 5.2 % SL, sulcus length 3.8 % SL, and ostium height 21.5 % sulcus length. Distribution. Saya de Malha Bank, off SE Seychelles, Western Indian Ocean, at 235���250 m depth., Published as part of Uiblein, Franz & Nielsen, J��rgen G., 2018, Review of the steatiticus - species group of the cuskeel genus Neobythites (Ophidiidae) from the Indo-Pacific, with description of two new species, pp. 157-173 in Zootaxa 4387 (1) on pages 164-165, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4387.1.7, http://zenodo.org/record/1186736, {"references":["Nielsen, J. G. (1995) A review of the species of the genus Neobythites (Pisces, Ophidiidae) from the western Indian Ocean with description of seven new species. Ichthyological Bulletin, 62, 1 - 19."]}

Uiblein, Franz, Nielsen, Jørgen G. (2018): Review of the steatiticus - species group of the cuskeel genus Neobythites (Ophidiidae) from the Indo-Pacific, with description of two new species. Zootaxa 4387 (1): 157-173, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4387.1.7

Neobythites lombokensis n. sp. (Figures 1���2, Tables 1, 3) Neobythites meteori: Nielsen 2002: 57, fig. 47. Neobythites sp. 2: Gloerfelt-Tarp & Kailola 1984: 88 ���89 (colour photo). Holotype. ZMUC P77744 (93 mm SL), SE of Lombok Island, Indonesia, Eastern Indian Ocean, 8��58���S, 116��34��� E, JETINDOFISH, sta. TGT 1717, bottom trawl, 150���280 m depth, July 1981. Diagnosis. No spines on hind margin of preopercle; dorsal fin-rays 91; anal-fin rays 72; pectoral fin-rays 29; precaudal vertebrae 13; total vertebrae 53; pseudobranchial filaments 3; long gill rakers on anterior arch 7; head length 23.0 % SL; pelvic-fin length 13.0 % SL, pelvic fins not reaching beyond anus; orbit length 5.2 % SL, 22.5 % head length, and 53 % upper-jaw length; longest gill filament 2.2 % SL and 9.4 % head length; ocellus spot originating just behind at a vertical line through anus, the ocellus-spot distance being 43.0 % SL, and the spot covering 14 dorsal-fin rays; dorsal and anal fins not or only patchily pigmented; no vertical bars on body; otolith length 4.8 % SL, sulcus length 3.2 % SL, and ostium height 26.0 % sulcus length. Description. Body rather elongate; complete lateral line running close to dorsal edge; head and body covered with cycloid scales; origin of dorsal fin well behind opercle; origin of anal fin slightly anterior to midpoint of fish; tip of pectoral fin well in front of anal fin origin; pelvic fins reaching halfway to origin of anal fin; blunt snout shorter than diameter of eye; upper jaw ends below posterior half of eye; anterior nostril with low rim and larger posterior nostril a mere hole; spine absent on posterior margin of preopercle; opercular spine strong and straight; anterior gill arch with 2���3 short and 1 long raker on upper branch, 1 long raker in angle and lower branch with 5 long and 6 short rakers; gill filaments twice the length of the long rakers; three distinct pseudobranchial filaments. Otolith (Nielsen 2002, fig. 48B). Otolith oval, its height 1.5 times in its length; sulcus large, 1.5 times in otolith length; ostium length 1.7 times in sulcus length; ostium height 2.3 in ostium length. Dentition. Premaxillaries and dentaries with irregular tooth rows, teeth on outer rows needle-like. Blunt teeth on subtriangular vomer and palatines. Two median basibranchial tooth patches, the anterior oblong and posterior smaller and circular. Axial skeleton (from radiograph). Precaudal 13 and caudal vertebrae 40; tip of all neural and haemal spines thin and pointed; first neural spine half length of second spine; vertebrae 3���5 with slightly depressed neural spines; bases of vertebral spines 5���8 enlarged; parapophyses present on posterior seven precaudal vertebrae; pleural ribs on vertebrae 3���13; epipleural ribs not observed. Colour (fresh fish; Figure 1B 2). Body mottled pale-brown to brown, becoming paler posteriorly, abdomen whitish blue, lateral line indistinct; head brown dorsally and pale brown below and behind eye, gill cover pale; ocellus with large black spot, its horizontal diameter more than twice of orbit length, placed above anterior part of anal fin; posterior parts of dorsal fin and nearly entire anal fin patchily covered with pale-brown or brown pigment; no margin or band on anal fin. Colour (preserved fish; holotype after 36 years of preservation, Figure 1B1). Body and head mottled brown, abdomen and eyes bluish, lateral line indistinct; gill cover transparent, inside of peritoneum with many black spots of various sizes; ocellus spot dark-brown; patchily distributed traces of brown pigmentation on dorsal and anal fins. Etymology. Named after the type locality, SE off Lombok Island, southern Indonesia. Distribution. Single type specimen trawled SE of Lombok Island, Indonesia, Eastern Indian Ocean, at 150��� 280 m depth. Biology. The holotype is an unripe female caught between the lower shelf and upper continental slope. Its intestinal contents were unidentifiable except for parts of a small bivalve, suggesting a benthic lifestyle. Comparisons. Neobythites lombokensis n. sp. differs from all congeners in the following combination of characters: a single ocellus placed on dorsal fin at mid-body, no preopercular spines, 7 developed gill rakers, head length 23.0 % SL, gill filament length 2.2 % SL, orbit length 22.5 % head length and 1.9 times in upper-jaw length, and otolith sulcus length 3.2 % SL. Neobythites lombokensis seems most similar to N. meteori, sharing the following characters: dorsal fin with one ocellus, preopercular spine absent, pelvic fins ending anterior to anus, teeth needle-like and less than eight long rakers on anterior gill arch. Neobythites lombokensis differs from N. meteori in having a larger ocellus spot (spot covering 14 vs. 9 dorsal-fin rays), the ocellus placed above anterior part of anal fin (vs. above anus), and shorter gill filaments (9.4 vs. 13.0 % head length), respectively. Remarks. In a review of the genus Neobythites from the Western Indian Ocean, Nielsen (1995) described seven new species. One of these, N. meteori, was based on a specimen from off Socotra Is. Furthermore, a specimen from off Lombok was referred to N. meteori but not designated as a paratype because of a number of differences from the Socotra specimen. Subsequent examination of the Lombok specimen showed that it represented an undescribed species of Neobythites, which is herein described., Published as part of Uiblein, Franz & Nielsen, J��rgen G., 2018, Review of the steatiticus - species group of the cuskeel genus Neobythites (Ophidiidae) from the Indo-Pacific, with description of two new species, pp. 157-173 in Zootaxa 4387 (1) on pages 160-161, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4387.1.7, http://zenodo.org/record/1186736, {"references":["Nielsen, J. G. (2002) Revision of the Indo-Pacific species of Neobythites (Teleostei, Ophidiidae) with 15 new species. Galathea Report, 19, 5 - 105.","Gloerfelt-Tarp, T. & Kailola, P. J. (1984) Trawled fishes of southern Indonesia and northwestern Australia. Australian Development Assistance Bureau, Australia, Directorate General of Fishes, Indonesia, and German Agency for Technical Cooperation, Federal Republic of Germany, 407 pp.","Nielsen, J. G. (1995) A review of the species of the genus Neobythites (Pisces, Ophidiidae) from the western Indian Ocean with description of seven new species. Ichthyological Bulletin, 62, 1 - 19."]}

Neobythites longipes Smith & Radcliffe, 1913 (Figures 1–2, Tables 1, 3) Neobythites longipes: Nielsen 2002: 38, fig. 9. Holotype. USNM 74126 (female, 276 mm SL), off Jolo Island, Philippines, Western Pacific, 06°02'00" N, 120°44'40" E, RV Albatross, st. 5550, bottom trawl, 472 m depth, 17 Sep. 1909. Paratypes (n = 4, 90– 207 mm SL). USNM 99070 (2 females, 165–242 mm SL), Philippines, 05°50' N, 120°31' E, RV Albatross, st. 5564, dredge, 432 m depth, 21 Sep. 1909; USNM 99073 (female, 90 mm SL), off Borneo, 04°52'45" N, 119°06'45" E, RV Albatros s, st. 5580, trawl, 296 m depth, 25 Sep. 1909; USNM 99091 (male, 207 mm SL), off Jolo, Philippines, 06°01'15" N, 120°44'20" E, RV Albatross st. 5549, trawl, 481 m depth, 17 Sep. 1909. Non-types (n = 18, 98– 301 mm SL). AMS I.22808-019 (female, 204 mm SL), 220 km N of Port Hedland, Western Australia, 17°59' S 118°17' E, RV Soela, st. SO 2/82/17–18, Engel trawl, 404–420 m depth, 3 Apr. 1982; AMS 1.22821-027 (female and male, 165–180 mm SL), 190 km northwest of Port Hedland, 18°16' S 118°12' E, RV Soela, st. SO 2/82/36–38, Engel trawl, 298–320 m depth, 10 Apr. 1982; AMS 1.23425-007 (2 males, 240–242 mm SL), northwest shelf, Western Australia, 18°46' S 117°00" E, RV Soela, st. SO 4/82/leg l, bottom trawl, 400 m depth, 1 Aug. 1982; CSIRO CA3916–19 (2 females and 2 males, 212–301 mm SL), off Port Hedland, Western Australia, 17°45.1' S 118°30.4' E, RV Soela, st. SO 183170, 442– 460 m depth, 5 Feb. 1983; NTM S.12588-020 (female, 194 mm SL), off Rowley Shoals, Western Australia, 17°22' S 118°38' E, RV Comac Endeavour, st. WH 85-15, 430 m depth, 2 Nov. 1985; NTM S.12631-005 (female and 2 males, SL 226–264 mm SL), off Rowley Shoals, Western Australia, 17°37' S 118°40' E, RV Comac Endeavour, st. YW 85-21, 400 m depth, 4 Nov. 1985; NTM S.14378-001 (male, 245 mm SL), off Cartier Reef, Timor Sea, 13°7.89' S 123°12.65' E, RV Lady Basten, st. RW 96-30, 420 m, 19 June 1996; WAM P.28081-001 (female, 230 mm SL), 45 km northeast of Rowley Shoals, Western Australia, 17°44' S 120°5' E, 431–433 m depth, 20 Aug. 1983; WAM P.29125-001 (female, 163 mm SL), Rowley Shoals, Western Australia, 17°27' S 119°44' E, RV Umitaka Maru, trawl, 20 Dec. 1969; ZMUC P779 (female, 195 mm SL), off Jolo, Philippines, trawl, 463 m depth, 27 Mar. 1914; ZMUC P77740 (male, 98 mm SL), SE of Lombok, Indonesia, 8°58’ S 116°34’ E, JETINDOFISH TGT 1718, trawl, 150–280 m depth, July 1981. Diagnosis. No spines on hind margin of preopercle; Dorsal fin-rays 96–103; anal-fin rays 72–76; pectoral finrays 27–30; precaudal vertebrae 13–14 (mostly 14); total vertebrae 57–60; pseudobranchial filaments 5–10; long gill rakers on anterior arch 8–10; head length 22.5–25.5 % SL; pelvic-fin length 28.5–54 % SL, pelvic fins reaching well beyond anus; orbit length 3.9–5.0 % SL, 17.0–21.5 % head length, and 2.4–3.2 times in upper-jaw length; longest gill filament 1.3–2.7 % SL and 5.7–11.0 % head length; ocellus spot placed behind a vertical line through anus, the ocellus-spot distance being 42.0–53 % SL, and the spot covering 9–13 dorsal-fin rays; margins of posterior third of dorsal fin and posterior two thirds of anal fin dark pigmented; no vertical bars on body; otolith length 4.8–6.2 % SL, sulcus length 4.3–4.9 % SL, and ostium height 12.5–15.0 % sulcus length. Distribution. From NW Australia to Philippines, at 150–481 m depth. Remarks. The photograph of the fresh specimen (Figure 1C 2) shows that the anterior two thirds of the lateral line and the entire margin of the anal fin to be black pigmented. The pigmentation of the dorsal fin as revealed by examination of the preserved specimen is however not evident in the fresh photograph. The overall bluish colour of the fresh specimen appears to us as artifact.

