Search

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.

Barathronus affinis Brauer, 1906 Table 1. Figs. 2���4 Barathronus affinis Brauer, 1906: 306 (type locality: 1��57���S, 73��19���1������E). Barathronus affinis: Brauer 1908: 161; Munk 1966: 37; Nielsen et al. 1999: 138. Material examined (1 specimen, SL 47 mm). Holotype: ZMB 17700 (SL 47 mm, female), Chagos Archipelago, Indian Ocean, 1��57���S, 73��19.1��� E, RV Valdivia, st. 220, bottom trawl, 2919 m, 21 Feb.1899. Diagnosis. Barathronus affinis differs from the other four Barathronus species with a transparent peritoneum by the following combination of characters: Two fangs on vomer, ventral flexure of anteriormost vertebrae, long rakers on anterior gill arch 20, dorsal-fin rays 77, anal-fin rays 67, pectoral-fin rays 22, precaudal vertebrae 34, total vertebrae 78. Except for black lenses the preserved specimen is uniformly white-yellowish. Otoliths dissolved. Description. Only the holotype is known. See the detailed descriptions in Brauer (1906: 306) and Nielsen (1969: 48). The principal meristic and morphometric characters are shown in Table 1. Comparisons. Barathronus affinis seems most similar to B. linsi but differs by having fewer fangs on vomer (2 vs 8) and fewer long gill rakers (20 vs 25). Distribution (Fig.2). Caught in a bottom trawl at 2919 m off the Chagos Archipelago, Indian Ocean. ., Published as part of Nielsen, J��rgen G., 2019, Revision of the circumglobal genus Barathronus (Ophidiiformes, Bythitidae) with a new species from the eastern North Atlantic Ocean, pp. 231-256 in Zootaxa 4679 (2) on page 234, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4679.2.2, http://zenodo.org/record/3772453, {"references":["Brauer, A. (1906) Die Tiefsee-Fische. I. Systematischer Teil. Deutsche Tiefsee-Expedition \" Valdivia \", 15, 1 - 432.","Brauer, A. (1908) Die Tiefsee-Fische. II. Anatomischer Teil. Deutsche Tiefsee-Expedition \" Valdivia \", 15, 1 - 266.","Munk, O. (1966) Ocular degeneration of some deep-sea teleosts. Dana Report, No. 70, 1 - 62.","Nielsen, J. G., Cohen, D. M., Markle, D. F. & Robins, C. R. (1999) FAO species catalogue. Vol. 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.","Nielsen, J. G. (1969) Systematics and Biology of the Aphyonidae (Pisces, Ophidioidea). Galathea Report, 10, 1 - 89."]}

Barathronus bruuni Nielsen, 1969 Table 1. Figs. 2, 9 Barathronus bruuni Nielsen, 1969: 51 (type locality: 29��45���S, 64��58���E). Barathronus bruuni: Nielsen et al. 1999: 138. Material examined (1 specimen, SL 39 mm). Holotype: USNM 202104 (SL 39 mm, female), SW Indian Ocean, 29��45���S, 64��58���E, RV Anton Bruun, cr. 6, st. 351 B, Isaacs-Kidd midwater trawl, about 1700 m (sounding 4825 m), 28 June 1964. Diagnosis. Barathronus bruuni differs from the other five Barathronus species with pigmented peritoneum by the following combination of characters: dorsal-fin rays 81, anal-fin rays 73, pectoral-fin rays 25, long rakers on anterior gill arch 33, precaudal vertebrae 36, total vertebrae 86, no ventral flexure of anteriormost vertebrae, 3 fangs on vomer. A distinct brown streak in midline of body and a concentration of brown pigment between dorsal fin and nape. The rounded, 1 mm long otoliths seen through of the skull. Description. Only the holotype is known. For a detailed description see Nielsen (1969: 51). The principal meristic and morphometric characters are shown in Table 1. Comparisons. Barathronus bruuni seems most similar to B. maculatus but differs by having more anal fin rays (73 vs 54���66), more vertebrae (86 vs 74���79) and origin of anal fin below dorsal fin ray no. 10 in B. bruuni and below nos. 15���23 in B. maculatus. Distribution (Fig. 2). Caught pelagically between 1700 m and the surface in the southwestern Indian Ocean., Published as part of Nielsen, J��rgen G., 2019, Revision of the circumglobal genus Barathronus (Ophidiiformes, Bythitidae) with a new species from the eastern North Atlantic Ocean, pp. 231-256 in Zootaxa 4679 (2) on page 239, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4679.2.2, http://zenodo.org/record/3772453, {"references":["Nielsen, J. G. (1969) Systematics and Biology of the Aphyonidae (Pisces, Ophidioidea). Galathea Report, 10, 1 - 89.","Nielsen, J. G., Cohen, D. M., Markle, D. F. & Robins, C. R. (1999) FAO species catalogue. Vol. 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."]}

Barathronus diaphanus Brauer, 1906 Table 1. Figs. 2, 10���12 Barathronus diaphanus Brauer, 1906: 305 (type locality: 2��58.8���N, 47��6.1���E). Barathronus diaphanus: Weber 1913: 551; Beaufort & Chapman 1951: 406; Nielsen 1969: 44; Nielsen et al. 1999: 138; Nielsen & M��ller 2008: 39. Material examined (24 specimens, SL 54-130 mm). Holotype: ZMB 17699 (SL 117, female), off Somalia, 2��58.8���N, 47��6.1���E, RV Valdivia, st. 259, trawl, 1289 m, 28 Mar. 1899. Non-types: ZMA 104.467 (SL 59 mm, female), off Timor, 10��48.6���S, 123��23.1���E, RV Siboga, st. 300, trawl, 918 m, 30 Jan. 1900. ZSI 1050/1 (SL 65 and 70 mm, 2 females), Andaman Sea, 13��29���30������N, 95��29���E, RV Investigator, St. 310, Agassiz trawl, 1756 m, 5 Nov. 1902. HKFRS- uncatalogued (SL 92 mm, male), South China Sea, 19��40���N, 115��30���E, RV Cape St. Mary, cr. 1/64, st. 26, Agassiz trawl, 732���796 m, 7 Jan. 1964. MNHN 2019-0035 (SL 113 mm, female), off Northwest Madagascar, 12��27���S, 48��10���E, RV Vauban, trawl 22, 680��� 700 m, 19 Jan. 1972. MNHN 2019���0031 - 34 (4 spms., SL 100���110 mm, 4 females), off Southeast Madagascar, 22��16.9���S, 42��56���E, RV Vauban, Crosnier coll., trawl 109, 1500 m, 30 Nov. 1973. MNHN 2019-0036 (SL 115 mm, male), off Northwest Madagascar, 13��04���S, 47��51.5���E, RV Vauban, trawl 134, 1865��� 2030 m, 21 Jan. 1975. MNHN 2002-3134 (SL 85 mm, male), Coral Sea, 19��54���S, 158��37���58.8������E, RV Coriolis/Musorstom 5, dw337, 412��� 430 m, 15 Oct. 1986. MNHN 1995-0913 (SL 95 mm, female), off Vanuatu, 18��51���S, 168��55���1.2������E, RV Alis/Musorstom 8, cp1007, 720��� 830 m, 25 Sep. 1994. MNHN 1995-0919 (SL 54 mm, male), off Vanuatu, 15��48���S, 167��24���E, RV Alis/Musorstom 8, cp1074, 775��� 798 m, 4 Oct. 1994. MNHN 1995- 0914 (SL 96 and 104 mm, 2 males), off Vanuatu, 14��49���1.2������S, 167��15���E, RV Alis / Musorstom 8, cp1110, 1360 m, 8 Oct. 1994. MNHN 2004-0924 (SL 72 mm, female), off Fiji Is., 17��09���S, 177��55���58.8������E, RV Alis / Musorstom 10, cp1331, 694��� 703 m, 8 Aug. 1998. MNHN 2004-0925 (SL 88 mm, male), off Fiji Is., 17��03���S, 177��46���58.8������E, RV Alis / Musorstom 10, cp1335, 729��� 753 m, 9 Aug. 1998. MNHN 2015-0052 (SL 112 mm, male), Tonga, 23��28���S, 176��22���W, RV Alis / Bordau 2, st. cp 1625, 824 m, 19 June 2001. MNHN 2006-0699 (SL 65 mm, male), Solomon Isls., 9��0���21.6������S, 159��4���15.6������E, RV Alis / Salomon 2, cp2175, 579��� 585 m, 21 Oct. 2004. ZMUC P 771585 (SL 96 mm, female), Solomon Sea, 13��45���S, 156��41���E, RV Galathea 3, st. 0611219-05, otter trawl, 2255���2283 m, 19 Dec. 2006, ZMUC P 771586 (SL 112 mm, female), Solomon Sea, 7��25���S, 155��44.7���E, RV Galathea 3, st. 061227-01, 1.2 m Agassiz trawl, 1012���1094 m, 27 Dec. 2006. NSMT-P 111903 (SL 130 mm, female), Ryukyu Is., 25��19.992���N, 125��24.912���E to 25��20.354���N, 125��26.659���E, RV Tansei-maru, beam trawl, 1927��� 1901 m, 30 