Neobythites stefanovi Nielsen & Uiblein, 1993 (Figures 1–3, Tables 1–3) Neobythites stefanovi Nielsen & Uiblein, 1993: 110. Neobythites stefanovi: Nielsen 1995: page 15; Nielsen 2002: 86 (in part); Kannan et al. 2013: 1 (here tentatively referred to N. steatiticus). Holotype. ZM MGU P18923 (male, 166 mm SL), Gulf of Aden, NW Indian Ocean, 14°48.8' N, 51°16.1' E, RV Dmitry Stefanov cr. 3, trawl 91, 245– 335 m depth; 5 Jan. 1989. Paratypes (n = 25, 42–195+ mm SL). BMHN 1939.5. 24.1437 (female, 195+ mm SL), Gulf of Aden, 13°14.4' N, 46°14.2' E, RV John Murray, st. 35, otter trawl, 457–549 m depth, 16 Oct. 1933; SMF 26427 –29 (2 females, 2 males, and 4 unsexed; 42–122 mm SL), Gulf of Aden, 12°16' N, 44°09.5' E, RV Meteor, MeS-287, beam-trawl; 472–479 m depth, 16 Mar. 1987; USNM 302930, female, 179 + mm SL, Gulf of Aden, 11°10.6'N, 48°11.2'E, RV Beinta, cr. 19, haul 32, 351 – 384 m depth, 19 Feb. 1987; ZM MGU P-18924 (female, 139 mm SL), Gulf of Aden, 13°15.5' N, 46°14.3' E, RV Akademik Petrovsky cr. 14, st. 34, 250 – 300 m depth, 26 Sep. 1983; ZM MGU P-18925 (male, 130 mm SL), Gulf of Aden, 15°59.8' N, 52°23.9' E, RV Dmitry Stefanov cr.3, trawl 9, 80 – 110 m depth, 19 Nov. 1988; ZM MGU P-18926 (female, 162+ mm SL), Gulf of Aden 14°49.2' N, 50°35.1' E, RV Dmitry Stefanov, trawl 78, 375 m depth, 3 Feb. 1989; ZM MGU P-18927 (female, 168 mm SL), same data as holotype; ZM MGU P- 18928 (female, 180 mm SL), Gulf of Aden, 13°13.7' N, 45°41.8' E, RV Dmitry Stefanov, cr.5, trawl 48, 355 – 365 m depth, 22 Nov. 1989; ZM MGU P-18929 (female, 190 mm SL), and ZMUC P77841 (female, 198 mm SL), Gulf of Aden, 13°09' N, 45°41' E, RV Dmitry Stefanov, trawl 51; 460 m; 24 Nov. 1989; ZM MGU P-18930 (female and male, 165–179 mm SL), and ZMUC P77842 (male, 168 mm SL), Gulf of Aden, 13°25.1' N 47°14.S' E, RV Dmitry Stefanov, trawl 68, 367 m depth, 28 Nov. 1989; ZM MGU P 18931 (female, male, and unsexed, 130–172 mm SL), and ZMUC P77843 –44 (male and female, 163–166 mm SL), Gulf of Aden, RV Dmitry Stefanov, 1989. Non-types (n = 22, 29– 122 mm SL). SMF 26430 (female, 122 mm SL), Red Sea, 18°35.3' N, 39°03.5' E, RV Meteor, MeS-171, beam trawl, 434–469 m depth, 23 Feb. 1987; SMF 26431 and 26434 (3 unsexed, 45–94 mm SL), Red Sea, 19°18.2' N, 38°15.5' E, RV Meteor, MeS-194, beam trawl, 537–681 m depth, 28 Feb. 1987; SMF 26432 (2 unsexed, 75–84 mm SL), Red Sea, 22°05' N, 37°09.3' E, RV Meteor, MeS-96, beam trawl, 600 m depth, 9 Feb. 1987; SMF 26433 (2 unsexed, 44–99 mm SL), Red Sea, 19°44.5' N, 37°40.2' E, RV Meteor, MeS-148, beam trawl, 517–583 m depth, 20 Feb. 1987; SMF 26435 and 26440 (2 unsexed, 49– 31 mm SL), Red Sea, 21°28.97' N, 38°15.55' E, RV Valdivia, st. 111 TA, closing trawl, 740–785 m depth, 12 Apr. 1979; SMF 26436 and 26441 (3 unsexed, 29–46 mm SL), Red Sea, 21°26.5' N, 38°38.3' E, RV Valdivia, st. 121 TA, closing trawl, 779–801 m depth, 15 Apr. 1979; SMF 26437 and 26785 (2 unsexed, 63–115 mm SL), Red Sea, 20°94.9' N, 37°26.1' E; RV Sonne 35 TA, c1osing trawl, 490–588 m, 17 Oct. 1977; SMF 26438 (42 mm SL), Red Sea, 21°10.8' N, 37°34.0' E, RV Sonne 27 TA, closing trawl, 733–757 m depth, 16 Oct. 1977; SMF 26439 (38 mm SL), Red Sea, 21°12.0' N, 37°26.8' E, RV Sonne, 25 TA, closing trawl, 724–747 m depth, 15 Oct. 1977; SMF 26442 (5 unsexed, 29–42 mm SL), Red Sea, 21°33' N, 38°21' E, RV Valdivia, 99 TA, closing trawl, 753–804 m depth, 9 Apr. 1979. Diagnosis. No spines on hind margin of preopercle; dorsal fin-rays 89–95; anal-fin rays 73–78; pectoral finrays 24–26; precaudal vertebrae 12; total vertebrae 52–56; pseudobranchial filaments 2–6; long gill rakers on anterior arch 10–13; head length 23.0–27.5 % SL; pelvic-fin length 14.5–20.5 % SL, pelvic fins not reaching anus; orbit length 5.4–6.9 % SL, 21.5–27.5 % head length, and 1.7–2.3 times in upper-jaw length; longest gill filament 1.4–3.7 % SL and 5.4–16.0 % head length; ocellus spot placed well behind a vertical line through anus, the ocellusspot distance being 45.5–56 % SL, and the spot covering 8–12 dorsal-fin rays; dorsal and anal fins with dark margins throughout; no vertical bars on body; otolith length 4.6–5.2 % SL, sulcus length 3.4–4.1 % SL, and ostium height 20.0–28.5 % sulcus length. Distribution. Gulf of Aden, NW Indian Ocean, at 80-549 m depth and Red Sea, 434–804 m depth. Remarks. Kannan et al. (2013) reported on two specimens of N. stefanovi from Gulf of Manar, Tamil Nadu (NW Indian Ocean). After inspection of the photo and some of the data provided by Kannan et al. (2013), we assume that these specimens should be treated as tentatively referred to N. steatiticus. Uiblein (1995) reported considerable differences between the populations of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden based on quantitative studies of meristic, morphometric and ocellus characters. Those differences were however only statistically detectable and did not support the erection of a distinct taxon in the Red Sea. We have reconsidered these earlier findings when examining the differentiation degree among the three rather similar species N. gloriae n. sp., N. steatiticus, and N. stefanovi. While these species can be well separated by five diagnostic characters (singly or in combination), the two N. stefanovi populations clearly overlap with each other in those as well as in all other characters studied (Figure 3, Tables 2–3).