Nov. 2012. MNHN 2016-0166 (SL 110+ mm, female), Mahajanga, Madagascar, 15��31���S, 45��42���E, MOZ1 _CP4, beam trawl, 806 m, 9 Oct. 2014. Diagnosis. Barathronus diaphanus differs from the other five species of the genus with dark-pigmented peritoneum by the following combination of characters: dorsal-fin rays 58���73, anal-fin rays 48���61, long rakers on anterior gill arch 25���35, precaudal vertebrae 30���35, total vertebrae 66���75, vomer with 1���5 fangs, paired bulbs at basis of penis not developed, no ventral flexure of anteriormost vertebrae. Ripe males with rather thick penis. Newly-caught specimens bright red, preserved specimens light-brownish with dark-blue peritoneum. Otolith (Fig. 11) similar to that of B. bicolor (Fig. 8). Description. For a detailed description see Nielsen (1969: 44). The principal meristic and morphometric characters are shown in Table 1. Comparisons. For a comparison to the very similar species, B. bicolor, see page 6. Distribution (Fig. 2). From Madagascar to Japan and Tonga ls. at depths of 579���2030 m., Published as part of Nielsen, J��rgen G., 2019, Revision of the circumglobal genus Barathronus (Ophidiiformes, Bythitidae) with a new species from the eastern North Atlantic Ocean, pp. 231-256 in Zootaxa 4679 (2) on pages 241-243, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4679.2.2, http://zenodo.org/record/3772453, {"references":["Brauer, A. (1906) Die Tiefsee-Fische. I. Systematischer Teil. Deutsche Tiefsee-Expedition \" Valdivia \", 15, 1 - 432.","Weber, M. (1913) Die Fische der Siboga-Expedition. Siboga-Expedition, 57, 1 - 710.","Beaufort, L. F. De & Chapman, W. M. (1951) Fishes of the Indo-Australian Archipelago, 9, 1 - 484.","Nielsen, J. G. (1969) Systematics and Biology of the Aphyonidae (Pisces, Ophidioidea). Galathea Report, 10, 1 - 89.","Nielsen, J. G., Cohen, D. M., Markle, D. F. & Robins, C. R. (1999) FAO species catalogue. Vol. 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.","Nielsen, J. G. & Moller, P. R. (2008) New and rare deep-sea ophidiiform fishes from the Solomon Sea caught by the Danish Galathea 3 Expedition. Steenstrupia, 30 (1), 21 - 46."]}

Barathronus bicolor Goode & Bean, 1886 Table 1. Figs. 1, 7���8 Barathronus bicolor Goode & Bean, 1886: 164 (type locality: 16��03���10������N, 61��52���20������W). Barathronus bicolor: Gilchrist 1906: 158; Nielsen et al. 1968: 247; Nielsen 1969: 31; Rannou et al. 1975: 1255; Nielsen et al. 1999: 138; Nielsen et al. 2015: 58. Material examined (74 specimens). Old material (54 specimens, SL 58���140 mm). See Nielsen (1969 ���station data for 42 specimens), Rannou et al. (1975 ���station data for 9 specimens) and Nielsen, Mincarone & Di Dario(2015 - station data for 3 specimens). New material (20 specimens, SL 72���115 mm): MNHN 1963-0630 (SL 98 mm, female), Gulf of Mexico, 24��25���1.2������N, 83��28���58.8������W, RV Oregon, st. 4145, trawl, 549 m, 14 Dec. 1962. TCWC 6154.2 (SL 115 mm, female), Gulf of Mexico, 18��54���N, 94��58.8���W, RV Alaminos, st. 69A11-27, trawl, 780���825 m, 14 Aug. 1969. TCWC 3972.1 (SL 100 mm, female), Gulf of Mexico, 19��01���N, 94��59���W, RV Alaminos, st. 69A11-39, trawl, 1300���1390 m, 15 Aug. 1969. TCWC 3791.12 (SL 85 mm, female), Caribbean Sea, 11��33.8���N, 73��45.1���W, RV Alaminos, st. 70A10-31, trawl, 735 m, 17 July 1970. TCWC 6319.10 (SL 100 mm, female), Gulf of Mexico, 27��27.8���N, 92��46���W, RV Alaminos, st. 71A7-43, trawl, 1010���1100 m, 22 July, 1971. TCWC 6326.2 (SL 72 mm, female), Gulf of Mexico, 25��52���N, 93��15.8���W, RV Alaminos, st. 71A8-13, 20 meter trawl, 3270 m, 31 July 1971. TCWC 5322.1 (SL 95 mm, male), Gulf of Mexico, 