Neobythites gloriae n. sp. (Figures 1–3, Tables 1–3) Neobythites steatiticus: Nielsen 1995 (in part, Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman). Neobythites stefanovi: Nielsen & Uiblein 1993 and Nielsen 1995, 2002 (in part, Gulf of Oman). Holotype. USNM 309008 (male, 158 mm SL), Gulf of Oman, NW Indian Ocean, 25°02' N, 56°52' E, RV Anton Bruun, cruise 4B, st. 264A, bottom trawl, 272–291 m depth, 2 Dec 1963. Paratypes (n=8, 130– 150 mm SL). BMNH 1904.5.25.1 (1 male, 150 mm SL), Gulf of Oman, 25°32' N, 57°47' E, 320 m depth; BMHN 1910.1.31.7–10 (3 females and 1 male, 132–145 mm SL), Gulf of Oman, 25°35' N, 57°47' E, 311 m depth; BMHN 1910.1.31.23 (1 female, 130 mm SL), Arabian Gulf, 10' W of Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 26 m depth; USNM 440378 (1 male, 140 mm SL), and ZMUC P771754 (1 female, 131 mm SL), same data as for the holotype. Diagnosis. No spines on hind margin of preopercle; dorsal fin-rays 90–93; anal-fin rays 72–76; pectoral finrays 24–27; precaudal vertebrae 12; total vertebrae 54–56; pseudobranchial filaments 3–4; long gill rakers on anterior arch 11–13; head length 25.5–28.0 % SL; pelvic-fin length 13.5–17.0 % SL, pelvic fins not reaching beyond anus; orbit length 5.3–5.9 % SL, 19.5–23.5 % head length, and 2.0–2.2 times in upper-jaw length; longest gill filament 3.9–4.9 % SL and 15.5–19.0 % head length; ocellus spot placed well posterior to a vertical line through anus, the ocellus-spot distance being 49.0–51 % SL, and the spot covering 6–8 dorsal-fin rays; margins of posterior fifth to a quarter of dorsal fin and posterior half to two thirds of anal fin dark pigmented; no vertical bars on body; otolith length 4.8–5.0 % SL, sulcus length 3.4–3.7 % SL, and ostium height 21.0–26.5 % sulcus length. Description (based on holotype, differences in paratypes mentioned in round brackets). Rather elongate fish with complete lateral line in preserved specimens; on the anterior half of body, the lateral line runs with 8–10 scale rows to dorsal edge, decreasing posteriorad; head and body fully covered with cycloid scales; origin of dorsal fin above hind margin of opercle; origin of anal fin slightly in front of midpoint of fish; tip of pectoral fins ending just above origin of anal fin; pelvic fins reaching almost to origin of anal fin; blunt snout slightly shorter than diameter of eye; upper jaw ending well behind eye; anterior nostril ending in a short tube and the larger posterior nostril in a mere hole; no spines on preopercle; strong opercular spine; anterior gill raker with 1–2 (2–3) blunt and 3–4 (2–3) long rakers on upper branch; one long raker in angle and lower branch with eight long and 6 (7) blunt rakers; gill filaments 1.5–3.0 (1–4) times as long as long rakers; distinct pseudobranchial filaments 3 (3–4). Otolith. Otolith oval, its height 1.6 (1.5–1.7) times in its length; sulcus large, 1.3 (1.3–1.4) times in otolith length; ostium 1.5 times in sulcus length; ostium height 3.3 (2.6–3.3) times in ostium length. Dentition. Premaxillaries and dentaries with small, pointed teeth in 3–4 irregular rows anteriorly, decreasing to 1–2 rows posteriorad. Teeth in outer rows somewhat longer. Vomer triangular with many small, close-set teeth. Palatines with several rows of small, close-set teeth. Two median basibranchial tooth patches, the anterior elongate and the posterior much smaller and circular. Axial skeleton (from radiographs). Precaudal vertebrae 12 and caudal vertebrae 42 (42–45) and all neural and haemal spines pointed; first neural spine one third length of second spine, that is longer than the following spines; bases of neural spines more or less enlarged; parapophyses present on posterior 7–8 precaudal vertebrae; pleural ribs on vertebrae 3–11 (3–4 to 10–12); epipleural ribs on vertebrae 3–8. Colour. Preserved fish (holotype [Figure 1A] and paratypes). Body mottled brown, abdomen silvery bluish, lateral line pale brown, rather indistinct; head pale brown with brown preopercular area behind eye, gill cover transparent, eyes bluish; ocellus spot dark brown, its horizontal diameter about orbit length, placed well behind a vertical line through anal-fin origin; dorsal and anal fins with pale- to dark-brown distal margins along posterior fifth to quarter of dorsal fin and posterior half to two-thirds of anal fin; margins becoming darker towards dark caudal-fin tip. Etymology. The new species name honors the wife of the first author, Gloria Jansen Echevarria. Distribution. Inner Gulf of Oman, NW Indian Ocean, at 272–320 m depth, and southern Arabian Gulf, United Arab Emirates, at 26 m depth. Comparisons. Neobythites gloriae n. sp. differs from all congeners by the following combination of characters: a single ocellus placed on dorsal fin at mid-body, preopercular spines lacking, 11–13 developed gill rakers, head length 25.5–28.0 % SL, gill filament length 3.9–4.9 % SL, orbit length 19.5–23.5 % head length and 45–50 % upper-jaw length, and otolith sulcus length 3.4–3.7 % SL. Neobythites gloriae n. sp. is most similar to N. stefanovi, sharing the following characters: dorsal fin with one ocellus, preopercular spine absent, pelvic fins ending anterior to anus, similar number of long rakers on anterior gill arch, eyes five times or less in head length, and similar otolith sulcus length. Neobythites gloriae differs from N. stefanovi having longer gill filaments (3.9–4.9 vs. 1.4–3.7 % SL) and a slightly smaller ocellus spot (spot covering 6–8 vs. 8–12 dorsal-fin rays). These two characters in combination with head length, orbit length, and ocellus-spot distance best distinguish N. gloriae from N. steatiticus and N. steatiticus from N. stefanovi (Figure 3; Tables 1–3). Remarks. The description of Neobythites gloriae n. sp. is based on three former N. stefanovi paratypes from the inner Gulf of Oman (Nielsen & Uiblein 1993) and six specimens previously identified as N. steatiticus (Nielsen 1995). Apart from this earlier misidentified material, no additional specimens and no photographs of fresh fish were available for our study. The depth of 26 m reported for the single Arabian Gulf specimen (BMHN 1910.1.31.23), indicated as questionable by Nielsen (1995), is here confirmed based on original data recordings available from NHM.

Abyssobrotula hadropercularis sp. nov. (Figs. 1���6, Table 1) Holotype. NSMT-P 121429, 200 mm SL, female, Kuril-Kamchatka Trench (46 �� 55.53 ���N, 160 �� 2.84 ���E ��� 46 �� 54.14 ���N, 160 �� 1.99 ���E), R/V Hakuho-maru, st. NBD- 2, beam trawl, 5204���5205 m, 31 May 2014. Paratype. NSMT-P 121428, 149 mm SL, male, Kuril-Kamchatka Trench (47 �� 0.22 ���N, 160 �� 2.62 ���E ��� 47 �� 0.91 ���N, 160 �� 1.29 ���E), R/V Hakuho-maru, st. NBD- 1, beam trawl, 5179���5223 m, 27 May 2014. Diagnosis and similarity. Abyssobrotula hadropercularis differs from A. galatheae, the only other species of the genus, by the following characters (A. galatheae mentioned in parenthesis): Opercular spine pointed and strong (vs. flat and weak), pectoral fin rays 14���15 (vs. 10���11), head length 22.0��� 22.5 % SL (vs. 17.5���19.5), diameter of pigmented eye 1.2���1.3 % SL (vs. 0.7���0.9), preanal length 42.5 % SL (vs. 33.0��� 41.5), prepelvic length 14.0��� 14.5 % SL (vs. 10.5���12.5), rakers on anterior gill arch robust and close-set (vs. thin and well separated). Description. Selected meristic and morphometric characters are shown in Table 1. The description is based on the holotype, differences observed in the paratype mentioned in parenthesis. Body compressed with tapering tail, depth at anus about 7 times in SL. Head inflected downward, its length slightly less than half preanal-fin length. Cycloid scales in some parts of head and body (Fig. 2), but empty scale pockets indicate that most areas of body and head covered with scales. Judging from the loose skin, snout and dorsal part of head seem to have been swollen. Two pairs of nostrils with wide opening between tip of snout and eye: Anterior nostril circular at tip of snout and posterior nostril between anterior nostril and eye, slightly exposing lateral ethmoid. Eye small, 3.8 (4.6) times in snout length. Mouth inferior, upper jaw long, posterior margin extending well behind eye. Supramaxilla elliptical. Opercle robust, but its dorsal margin extremely thin making rudimentary bulge above spine; its spine pointed and strong not reaching posterior end of subopercle. Preopercle thin and soft, its hind margin without spines. Gill opening wide. Anterior left gill arch (right gill arch is missing in holotype) with 5 (4���5) short rakers on upper branch, one long raker at the angle between branches, and lower branch with 7 (8���9) long rakers followed by 7 (7���8) short rakers. Long rakers robust and close-set (Fig. 3). Longest gill raker on anterior arch about three times length of longest gill filament. Pseudobranch consisting of two short filaments. Branchiostegal rays 7 in left and 8 in right (8 in both sides). Lateral line indistinct. Base of dorsal and anal fins long, continuous with caudal fin; their rays unbranched. Origin of dorsal fin above base of pectoral fin. Origin of anal fin well anterior to midpoint of body. Pectoral fin slender extending beyond anus. Pelvic-fin rays thread-like, originating below preopercle. Caudal fin missing most parts of rays (with slender rays). Anus just anterior to anal-fin origin. A. hadropercularis sp. nov. A. galatheae * NSMT-P 121429 NSMT-P 121428 Holotype Paratype Min (mean) max No SL (mm) 200 149 67���157 16 Meristic characters Dorsal-fin rays 116 112 97 (105.1) 116 15 Caudal-fin rays 8 8 8 16 Anal-fin rays 90 87 76 (83.0) 96 15 Pectoral-fin rays 14 (left), 15 (right) 14 (left), 15 (right) 10 (10.1) 11 16 Pelvic-fin rays 2 2 2 16 Precaudal vertebrae 19 20 17 (18.3) 19 16 Caudal vertebrae 48 48 49 (51.5) 56 16 Dorsal-fin origin above vertebra number 8 9 6 (7.1) 8 15 Dorsal-fin origin above anal-fin ray number 28 27 23 (25.8) 30 15 Anal-fin origin below vertebra number 23 24 21 (21.5) 23 15 Long gill rakers 8 9 8 (9.9) 11 16 Total gill rakers 20 21 15 (18.6) 22 16 Morphometric characters in % SL Head 22.5 22.0 17.5 (18.4) 19.5 13 Depth at origin of anal fin 14.0 13.5 11.0 (13.7) 15.0 11 Upper jaw 11.5 11.5 9.5 (10.5) 12.0 13 Diameter of pigmented eye 1.2 1.3 0.7 (0.8) 0.9 6 Postorbital 14.5 14.5 11.5 (12.4) 13.0 10 Prepelvic 14.5 14.0 10.5 (11.8) 12.5 13 Preanal 42.5 42.5 33.0 (38.3) 41.5 14 Predorsal 25.0 25.5 20.5 (21.9) 25.5 14 Pelvic fin to anal fin origin 28.5 29.5 25.0 (27.3) 29.0 12 Pectoral fin** 24.0 23.0 21.0���51.0 13 Pelvic fin** 12.5 13.0 4.6 ���12.0 10 Long gill raker 3.3 3.4 2.6 (3.3) 3.8 8 Longest gill filament 1.1 1.2 0.4 (0.6) 0.8 6 * 14 specimens from Nielsen (1977) and 2 specimens newly examined (NSMT-P 18975 and 98870) **fin rays often broken Head pores (Fig. 4). Infraorbital pores 6, preoperculomandibular pores 7 (left) or 8 (right) (8). Anterior five preoperculomandibular pores of on ventral surface of lower jaw. Dentition. Premaxilla and dentary with 2���7 irregular rows of small, pointed teeth. Palatines with several irregular rows of small, pointed teeth. Vomer boomerang-shaped with 2���5 (2���3) irregular rows of small, pointed teeth (inner row regular). Two median and one sideways on basibranchials in holotype, most probably caused by the partly destroyed mouth-floor (fig. 5 showing undisturbed basibranchial tooth patches of paratype). Axial skeleton (based on radiographs). First neural spine about half length of second. Neural spines 2���7 gradually decreasing in length and the posterior seven precaudal spines increasing in length. Bases of neural spines 4���19 (20) enlarged. Parapophyses developed on vertebrae 7���19 (20). Pleural ribs on vertebrae 3���17 (18). Epipleural ribs could not observed. Otolith (Fig. 6). Otolith small (0.8 mm long) nearly round in outline except for slightly elevated mid-dorsal region. Inner face almost flat, smooth, with barely visible, shallow, centrally placed sulcus. Outer face strongly convex, smooth. Otolith length to height = 1.2, length to thickness = 1.8, and length to sulcus = 3.3. Colour (nine months after captured). Oral cavity and dorsal area and sides of head bluish and lower part dark brown. Eyes bluish with light lens. Branchial cavity and peritoneum dark brown. Abdomen dark bluish. Sides of body light brown. Fin rays with dark brown pigmentation. Distribution. Known from two abyssal (5179���5223 meters) locations in the Kuril-Kamchatka Trench, Western North Pacific Ocean. Etymology. The specific name, hadropercularis, derives from hadros (bulky) and opercularis (gill cover) in reference to the robust opercle. Comparative material. Abyssobrotula galatheae, 16 specimens: ZMUC P 77599, holotype, 130 mm SL, female, Kermadec Trench (36 ��07���S, 178 �� 32 ���W), 5230���5340 m, R/V Galathea, 23 Feb. 1952; ZMUC P 77600, paratype, 123 mm SL, female, Kermadec Trench (32 �� 10 ���S, 175 �� 54 ���W), 5850���5900 m, R/V Galathea, 18 Feb. 1952; ZMUC P 77601 ���77602, paratypes, 100���110 mm SL, female, Kermadec Trench (36 �� 34 ���S, 178 �� 57 ���W), 4540 m, R/V Galathea, 24 Feb. 1952; CAS 36574, 133 mm SL, female, Eastern Pacific (1 �� 19 ���N, 84 ��07���W ��� 1 �� 12 ���N, 83 �� 56 ���W), 2926���3292 m, R/V Te Vega, 6 Oct. 1968; MNHN 1976 - 43 and 1976 -44, 67 and 132 mm SL, sex unknown and female, Eastern South Atlantic (18 �� 52.1 ���S, 7 �� 23.1 ���E), 5048 m, R/V Jean Charcot, 6 June 1971; MNHN 1976-45, 156 mm SL, female, Eastern Atlantic (0�� 23.2 ���N, 3 �� 42.4 ���W), 4975 m, R/V Jean Charcot, 28 May 1971; NSMT-P 18975, 111 mm SL, female, Izu-Bonin Trench (30 �� 41.3 ���N, 141 �� 49.7 ���E), 4610 m, R/V Soyo-maru, 23 Nov. 1974; NSMT-P 98870, Western North Pacific (31 �� 43.4 ���N, 158 ��05.3���E ��� 31 ��39.0���N, 158 ��07.1���E), 2171��� 2491 m, R/V Kaiyo-maru, 31 May 1984; UMML 29070, 140 mm SL, female, Puerto Rico Trench (19 �� 43 ���N, 67 ��05���W), 8370 m, R/V Pillsbury, 21 Jan. 1970; USNM 226588, 142 mm SL, Western Atlantic (28 �� 43 ���N, 78 �� 49 ���W), 5105 m, R/V Columbus Iselin, 12 Feb. 1978; ZIL 43250, 125 mm SL, sex unknown, Eastern Indian Ocean (15 �� 41 ���S, 104 �� 57 ���E), 5750���5940 m, R/V Vitiaz, 26 Nov. 1959; ZMUC P77676, 75 mm SL, sex unknown, Western North Atlantic (38 �� 39.5 ���N, 69 �� 58.1 ���W ��� 38 �� 37.8 ���N, 70 ��01���W), 3111���3115 m, R/V Chain, 11 July 1975; ZMUC P 77685 ���77687, 142��� 157 mm SL, females, Eastern Pacific (9 �� 23 ���N, 89 �� 32 ���W), 3570 m, R/V Galathea, 6 May 1952., Published as part of Ohashi, Shinpei & Nielsen, J��rgen G., 2016, A new species of Abyssobrotula (Ophidiiformes, Ophidiidae) from the Kuril-Kamchatka Trench, pp. 559-566 in Zootaxa 4132 (4) on pages 560-564, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4132.4.7, http://zenodo.org/record/257639, {"references":["Nielsen, J. G. (1977) The deepest living fish Abyssobrotula galatheae a new genus and species of oviparous ophidioids (Pisces, Brotulidae). Galathea Report, 14, 41 - 48."]}

Key to the species of the genus Abyssobrotula 1 a. Pectoral-fin rays 14–15, head large (22.0– 22.5 % SL), opercular spine pointed and strong.......... A. hadropercularis n. sp. 1 b. Pectoral-fin rays 10–11, head small (17.5–19.5 % SL), opercular spine flat and weak........................ A. galatheae

Ohashi, Shinpei, Nielsen, Jørgen G. (2016): A new species of Abyssobrotula (Ophidiiformes, Ophidiidae) from the Kuril-Kamchatka Trench. Zootaxa 4132 (4): 559-566, DOI: http://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4132.4.7

Benthocometes robustus (Goode & Bean, 1886) Figs. 5���9 Neobythites robustus Goode & Bean, 1886: 161 (type locality off Moro Castle, Cuba). Pteridium armatum D��derlein, 1886: 5 (type locality off Sicily). Sirembo muraenolepis Vaillant, 1888: 273 (type locality off Cape Bojador, Western Sahara). Benthocometes robustus: Bougis & Ruivo 1954 (detailed anatomical description). Material examined (29 specimens, SL 20���123 mm): West Atlantic Ocean Holotype: MCZ 28084, 86 mm SL, off Moro Castle, Cuba, R/V Blake, st. 94, bottom trawl, 458���732 m, Dec 1878. Paratype: USNM 29057, 94 mm SL, off Delaware, R/V Fish Hawk, haul 1043, bottom trawl, 238 m, 10 Oct 1881. Non-types: MCZ 167725, 57 mm SL, northwestern Atlantic, 38 �� 49 ��� 18 ������N, 72 �� 56 ��� 42 ������W, NMFS, field no. AL06-08:001, Yankee otter trawl, 0���299 m, 6 Sep 2006. USNM 396083, 4 spms., 89���110 mm SL, Campeche- Cuba, Gulf of Mexico, 23 �� 56 ���N, 87 �� 32 ���W, R/V Silver Bay, cr. 17, st. 1184,bottom trawl, 274 m, 5 Jun 1959. USNM 396084, 2 spms., 97���108 mm SL, Nicaragua, 12 �� 52,N, 82 ��09���W, R/V Oregon, cr. 4, st. 10205, bottom trawl, 443 m, 21 Nov 1968. ZMH 107403, 2 spms., 100���107 mm SL, ZMUC P 77683, 95 mm SL, and P 77386, 96 mm SL, off southern Brazil, 24 �� 21 ���S, 43 �� 45 ���W, R/V Walther Herwig, st. 90 / 68, bottom trawl, 500 m, 2 Mar 1968. Bumpheads *: MCZ 39284, 95 mm SL, Old Bahama Channel, 22 �� 48 ���N, 78 �� 48 ���W, Atlantis (Harvard- Havana Exped.), st. ATLAN 2980 B, bottom trawl, 403���412 m, 10 Mar 1938. MCZ 39299, 81 mm SL, off Ciudad de la Havana, 23 ��05���N, 82 �� 33 ���W, Atlantis (Harvard-Havana Exped.), st. ATLAN 3303, bottom trawl, 476 m, 23 Mar 1939. MCZ 39298, 59 mm SL, Bahia de Matanzas, Cuba, 23 �� 10 ���N, 81 �� 28 ���W, Atlantis (Harvard-Havana Exped.), st. ATLAN 3480, bottom trawl, 366 m, 11 May 1939. ZMUC P 77791, 78 mm SL, off north coast of Cuba, 22 ��09���N, 81 ��09���W, Atlantis (Harvard-Havana Exped.), st. ATLAN 3325, bottom trawl, 549 m, 4 Apr 1939. East Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea IIPB, 348-349 - 350 / 1967, 118 ��� 122 mm SL, near Barcelona, bottom trawl, 400 m, 14 Jun 1967. IIPB 515 and 517 / 1988, 106 ��� 123 mm SL, and ZMUC P 77806, 109mm SL, near Barcelona, 41 �� 17 ���N, 2 �� 17 ���E, 455 m, 8 Apr 1988. IPB 66 / 2000, 98 mm SL, off southeastern Spain, 36 �� 29 ���N, 2 �� 12 ���W, 665 m, 30 May 2000. MNHN 86-523 (holotype of Sirembo muraenolepis), 100 mm SL, and MNHN 86-524 (paratype of Sirembo muraenolepis), 100 mm SL, off Cape Bojador, Western Sahara, R/V Talisman, dredge no. LXIX, 410 m, 1883. ZMUC P 77784, 20 mm SL, western Mediterranean, 37 �� 15 ���N, 2 �� 55 ���E, R/V Dana, st. 1124 III, pelagic, 0���50 m, 27 Sep 1921. ZMUC P 77785, 39 mm SL, western Mediterranean, 36 �� 10 ���N, 2 �� 46 ���E, R/V Dana, st. 1132 II, pelagic, 0���60 m, 3 Oct 1921. No cat. no., Univ. la Laguna, Tenerife, 97 mm SL, Candelaria, east coast of Tenerife, Canary Isls., shrimp trap, 260 m. * Abnormal specimens with enlarged tissue dorsally on head, cf. Fig. 6. Diagnosis. Benthocometes robustus is diagnosed by the follow combination of characters: Anterior gill arch with 9���12 long rakers; 7���10 predorsal pterygiophores; palatine dentition elongate; predorsal length 26.5��� 31.0 % SL; upper jaw length 11.0���13.0 % SL; dorsal fin origin above vertebrae nos. 6���7; anal fin origin below dorsal fin rays nos. 17���20; head pores poorly developed; many, small, granular teeth. For a comparison with the only other Benthocometes species, B. australiensis; see p. 2. Description. The major meristic and morphometric characters are shown in Table 1. The 29 specimens are separated into three columns: those from the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean, the ���bumphead��� specimens all from off Cuba and the typical B. robustus from the western Atlantic. Except for the enlarged tissue dorsally on the head of the four ���bumpheads��� there are no differences between the specimens from the three columns. Radiographs show that the ���bump��� is made up of soft tissue. Body short and robust; head short with blunt snout. Head and body fully scaled with small (1.3 mm under pectoral fin in 102 mm SL specimen), oval, overlapping scales. Lateral line running midway between dorsal edge and midline of fish ending about one head-length from base of caudal fin. Vertical fins joined. Origin of dorsal fin above midpoint of pectoral fin, anal fin origin anterior to midpoint of fish, pectoral fin placed below midline of body reaching about halfway to anus, pelvic fins reaching halfway to anus. Anterior nostril a low tube with a skin flap, posterior a mere hole. Tip of snout with 10���12 rather broad skin flaps. Diameter of eye equal to or larger than length of snout. Upper jaw ending just behind or below posterior margin of eye. Opercle with two sharp spines, upper pointing backwards and lower postero-ventrally; neither reaching hind margin of opercle. Anterior gill arch (Fig. 2 B) with 1���2 small, spiny knobs on upper branch and lower branch with 9���12 long rakers and 4���9 small, spiny knobs. The number of rakers plus knobs varies between 16 and 22. Longest of the ca. 65 gill filaments shorter than rakers. Pseudobranchial filaments well developed. Head pore system: Pores poorly developed. Supraorbital pores absent, infraorbital pores five, Mandibular pores 3���4 and preopercular pores absent. In three of the four ���bumpheads��� a pore is developed in midline on snout in front of eyes appearing as a small lump on Fig. 6. Dentition (Fig. 3 B): Teeth small and numerous with a few exceptions. Premaxillaries with about 50 teeth developed, small and granular, in irregular rows anteriorly. Some specimens with a few uniserial fangs posteriorly. Vomerine tooth patch round with 6���20 small, pointed teeth. Palatine dentition elongate with about 20 small, pointed teeth. Dentaries with about 50 small, granular teeth in irregular rows anteriorly ending with a few, uniserial fangs posteriorly. One elongate, median basibranchial tooth patch. Sagittal otolith (Fig. 4 D): Otolith oval with angle anteriorly at dorsal rim; height 70 %, thickness 30 % and sulcus 75 % of otolith-length with cauda 70 % the length of ostium. Axial skeleton (based on radiographs, Fig. 7): Number of precaudal vertebrae 11���12. Anterior neural spine half length of second spine. Precaudal vertebrae 1 to 7 ��� 8 with pointed neural spines, 9 to 12 ��� 14 with blunt spines, remaining neural spines pointed. One to four of anterior haemal spines blunt, rest with pointed tips. Neural spines 6���7 to 12 with enlarged bases. Parapophyses on vertebrae 6���7 to 11���12. Pleural ribs on vertebrae 3 to 11 ��� 12. Epipleural ribs indistinct. Coloration: (Most of the specimens have been preserved for more than 50 years.) Body light brown with many small, black spots, abdomen and branchial cavity bluish and eyes blue with lighter lens. In a few specimens darker brown epidermis remains. The unripe 57 mm specimen (Fig. 8) has a much more dense pigmentation all over head and body, maybe a subadult character. Biology. Adult specimens of B. robustus were all caught in bottom-fishing non-closing trawls and are considered benthopelagic. The smallest non-larval specimen examined was an unripe female, 57 mm SL (Fig. 8). The only known larvae are two specimens caught in the western Mediterranean Sea in the upper 50 meters (Nielsen & Evseenko 1989). They are rather long, reaching a standard length of 20 and 39 mm (Fig. 9). The 30 mm juvenile illustrated by Emery (1886, pl. X, fig. 21) under the name Pteridium atrum, was cited by Cohen (1964: 7) as a probable B. robustus, which was not accepted by Nielsen & Evseenko (1989: 12) due to very different meristic characters. Bougis & Ruivo (1954: 261) mentioned that B. robustus probably is ovoviparous or viviparous based on the examination of three females and one male specimen. I have checked 17 specimens of which 12 were females and 5 males. Embryos were not found in any of the females, some of which had enlarged ovaries, and none of the males had developed a copulatory organ, so B. robustus must be considered oviparous. Distribution. Benthocometes robustus is not rare in the West Atlantic Ocean from off New Jersey (38 �� 49 ���N, 72 �� 57 ���W ��� MCZ 167725) southwards to off Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil (34 �� 30 ���S, 51 �� 53 ���W ��� Haimovici et al. 1994) including the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea (the MCZ holds 83 specimens from off Cuba). In the East Atlantic it is known from two localities off northwestern Africa and from several localities in the Mediterranean from off Spain to Cyprus (N. Dewhurst, pers. comm.. 2010)., Published as part of Nielsen, J��rgen G., 2010, Revision of the bathyal fish genus Benthocometes (Teleostei: Ophidiidae) with a new species from off NW Australia, pp. 59-68 in Zootaxa 2561 on pages 64-67, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.197128, {"references":["Goode, G. B. & Bean, T. H. (1886) Description of thirteen species and two new genera of fishes from the \" Blake \" collection. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, 12, 153 - 170.","Doderlein, P. (1886) Descrizione zoologico-zootomica di una novella specie de pesce del mar di Sicilia, Pteridium armatum Dod. Naturaliste Siciliano, 5, 73 - 80.","Vaillant, L. (1888) Expeditions scientifiques du Travailleur et du Talisman pendant les annees 1880, 1881, 1882, 1883. Poissons. 406 pp. Paris.","Bougis, P. & Ruivo, M. (1954) Recherches sur le poisson de profundeur Benthocometes robustus (Goode et Bean) (= Pteridium armatum, Doederlein) (Brotulidae). Vie et Milieu, Suppl. No. 3, 155 - 209.","Nielsen, J. G. & Evseenko, S. E. (1989) Larval stages of Benthocometes robustus (Ophidiidae) from the Mediterranean. Cybium 1989, 13 (1), 7 - 12.","Emery, C. (1886) Contribuzioni all' ittiologia, XIV: Pteridium atrum. Mittheilungen aus der Zoologischen Station zu Neapel, 6 (2), 149 - 164.","Cohen, D. M. (1964) A review of the ophidioid fish genus Oligopus with the description of a new species from West Africa. Proceedings of the United States National Museum, 116 (no. 3494), 1 - 22.","Haimovici, M., Martins, A. S., Figueiredo, J. L. & Vieira, P. C. (1994) Demersal bony fish of the outer shelf and upper slope off southern Brazil subtropical convergence ecosystem. Marine Ecology Progressive Series, 108 (1, 2), 59 - 77."]}