23��17.4���N, 97��02.4���W, RV Alaminos, st. 72A13-23, 20 m trawl, 1010���1080 m, 12 July 1972. TCWC 5323.1 (SL 95 mm, male), Gulf of Mexico, 27��26.4���N, 94��07.6���W, RV Alaminos, st.72A13-39, 20 m trawl, 1290 m, 14 July 1972. TCWC 3561.5 (SL 90 mm, male), Gulf of Mexico, 27��15.3���N, 93��41.1���W, RV Alaminos, st. 73A10-20, trawl, 810���1140 m, 23 June 1973. TCWC 5324.1 (SL 103 mm, female), Gulf of Mexico, 29��11���N, 87��57���W, RV Oregon II, st. 37718, 40��� trawl, 552 m, 30 Oct. 1982. ZMH 119884 (SL 95 mm, female), off Cape Fear, 33��38���N, 76��04���W, RV Anton Dohrn 2, trawl, 796���800 m, 11 Aug. 1979. UF 222576 (2 spms., SL 98���105 mm, female and male), Caribbean Sea, 10.27�� N, 76.05��W, RV Pillsbury, st. PIL388, trawl, 814���1050 m, 15 July 1966. UF 233386 (SL 92 mm, female), Anguilla, 18.49��N, 63.41��W, RV Pillsbury, PIL988, trawl, 686���724 m, 23 July 1969. UF 235370 (SL 107 mm, female), Tongue of the Ocean, 24.18��N, 77.39��W, RV Columbus Iselin, CI302, trawl, 1452���1465 m, 3 Apr. 1975. UF 131282 (SL 112 mm, female), Tongue of the Ocean, 23.57��N, 76.71��W, RV Columbus Iselin, st. CI370, trawl, 1267���1296 m, 23 Aug. 1975. UF 109362 (SL 100 mm, female) Strait of Florida, 24��14���31.2������N, 82��36���49.8������W, RV Bellows, st. FFS98-5B, 510 m, 1 May 1998. ZMUC P77463 (SL 91 mm, male), Gulf of Mexico, 24��49���N, 96��27���W, RV Oregon, st. 4814, 40��� shrimp trawl, 914 m, 12 Apr. 1964. ZMUC P77708 (SL 90 mm, male), Tongue of the Ocean, 24��25.9���-24.2���N to 77��24.0���- 23.6���W, RV Columbus Iselin, cr. CI-8007, st. C039, 30��� otter trawl, 1584���1594 m, 14 Sep. 1980. ZMUC P77709 (SL 105, female), Tongue of the Ocean, 23��48.2���- 48.6���N, 77��04.5��- 07.8���W, RV Columbus Iselin, cr. CI-8007, st. CO42, 30��� otter trawl, 1376��� 1371 m, 15 Sep. 1980 Remarks. B. bicolor is the most commonly caught Barathronus species due to the extensive trawling in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea - often on the upper Continental Shelf. Diagnosis. Barathronus bicolor differs from the other five species of the genus with dark-pigmented peritoneum by the following combination of characters: dorsal-fin rays 62���78, anal-fin rays 46���59, pectoral-fin rays 22���27, long rakers on anterior gill arch 28���35, precaudal vertebrae 31���36, total vertebrae 68���75, 1���5 fangs on vomer, paired bulbs at basis of penis not developed, no ventral flexure of anteriormost vertebrae. Penis in ripe specimens long (up to 15% SL) and slender. Newly caught specimens light brownish with dark-blue peritoneum. Otolith almost circular three times as long as thick and centrally placed sulcus 3���4 times in length of otolith (Fig. 8). Description. For a detailed description based on 42 specimens see Nielsen (1969: 34). The principal meristic and morphometric characters are shown in Table 1. Comparisons. Table 1 shows that B. bicolor is very similar to B. diaphanus with an overlap in all characters mentioned. The only differences are found in the coloration of body and in the form of the penis. All freshly caught specimens of B. diaphanus are bright red (Fig. 10A) while a red specimen of B. bicolor has never been observed. The latter statement is based on observations made by colleagues with year-long trawling experiences in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. Fig. 7B shows that the penis in ripe specimens of B. bicolor is long (up to 15% SL) and slender with the thickness at basis of penis 13% length of penis while the thickness at basis of penis of an equally long specimen of B. diaphanus (Fig. 11) is 31% of length of penis. The distribution of the two species is non-overlapping as B. bicolor is found in the West Atlantic and B. diaphanus from off East Africa to Japan and southwestern Pacific. A DNA analysis of the two species has not been made. Distribution (Fig. 1). Barathronus bicolor is found in the West Atlantic from Cape Fear N.C. (33��38���N) (ZMH 119884) southwards to off Rio de Janeiro (23��46.7���S) (USU 01502). Gilchrist (1906: 158) refers a 120 mm specimen caught ENE of Cape Agulhas to B. bicolor, but the identification cannot be checked as the specimen is lost. The specimens were caught at depths of 366���1640 m, except for one from 3270 m���all in bottom working trawls., Published as part of Nielsen, J��rgen G., 2019, Revision of the circumglobal genus Barathronus (Ophidiiformes, Bythitidae) with a new species from the eastern North Atlantic Ocean, pp. 231-256 in Zootaxa 4679 (2) on pages 237-239, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4679.2.2, http://zenodo.org/record/3772453, {"references":["Goode, G. B. & Bean, T. H. (1886) Oceanic Ichthyology. United States National Museum, Special Bulletin, 2, 1 - 553. https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. part. 27494","Gilchrist, J. D. F. (1906) Description of fifteen new South African fishes, with notes on other species. Marine Investigations of South Africa, 4, 143 - 171.","Nielsen, J. G., Jespersen, A & Munk, O. (1968) Spermatophores in Ophidioidea (Pisces, Percomorphi). Galathea Report, 9, 239 - 254.","Nielsen, J. G. (1969) Systematics and Biology of the Aphyonidae (Pisces, Ophidioidea). Galathea Report, 10, 1 - 89.","Rannou, M., Nielsen, J. G. & Hureau, J. - C. (1975) Note sur quelques Aphyonidae de l'Atlantique Nord (Teleosteens, Ophidioidei). Bulletin du Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Series 3, No. 247, 1249 - 1257.","Nielsen, J. G., Cohen, D. M., Markle, D. F. & Robins, C. R. (1999) FAO species catalogue. Vol. 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.","Nielsen, J. G., Mincarone, M. M. & Dario, F. D. (2015) A new deep-sea species of Barathronus Goode & Bean from Brazil, with notes on Barathronus bicolor Goode & Bean (Ophidiiformes: Aphyonidae). Neotropical Ichthyology, 13 (1), 53 - 60."]}

Barathronus parfaiti (Vaillant, 1888) Table 2. Figs. 1, 24 Alexeterion parfaiti Vaillant, 1888: 283-284, pl. XXV, fig. 2 (type locality: 44��29���N, 13��32���W). Alexeterion parfaiti: Goode & Bean 1896: 343, fig. 300. Barathronus parfaiti: Roule 1915: 57���58 (in part.); Roule 1916: 18���19 and 1919: 73���74, pl.II, fig. 4 (= Barathronus roulei n. sp.); Legendre 1934: 406 (= Oculospinus cf. brevis Koefoed, 1927); Grey 1956: 221 (in part); Nybelin 1957: 313���314 (= Meteoria erythrops Nielsen, 1969); Nielsen 1969: 53���57 (in part.). Barathronus sp.: Nielsen et al. 1968: 242, 247 (= Barathronus roulei n. sp.). Material examined Holotype: MNHN 86-554 (SL 40 mm, juvenile), between France and the Azores, 44��29���N, 13��32���W, RV Talisman, st. 137, small trawl, 4975���5005 m, 27 Aug. 1883. Remarks. The holotype (MNHN 86-554) is the only known specimen of B. parfaiti. It is in a poor condition, being very soft and almost completely eviscerated. A second specimen in the Oceanographic Museum in Monaco (MOM P0I-0003655) was referred to B. parfaiti by Roule (1915: 57), but according to Nybelin (1957: 314) it is closer to Barathronus bicolor Goode & Bean, 1886. Nielsen (1969: 54) based the description of B. parfaiti on the holotype and the MOM-specimen. However, with the new material available for this paper it became evident that the MOM-specimen represents an undescribed species (see page 23). Diagnosis. Because of the condition and being a