Neobythites ocellatus G��nther 1887 (Figs. 1, 6��� 7) Neobythites ocellatus G��nther 1887: 103, pl. XXI, fig. B (type locality off Pernambuco, 9 ��05'S, 34 �� 50 'W). Neobythites gilli (in part): Goode and Bean 1896: 103 (N. ocellatus was treated as a junior synonym of N. gilli, an incorrect view which was followed by most subsequent ichthyologists); Miranda Ribeiro 1915: 632. Neobythites ocellatus: Nielsen 1999: 346 (except for the holotype of N. ocellatus all specimens belong to a new species described in the present paper); Mincarone et al. 2008: 54, fig. 3 O. Neobythites sp.: Mincarone et al. 2008: 54, fig. 3 P. *often so bleached that it is difficult to decide whether it is a spot or an ocellus-spot. Material examined. 18 specimens, SL 66���147 mm. Holotype: BMNH 1887.12. 7.43, ��, 86 mm SL, off Pernambuco, 9 ��05���S, 34 �� 50 ���W, RV CHALLENGER st. 122, bottom trawl, 641 m, 10 Sep. 1873. Non-types: MOVI 39138, 39140- 39142 and 39185, 5��(66���120 mm), 13 �� 22.057 ���S, 38 �� 40.204 ���W ��� 13 �� 19.472 ���S, 38 �� 38.035 ���W, RV THALASSA st. E 500, bottom trawl, 360���433 m, 8 Jun. 2000. MOVI 38801, 13(117 mm), 14 �� 28.971 ���S, 38 �� 54.004 ���W ��� 14 �� 25.696 ���S, 38 �� 53.870 ���W, RV THALASSA st. E 504, bottom trawl, 278 m, 10 Jun. 2000. MOVI 39146, 39148-39153, 7��(114���147 mm) and ZMUC P771669, 1��(121 mm), 15 �� 42.675 ���S, 38 �� 37.298 ���W ��� 15 �� 44.231 ���S, 38 �� 39.196 ���W, RV THALASSA st. E 511, bottom trawl, 233���294 m, 12 Jun. 2000. MOVI 38798 -38799, 13 and 1 ��(108���113 mm) and ZMUC P771668, 1��(127 mm), 13 ��08.894���S, 38 �� 28.687 'W ��� 13 ��07.255'S, 38 �� 26.235 'W, RV THALASSA st. E 516, bottom trawl, 317���416 m, 19 Jun. 2000. Diagnosis. Neobythites ocellatus differs from all other Atlantic Neobythites species by the position of the two ocelli on the dorsal fin, an anterior ocellus (snout to ocellus-spot 28���30 % SL covering 5���7 rays) and a central ocellus (snout to ocellus-spot 45���50 % SL covering 8���11 rays), in eight specimens followed by a faint, brown spot (snout to spot 64���69 % SL covering 3���6 rays) and by the following combination of characters: preopercular spine absent or thin and flat, dorsal fin rays 96���100, anal fin rays 81���85, and vertebrae 56���58. Similarity. Neobythites ocellatus is most similar to N. multiocellatus. See the remarks in "Similarity" under N. multiocellatus and in Table 3. *often so bleached that it is difficult to decide whether it is a spot or an ocellus-spot. Description. The principal meristic and morphometric characters are given in Tables 2���4. Elongate fish with an indistinct lateral line. Head and body covered by small, overlapping, cycloid scales. Origin of dorsal fin above pectoral fin base, anal fin origin well in front of midpoint of fish and pelvic fin not reaching anus. Snout blunt equal in length to horizontal eye window. Maxilla ends well posterior to eye. Teeth small and granular somewhat larger in palatines and vomer. Two median basibranchial tooth patches, the anterior narrow and long and the posterior small and round. Anterior nostril ending in a tube and the larger posterior nostril with a low rim. Posterior margin of preopercle with a broad, flat spine and opercular spine strong and straight. Anterior gill arch with 1���3 small knobs and 4���5 long rakers on upper branch, one long raker in the angle, and lower branch with 8���10 long rakers (total long rakers 14���16) and 3���7 small knobs. Pseudobranchial filaments 3���4. Sagittal otolith (Fig. 7): The oval sagitta is moderately compressed, 1.5 times as long as high. The anterior tip is rounded and the posterior more pointed. The divided sulcus is 0.8 the length of the sagitta. With the ostium twice the length of the cauda. Osteal channel not developed. Axial skeleton (from radiographs): All neural and haemal spines with pointed tips. Anterior neural spine half the length of second spine. Vertebrae 3���8 with depressed neural spines. Base of neural spines 4���10 enlarged. Parapophyses on posterior six precaudal vertebrae. Pleural ribs on precaudal vertebrae 3���12 and epipleural ribs indistinct. Coloration: The following is based on material preserved for eight years. Body and head generally light brownish with head and dorsal part of sides mottled darker brown. Oral and branchial cavities brown, eyes and peritoneum blue and area around anus black. The dorsal fin has an anterior ocellus covering 5���7 rays and a central ocellus covering 8���11 rays. In eight specimens the central ocellus is followed by a small, brown spot covering 3���6 rays. A few specimens have 1���3 faint, small, dark spots on the anal fin. Distribution. Neobythites ocellatus is known from five closely situated localities off northeastern Brazil, from Pernambuco to Bahia, at depths from 233���641 m (Fig. 1)., Published as part of Nielsen, J��rgen G., Uiblein, Franz & Mincarone, Michael M., 2009, Ocellus-bearing Neobythites species (Teleostei: Ophidiidae) from the West Atlantic with description of a new species, pp. 57-68 in Zootaxa 2228 on pages 63-66, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.190249, {"references":["Gunther, A. (1887) Report on the deep sea fishes collected by the H. M. S. Challenger during the years 1873 - 76. Report on the scientific results of the voyage of H. M. S. Challenge r, 22, 1 - 268, pls. 1 - 66.","Miranda Ribeiro, A. (1915) Fauna Brasiliense. Peixes. Tomo V (Eleutherobranchios, Aspirophoros) - Physoclisti. Arquivos do Museo Nacional, Rio de Janeiro, 17, 1 - 679.","Mincarone, M. M., Nielsen, J. G. & Costa, P. A. S. (2008) Deep-sea ophidiiform fishes collected on the Brazilian continental slope, between 11 ° and 23 ° S. Zootaxa, 1770, 41 - 64."]}

Key to the species of ocellus-bearing West Atlantic Neobythites 1 a. Dorsal fin with one ocellus (central)......................................................................................................... monocellatus 1 b. Dorsal fin with 2–4 ocelli............................................................................................................................................. 2 2 a. Number of rays in dorsal fin 88–97 and anal fin 73–81, vertebrae 52–56.............................................................. gilli 2 b. Number of rays in dorsal fin 96–101 and anal fin 80–85, vertebrae 55–59................................................................. 3 3 a. Dorsal fin with two distinct ocelli, the anterior near origin of fin................................................................... ocellatus 3 b. Dorsal fin with 3–4 ocelli, the anterior above midpoint of fish..................................................... multiocellatus n. sp.

Neobythites monocellatus Nielsen 1999 (Figs. 1, 4��� 5) Neobythites monocellatus Nielsen 1999: 351, fig. 8 (type locality off Venezuela, 9 �� 53 ���N, 59 �� 53 ���W). Neobythites monocellatus: Mincarone et al. 2008: 53, fig. 3 N. Material examined. 71 specimens, SL 36���154 mm. Holotype and 69 paratypes: for catalog numbers and localities see Nielsen (1999: 351). Additional material: MOVI 39139, unripe, 97 mm SL, 13 �� 22.057 ���S, 38 �� 40.204 'W ��� 13 �� 19.472 ���S, 38 �� 38.035 ���W, RV THALASSA, st. E 500, bottom trawl, 360���433 m, 8 Jun. 2000. Diagnosis. Neobythites monocellatus differs from all other Atlantic Neobythites species by having only one ocellus on the dorsal fin, placed anteriorly to the midpoint of the fish (snout to ocellus-spot 41.0���51.0 % SL) and by the following combination of characters: preopercle lacking a distinct spine on the posterior edge (rather developed as a flat, broad process), dorsal fin rays 93���99, anal fin rays 78���83, and total vertebrae 54��� 58. Similarity. Judging from the number of ocelli on the dorsal fin (Table 3) N. monocellatus is closest to N. gilli and N. ocellatus which both have two distinct ocelli. In meristic characters N. monocellatus is closest to N. multiocellatus and N. ocellatus. Description. Table 1 shows a comparison between the Brazilian specimen and the type material (70 specimens). In spite of the large geographical separation between the type material and the new Brazilian specimen the latter falls within the variation of all characters. For comparison reasons the sagittal otolith is shown on Figure 5. See Nielsen (1999: 351) for a detailed description. Distribution. Neobythites monocellatus is found from Honduras and along the north coast of South America to French Guiana and now also off Bahia, Brazil (13 ��S), an extension of ca. 3000 km (Fig. 1). Caught on the continental shelf and upper slope, at depths from 117 to 439 m., Published as part of Nielsen, J��rgen G., Uiblein, Franz & Mincarone, Michael M., 2009, Ocellus-bearing Neobythites species (Teleostei: Ophidiidae) from the West Atlantic with description of a new species, pp. 57-68 in Zootaxa 2228 on pages 62-63, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.190249, {"references":["Mincarone, M. M., Nielsen, J. G. & Costa, P. A. S. (2008) Deep-sea ophidiiform fishes collected on the Brazilian continental slope, between 11 ° and 23 ° S. Zootaxa, 1770, 41 - 64."]}

Lamprogrammus brunswigi (Brauer 1906) (Fig. 3L) Material examined. MOVI 38591-38592 (2, 990– 1010 mm SL), E-0507. Diagnosis. Maxilla free, not sheathed posteriodorsally; one median basibranchial tooth patch. Distribution. Circumglobal, except for eastern Pacific, at depths from 800 to 1600 m (Cohen et al. 1991). Remarks. First record in Brazilian waters. Collected from a single station off Bahia, from 1012 to 1049 m depth. A rare species, of which just 9 specimens (including the two herein presented) larger than 90 cm are known., Published as part of Mincarone, Michael M., Nielsen, Jørgen G., Costa, Paulo A. S. & Rv, Rv, 2008, Deep-sea ophidiiform fishes collected on the Brazilian continental slope, between 11 ° and 23 ° S, pp. 41-64 in Zootaxa 1770 (1) on page 52, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.1770.1.2, http://zenodo.org/record/5123954, {"references":["Cohen, D. M.; Hensley, D. A. & Kimmel, J. J. (1991) The deepsea ophidiid fish genus Lamprogrammus, a senior synonym of Bassobythites, with notes on the synonymy and distribution of L. brunswigi. Japanese Journal of Ichthyology, 38 (2), 125 - 132."]}

Porogadus miles Goode & Bean 1885 (Fig. 3S) Material examined. 4 specimens, 217–298 mm SL: MOVI 38728-38729 (2, 261– 298 mm), E-0520; MOVI 38732 (1, 277 mm), E-0537; MOVI 38810 (1, 217 mm), E-0552. Diagnosis. Head depth less than 60% of head length; spines on top and sides of head well developed; frontal spine above eye present; 40 or more lateral line scales to level of anus. Distribution. Tropical and subtropical areas of all oceans, at depths from 1000 to 5055 m (Nielsen et al. 1999). Remarks. First record in Brazilian waters. Collected off Bahia and Espírito Santo, from 1522 to 2271 m depth., Published as part of Mincarone, Michael M., Nielsen, Jørgen G., Costa, Paulo A. S. & Rv, Rv, 2008, Deep-sea ophidiiform fishes collected on the Brazilian continental slope, between 11 ° and 23 ° S, pp. 41-64 in Zootaxa 1770 (1) on page 55, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.1770.1.2, http://zenodo.org/record/5123954, {"references":["Nielsen, J. G., Cohen, D. M., Markle, D. F. & Robins, C. R. (1999) FAO species catalogue. Volume 18. Ophidiiform fishes of the world (Order Ophidiiformes). An annotated and illustrated catalogue of pearlfishes, cusk-eels, brotulas and other ophidiiform fishes known to date. FAO Fisheries Synopsis. No. 125, Vol. 18. FAO, Rome, 178 pp."]}

Acanthonus Günther 1878 Type species. Acanthonus armatus Günther 1878, by monotypy. Diagnosis. Ophidiid with large head; snout with prominent, bifid spine; opercular spine long and slender extending well beyond rear margin of head, well developed spines at lower angle of preopercle; eye small; 1 to 4 median basibranchial tooth patches; pectoral fin-rays 16–19, pelvic fin-rays 2; 16 to 22 developed gill rakers; precudal vertebrae 9–10., Published as part of Mincarone, Michael M., Nielsen, Jørgen G., Costa, Paulo A. S. & Rv, Rv, 2008, Deep-sea ophidiiform fishes collected on the Brazilian continental slope, between 11 ° and 23 ° S, pp. 41-64 in Zootaxa 1770 (1) on page 48, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.1770.1.2, http://zenodo.org/record/5123954

Barathrodemus manatinus Goode & Bean 1883 (Fig. 3E) Material examined. 7 specimens, 93–151 mm SL: MOVI 38806-38807 (2, 114– 121 mm), E-0547; MOVI 38812-38813 (2, 132– 151 mm), AG1-17; MOVI 38818 (1, 130 mm), AG2-1; MOVI 38830 (1, 95– 105 mm), AG2-1; MOVI 38835 (1, 93 mm), AG1-13. Diagnosis. Dorsal fin-rays 106–107 and anal fin-rays 85–87. Distribution. Tropical western North Atlantic (Nielsen et al. 1999), and off eastern Brazil. Remarks. First record in Brazilian waters. Colleted off Rio de Janeiro, from 1060 to 1318 m depth., Published as part of Mincarone, Michael M., Nielsen, Jørgen G., Costa, Paulo A. S. & Rv, Rv, 2008, Deep-sea ophidiiform fishes collected on the Brazilian continental slope, between 11 ° and 23 ° S, pp. 41-64 in Zootaxa 1770 (1) on page 49, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.1770.1.2, http://zenodo.org/record/5123954, {"references":["Nielsen, J. G., Cohen, D. M., Markle, D. F. & Robins, C. R. (1999) FAO species catalogue. Volume 18. Ophidiiform fishes of the world (Order Ophidiiformes). An annotated and illustrated catalogue of pearlfishes, cusk-eels, brotulas and other ophidiiform fishes known to date. FAO Fisheries Synopsis. No. 125, Vol. 18. FAO, Rome, 178 pp."]}

Holcomycteronus Garman 1899 Type species. Holcomycteronus digittatus Garman 1899, by monotypy. Diagnosis. Ophidiid with a robust body and rounded snout; eye diameter much shorter than snout; opercular spine strong; 7–11 developed gillrakers; pelvic fins with 2 rays in each flattened distally and somewhat thicker in males; two median and a pair of basibranchial tooth patches., Published as part of Mincarone, Michael M., Nielsen, Jørgen G., Costa, Paulo A. S. & Rv, Rv, 2008, Deep-sea ophidiiform fishes collected on the Brazilian continental slope, between 11 ° and 23 ° S, pp. 41-64 in Zootaxa 1770 (1) on page 51, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.1770.1.2, http://zenodo.org/record/5123954, {"references":["Garman, S. (1899) The Fishes. In: Reports on an exploration off the west coasts of Mexico, Central and South America, and off the Galapagos Islands in charge of Alexander Agassiz, by the the U. S. Fish Commission steamer \" Albatross \", during 1891, Lieut. Commander Z. L. Tanner, U. S. N., commanding. XXVI. Memoirs of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, 24, 1 - 431, Atlas: pls. 1 - 85 + A - M."]}

Luciobrotula Smith & Radcliffe 1913 Type species Luciobrotula bartschi Smith & Radcliffe 1913, by original designation. Diagnosis. Ophidiid with a short, rather high body and depressed snout; dorsal fin origin above tip of pectorals; opercular spine present; anterior gill arch with three developed rakers; one median basibranchial tooth patch; pelvic fins with two rays in each.

Bassogigas gilli Goode & Bean 1896 (Fig. 3F) Material examined. 11 specimens, 383–874 mm SL: MOVI 38587-38590 (4, 548– 874 mm), E-0526; MOVI 38593 (1, 820 mm), E-0509; MOVI 38594 (1, 675 mm), E-0544; MOVI 38595 (1, 847 mm), E-0501; MOVI 38596 (1, 697 mm), E-0527; MOVI 38640-38641 (2, 383– 521 mm), AG1-8; MOVI 38677 (1, 394 mm), AG1-1. Diagnosis. As for genus. Distribution. Western Atlantic, from 40°N and 23°S, southern Africa between Cape Town and Madagascar, and off New Caledonia (Nielsen et al. 1999), at depths from 637 to 2239 m. Remarks. Collected from several stations off Bahia, Espírito Santo, and Rio de Janeiro, at depths from 1158 to 2239 m (depth record). Previously reported in Brazilian waters to north of Vitória-Trindade Seamount Chain, at 637 m depth (Séret & Andreata 1992)., Published as part of Mincarone, Michael M., Nielsen, Jørgen G., Costa, Paulo A. S. & Rv, Rv, 2008, Deep-sea ophidiiform fishes collected on the Brazilian continental slope, between 11 ° and 23 ° S, pp. 41-64 in Zootaxa 1770 (1) on page 49, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.1770.1.2, http://zenodo.org/record/5123954, {"references":["Goode, G. B. & Bean, T. H. (1896) Oceanic ichthyology, a treatise on the deep-sea and pelagic fishes of the world, based chiefly upon the collections made by the steamers Blake, Albatross, and Fish Hawk in the northwestern Atlantic, with an atlas containing 417 figures. United States National Museum, Special Bulletin, 2, 1 - 553, pls. 1 - 123.","Nielsen, J. G., Cohen, D. M., Markle, D. F. & Robins, C. R. (1999) FAO species catalogue. Volume 18. Ophidiiform fishes of the world (Order Ophidiiformes). An annotated and illustrated catalogue of pearlfishes, cusk-eels, brotulas and other ophidiiform fishes known to date. FAO Fisheries Synopsis. No. 125, Vol. 18. FAO, Rome, 178 pp.","Seret, B. & Andreata, J. V. (1992) Deep-sea fishes collected during cruise MD- 55 off Brazil. Cybium, 16 (1), 81 - 100."]}

Monomitopus Alcock 1890 Type species. Sirembo nigripinnis Alcock 1889, by monotypy. Diagnosis. Ophidiid with an eye diameter equal to or slightly shorter than snout; opercular spine strong; preopercular with 2–3 more or less distinct spines at lower angle; one median basibranchial tooth patch; pelvic fins with one ray in each., Published as part of Mincarone, Michael M., Nielsen, Jørgen G., Costa, Paulo A. S. & Rv, Rv, 2008, Deep-sea ophidiiform fishes collected on the Brazilian continental slope, between 11 ° and 23 ° S, pp. 41-64 in Zootaxa 1770 (1) on page 53, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.1770.1.2, http://zenodo.org/record/5123954

Penopus Goode & Bean 1896 Type species. Penopus macdonaldi Goode & Bean 1896, by monotypy. Diagnosis. Ophidiid with head anteriorly depressed; snout long and projecting over mouth; depth at anus about 10 times in standard length; eyes very small; opercle with a strong and curved spine; 3 lateral lines with circular organs.

Mincarone, Michael M., Nielsen, Jørgen G., Costa, Paulo A. S., Rv, Rv (2008): Deep-sea ophidiiform fishes collected on the Brazilian continental slope, between 11° and 23°S. Zootaxa 1770 (1): 41-64, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.1770.1.2, URL: https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.1770.1.2

Bassogigas Goode & Bean 1896 Type species. Bassogigas gillii Goode & Bean 1896, by monotypy. Diagnosis. Ophidiid with a flat head; snout much longer than eye; 7 to 9 developed gillrakers; pectoral fin short and rounded, with 27–31 rays., Published as part of Mincarone, Michael M., Nielsen, Jørgen G., Costa, Paulo A. S. & Rv, Rv, 2008, Deep-sea ophidiiform fishes collected on the Brazilian continental slope, between 11 ° and 23 ° S, pp. 41-64 in Zootaxa 1770 (1) on page 49, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.1770.1.2, http://zenodo.org/record/5123954, {"references":["Goode, G. B. & Bean, T. H. (1896) Oceanic ichthyology, a treatise on the deep-sea and pelagic fishes of the world, based chiefly upon the collections made by the steamers Blake, Albatross, and Fish Hawk in the northwestern Atlantic, with an atlas containing 417 figures. United States National Museum, Special Bulletin, 2, 1 - 553, pls. 1 - 123."]}

Xyelacyba Cohen 1961 Type species. Xyelacyba myersi Cohen 1961, by original designation. Diagnosis. Ophidiid with body relatively short, depth at anus 26 to 29% of standard length; head massive and short, less than 25% of standard length; one prominent spine at upper angle of opercle, extending well beyond head and another at lower angle of preopercle; precaudal vertebrae 11–12., Published as part of Mincarone, Michael M., Nielsen, Jørgen G., Costa, Paulo A. S. & Rv, Rv, 2008, Deep-sea ophidiiform fishes collected on the Brazilian continental slope, between 11 ° and 23 ° S, pp. 41-64 in Zootaxa 1770 (1) on page 55, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.1770.1.2, http://zenodo.org/record/5123954

Bassozetus Gill 1883 Type species. Bassozetus normalis Gill 1883, by monotypy. Diagnosis. Ophidiid with opercular spine weak or absent; preopercle without spines and posteriorly expanded almost reaching posterior margin of opercle; snout inflated; pelvic fins with one ray in each., Published as part of Mincarone, Michael M., Nielsen, Jørgen G., Costa, Paulo A. S. & Rv, Rv, 2008, Deep-sea ophidiiform fishes collected on the Brazilian continental slope, between 11 ° and 23 ° S, pp. 41-64 in Zootaxa 1770 (1) on page 49, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.1770.1.2, http://zenodo.org/record/5123954

Dicrolene Goode & Bean 1883 Type species. Dicrolene introniger Goode & Bean 1883, by original designation. Diagnosis. Ophidiid with a blunt snout; eye diameter almost as long as snout; hind margin of preopercle usually with 3 sharp spines; pectoral fin rays 22–33 (lower 5–11 free and longer than upper ones); pelvic fins with two rays in each., Published as part of Mincarone, Michael M., Nielsen, Jørgen G., Costa, Paulo A. S. & Rv, Rv, 2008, Deep-sea ophidiiform fishes collected on the Brazilian continental slope, between 11 ° and 23 ° S, pp. 41-64 in Zootaxa 1770 (1) on page 50, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.1770.1.2, http://zenodo.org/record/5123954

Lepophidium Gill 1895 Type species. Leptophidium profundorum Gill 1863, by being a replacement name. Diagnosis. Ophidiid with a long, curved rostral spine, reaching tip of snout; head extensively covered with imbricate rows of cycloid scales; no basibranchial tooth patches., Published as part of Mincarone, Michael M., Nielsen, Jørgen G., Costa, Paulo A. S. & Rv, Rv, 2008, Deep-sea ophidiiform fishes collected on the Brazilian continental slope, between 11 ° and 23 ° S, pp. 41-64 in Zootaxa 1770 (1) on page 52, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.1770.1.2, http://zenodo.org/record/5123954

Monomitopus agassizii (Goode & Bean 1896) (Fig. 3M) Material examined. 28 specimens, 149–203 mm SL: MOVI 38699-38702 (4, 177– 201 mm), E-0522; MOVI 38703-38710 (8, 156– 203 mm), E-0517; MOVI 38717-38720 (4, 188– 195 mm), E-0503; MOVI 38721- 38727 (7, 179– 192 mm), E-0499; MOVI 38742 (1, 186 mm), E-0504; MOVI 38743-38745 (3, 150– 186 mm), E-0507; MOVI 38797 (1, 149 mm), AG1. Diagnosis. Head rather deep and downward inflected with poorly ossified opercular bones, anterior gill arch with 12–19 developed rakers on lower arm; 7–10 scales in an oblique row between origin of dorsal fin and lateral line. Distribution. Western Atlantic (Nielsen et al. 1999). Remarks. First record in Brazilian waters. Collected from several stations off Bahia and Rio de Janeiro, at depths from 266 to 1275 m. Previously known from 530 to 1010 m (Nielsen et al. 1999)., Published as part of Mincarone, Michael M., Nielsen, Jørgen G., Costa, Paulo A. S. & Rv, Rv, 2008, Deep-sea ophidiiform fishes collected on the Brazilian continental slope, between 11 ° and 23 ° S, pp. 41-64 in Zootaxa 1770 (1) on page 53, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.1770.1.2, http://zenodo.org/record/5123954, {"references":["Goode, G. B. & Bean, T. H. (1896) Oceanic ichthyology, a treatise on the deep-sea and pelagic fishes of the world, based chiefly upon the collections made by the steamers Blake, Albatross, and Fish Hawk in the northwestern Atlantic, with an atlas containing 417 figures. United States National Museum, Special Bulletin, 2, 1 - 553, pls. 1 - 123.","Nielsen, J. G., Cohen, D. M., Markle, D. F. & Robins, C. R. (1999) FAO species catalogue. Volume 18. Ophidiiform fishes of the world (Order Ophidiiformes). An annotated and illustrated catalogue of pearlfishes, cusk-eels, brotulas and other ophidiiform fishes known to date. FAO Fisheries Synopsis. No. 125, Vol. 18. FAO, Rome, 178 pp."]}

Eretmichthys Garman 1899 Type species. Eretmichthys pinnatus Garman 1899, by subsequent designation. Diagnosis. Ophidiid with eyes much smaller than snout; opercular spine absent; preopercular without spines and posteriorly expanded almost reaching posterior margin of opercle; lower pectoral fin rays extended well beyond anus in ripe males but not in unripe males and females; one median basibranchial tooth patch; pectoral fin with 25–29, pelvic fin with one ray in each; 15–20 developed gillrakers., Published as part of Mincarone, Michael M., Nielsen, Jørgen G., Costa, Paulo A. S. & Rv, Rv, 2008, Deep-sea ophidiiform fishes collected on the Brazilian continental slope, between 11 ° and 23 ° S, pp. 41-64 in Zootaxa 1770 (1) on page 51, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.1770.1.2, http://zenodo.org/record/5123954, {"references":["Garman, S. (1899) The Fishes. In: Reports on an exploration off the west coasts of Mexico, Central and South America, and off the Galapagos Islands in charge of Alexander Agassiz, by the the U. S. Fish Commission steamer \" Albatross \", during 1891, Lieut. Commander Z. L. Tanner, U. S. N., commanding. XXVI. Memoirs of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, 24, 1 - 431, Atlas: pls. 1 - 85 + A - M."]}

Penopus microphthalmus (Vaillant 1888) (Fig. 3Q) Material examined. 12 specimens, 174–267 mm SL: MOVI 38683 (1, 266 mm), E-0552; MOVI 38691- 38693 (3, 233– 262 mm), E-0551; MOVI 38740 (1, 247 mm), E-0537; MOVI 38746-38749 (4, 196– 267 mm), E-0535; MOVI 38803-38804 (2, 174– 222 mm), AG2-1; MOVI 38811 (1, 233 mm), AG1-7. Diagnosis. As for genus. Distribution. Atlantic Ocean, at depths from 960 to 3535 m (Séret & Andreata 1992; Nielsen et al. 1999). Remarks. Collected from several stations off Espírito Santo and Rio de Janeiro, from 984 to 1699 m depth. Previously reported in Brazilian waters by Séret (1988) and Séret & Andreata (1992) off Espírito Santo, 960–1320 m depth. Erroneously named as Penopus microcephalus by Nielsen et al. (1999)., Published as part of Mincarone, Michael M., Nielsen, Jørgen G., Costa, Paulo A. S. & Rv, Rv, 2008, Deep-sea ophidiiform fishes collected on the Brazilian continental slope, between 11 ° and 23 ° S, pp. 41-64 in Zootaxa 1770 (1) on page 54, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.1770.1.2, http://zenodo.org/record/5123954, {"references":["Vaillant, L. (1888) Poissons. Expeditions Scientifiques du Travailleur et du Talisman pendant les annees 1880, 1881, 1882, 1883. G. Masson, Paris, 406 pp, 28 pls.","Seret, B. & Andreata, J. V. (1992) Deep-sea fishes collected during cruise MD- 55 off Brazil. Cybium, 16 (1), 81 - 100.","Nielsen, J. G., Cohen, D. M., Markle, D. F. & Robins, C. R. (1999) FAO species catalogue. Volume 18. Ophidiiform fishes of the world (Order Ophidiiformes). An annotated and illustrated catalogue of pearlfishes, cusk-eels, brotulas and other ophidiiform fishes known to date. FAO Fisheries Synopsis. No. 125, Vol. 18. FAO, Rome, 178 pp.","Seret, B. (1988) Captures nouvelles de Penopus microphthalmus (Vaillant, 1888), et statut de Penopus macdonaldi Goode & Bean, 1896 (Pisces, Ophidiidae). Cybium, 12 (4), 281 - 286."]}

Neobythites Goode & Bean 1885 Type species. Neobythites gilli Goode & Bean 1885, by monotypy. Diagnosis. Ophidiid with horizontal diameter of eye window equal to or slightly shorter than snout; opercular spine strong and straight; 2 median basibranchial tooth patches; pelvic fins with two rays in each; often with ocelli and dark blotches in dorsal and anal fins. Remarks. Examination of the present 18 Neobythites specimens showed three different ocellus-patterns: one specimen with one ocellus in the dorsal and none in the anal fin (= N. monocellatus), 12 specimens with two ocelli in the dorsal fin (= the holotype of N. ocellatus caught at 9°5'S, 34°50'W) and five specimens with 3–5 ocelli in the dorsal and 2–4 in the anal fin (= the 308 specimens of N. ocellatus caught in the Caribbean Sea and further north [see Nielsen 1999, fig. 10]). This indicates that the typical N. ocellatus specimens are restricted to the continental slope off mid-Brazil and that the five specimens with more ocelli are similar to the 308 more northerly caught specimens. A manuscript dealing with the West Atlantic ocellus-bearing Neobythites species is under preparation., Published as part of Mincarone, Michael M., Nielsen, Jørgen G., Costa, Paulo A. S. & Rv, Rv, 2008, Deep-sea ophidiiform fishes collected on the Brazilian continental slope, between 11 ° and 23 ° S, pp. 41-64 in Zootaxa 1770 (1) on page 53, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.1770.1.2, http://zenodo.org/record/5123954

Lamprogrammus Alcock 1891 Type species. Lamprogrammus niger Alcock 1891, by monotypy. Diagnosis. Ophidiid with a terminal mouth; lateral line covered with small scales, beneath which lie vertically oriented, spindle-shaped neuromasts, each of which mounted on a large, vertically elongate scale; head bones cavernous and poorly ossified; 0–1 basibranchial tooth plate; pelvic fins absent in adults., Published as part of Mincarone, Michael M., Nielsen, Jørgen G., Costa, Paulo A. S. & Rv, Rv, 2008, Deep-sea ophidiiform fishes collected on the Brazilian continental slope, between 11 ° and 23 ° S, pp. 41-64 in Zootaxa 1770 (1) on page 51, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.1770.1.2, http://zenodo.org/record/5123954

Holcomycteronus squamosus (Roule 1916) (Fig. 3J) Material examined. MOVI 38682 (1, 285 mm SL), AG1-2. Diagnosis. Number of dorsal fin-rays 107–119, anal fin-rays 86–93, pectoral fin-rays 20 and vertebrae 70–73; paired basibranchial tooth patches do not overlap median tooth patches; otolith almost circular. Distribution. Atlantic Ocean (Nielsen et al. 1999), at depths from 1981 to 5005 m. Remarks. First record in Brazilian waters. Collected from a single station off Rio de Janeiro, at 1122– 1147 m depth., Published as part of Mincarone, Michael M., Nielsen, Jørgen G., Costa, Paulo A. S. & Rv, Rv, 2008, Deep-sea ophidiiform fishes collected on the Brazilian continental slope, between 11 ° and 23 ° S, pp. 41-64 in Zootaxa 1770 (1) on page 51, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.1770.1.2, http://zenodo.org/record/5123954, {"references":["Nielsen, J. G., Cohen, D. M., Markle, D. F. & Robins, C. R. (1999) FAO species catalogue. Volume 18. Ophidiiform fishes of the world (Order Ophidiiformes). An annotated and illustrated catalogue of pearlfishes, cusk-eels, brotulas and other ophidiiform fishes known to date. FAO Fisheries Synopsis. No. 125, Vol. 18. FAO, Rome, 178 pp."]}

Eretmichthys pinnatus Garman 1899 (Fig. 3I) Material examined. 3 specimens, 189–277 mm SL: MOVI 38730-38731 (2, 189– 207 mm), E-0520; MOVI 39180 (1, 277 mm), E-0520. Diagnosis. As for genus. Distribution. Indo-Pacific Oceans, and western Atlantic, at depths from 1355 to 2820 m (Nielsen et al. 1999). Remarks. First record in Brazilian waters. Collected from a single station off Bahia, at 1981–2271 m depth., Published as part of Mincarone, Michael M., Nielsen, Jørgen G., Costa, Paulo A. S. & Rv, Rv, 2008, Deep-sea ophidiiform fishes collected on the Brazilian continental slope, between 11 ° and 23 ° S, pp. 41-64 in Zootaxa 1770 (1) on page 51, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.1770.1.2, http://zenodo.org/record/5123954, {"references":["Garman, S. (1899) The Fishes. In: Reports on an exploration off the west coasts of Mexico, Central and South America, and off the Galapagos Islands in charge of Alexander Agassiz, by the the U. S. Fish Commission steamer \" Albatross \", during 1891, Lieut. Commander Z. L. Tanner, U. S. N., commanding. XXVI. Memoirs of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, 24, 1 - 431, Atlas: pls. 1 - 85 + A - M.","Nielsen, J. G., Cohen, D. M., Markle, D. F. & Robins, C. R. (1999) FAO species catalogue. Volume 18. Ophidiiform fishes of the world (Order Ophidiiformes). An annotated and illustrated catalogue of pearlfishes, cusk-eels, brotulas and other ophidiiform fishes known to date. FAO Fisheries Synopsis. No. 125, Vol. 18. FAO, Rome, 178 pp."]}

Barathrites Zugmayer 1911 Type species. Barathrites iris Zugmayer 1911, by monotypy. Diagnosis. Ophidiid with small head, about 3 times in preanal length; anterior nostril thick, fleshy raised rim; vomerine teeth in a diamond-shaped patch; 18 precaudal vertebrae., Published as part of Mincarone, Michael M., Nielsen, Jørgen G., Costa, Paulo A. S. & Rv, Rv, 2008, Deep-sea ophidiiform fishes collected on the Brazilian continental slope, between 11 ° and 23 ° S, pp. 41-64 in Zootaxa 1770 (1) on page 48, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.1770.1.2, http://zenodo.org/record/5123954

Porogadus catena (Goode & Bean 1885) (Fig. 3R) Material examined. 29 specimens, 74–215 mm SL: MOVI 38766-38788 (23, 74– 180 mm), E-0520; MOVI 38791-38794 (4, 154– 176 mm), E-0509; MOVI 38814 (1, 180 mm), E-0496; MOVI 38823 (1, 215 mm), AG1-6. Diagnosis. Head depth less than 60% of head length; spines on top and sides of head poorly developed; frontal spine above eye present; 28–36 lateral line scales to level of anus. Distribution. Western Atlantic and Gulf of Panama, at depths from 1180 to 3500 m (Nielsen et al. 1999). Remarks. First record in Brazilian waters. Collected off Bahia and Rio de Janeiro, from 1635 to 2271 m depth., Published as part of Mincarone, Michael M., Nielsen, Jørgen G., Costa, Paulo A. S. & Rv, Rv, 2008, Deep-sea ophidiiform fishes collected on the Brazilian continental slope, between 11 ° and 23 ° S, pp. 41-64 in Zootaxa 1770 (1) on page 55, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.1770.1.2, http://zenodo.org/record/5123954, {"references":["Nielsen, J. G., Cohen, D. M., Markle, D. F. & Robins, C. R. (1999) FAO species catalogue. Volume 18. Ophidiiform fishes of the world (Order Ophidiiformes). An annotated and illustrated catalogue of pearlfishes, cusk-eels, brotulas and other ophidiiform fishes known to date. FAO Fisheries Synopsis. No. 125, Vol. 18. FAO, Rome, 178 pp."]}

Neobythites monocellatus Nielsen 1999 (Fig. 3N) Material examined. MOVI 39139 (1, 97 mm SL), E-0500. Diagnosis. No preopercular spine; dorsal fin with 1 ocellus, none on anal fin. Distribution. Western Atlantic from off Honduras to off Bahia, at depths from 115 to 440 m. Remarks. First record in Brazilian waters. Collected from a single station off Bahia, from 360 to 433 m. The 97 mm specimen falls within the variation of all the characters listed by Nielsen (1999, Table 5) which was based on the examination of 71 specimens., Published as part of Mincarone, Michael M., Nielsen, Jørgen G., Costa, Paulo A. S. & Rv, Rv, 2008, Deep-sea ophidiiform fishes collected on the Brazilian continental slope, between 11 ° and 23 ° S, pp. 41-64 in Zootaxa 1770 (1) on page 53, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.1770.1.2, http://zenodo.org/record/5123954