juvenile, only a few morphometric characters were recorded (those in Table 2 are from Vaillant (1888: 284)) and some of the meristic characters are approximations. The following combination of characters seems diagnostic: dorsal-fin rays 80���85, anal-fin rays 60���65, pectoral-fin rays 21, precaudal vertebrae 37, total vertebrae 84, long rakers on anterior gill arch 29, remains of a broken fang laterally on vomer and peritoneum transparent. Vaillant mentioned that the meristic characters were difficult to obtain and his counts are quite different from the present counts which are based on radiographs and mentioned in parentheses: dorsal fin rays 48 (80���85), anal fin rays 40 (60���65) and no pelvic fin rays (1). Description. The present state of the specimen makes it difficult to obtain a usable description so below is given the original description by Vaillant (1888: 283) kindly translated from French by Guy Duhamel (MNHN): body elongate, compressed especially posteriorly. The greatest height is not more than 1/ 6 in length and the thickness 1/ 8 in length at the level of the pectoral fin. Head equal to 1/6 of length; the globular shape of the head gives it a rather strange form which reminds of Uranoscopus, Synanceia, etc. The head is truncated in front. The mouth, rounded as a horseshoe, is vertically orientated; the lower jaw is almost vertical when the mouth is closed. The two mandibles form a forward directed oval. Intermaxilla narrow, about the same size as the maxilla which expands at its posterior tip, or more precisely its inferior part because it is vertically orientated. The teeth are sharp-pointed and of equal size on the mandible and on the antero-superior part of intermaxilla; the posterior part seems edentate. No teeth visible on vomer and palatines. Eyes very small, about 1/15 of head length, seen as black-pigmented spots. Eye was hardly visible even then the specimen was newly caught. Branchial opening large extending very far forward. The small size of the specimen and membranous state of the hard parts makes it difficult to distinguish the opercular bones. Anus placed at mid-body. No scales and lateral line absent. The unpaired fins are fused, beginning dorsally at the level of anus and a little further back ventrally. The rays are extremely delicate and 4���5 mm in length. Pectoral fins extending to the level of dorsal fin origin. No pelvic fins. The fin ray counts are extremely difficult to obtain because of the conservation and size of the specimen. The color was uniformly white, slightly pinkish. Comparisons. The transparent peritoneum and lack of ventral flexure of anteriormost vertebrae make it similar to B. multidens, but it differs by having more long rakers on anterior gill arch (29 vs 23���25) and fewer fangs on vomer (1 + 1? vs 7���11). The size and condition make a comparison to other Barathronus species rather irrelevant. Distribution (Fig. 1). Barathronus parfaiti was caught between France and the Azores in a trawl working at a depth of 4975���5005 m. All vertebral centra are rectangular and weakly ossified indicating a larval stage so the specimen might have been caught pelagically during hauling of the trawl., Published as part of Nielsen, J��rgen G., 2019, Revision of the circumglobal genus Barathronus (Ophidiiformes, Bythitidae) with a new species from the eastern North Atlantic Ocean, pp. 231-256 in Zootaxa 4679 (2) on page 252, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4679.2.2, http://zenodo.org/record/3772453, {"references":["Vaillant, L. (1888) Poissons. Expeditions Scientifiques du Travailleur et Du Talisman, Paris, 1 - 406.","Roule, L. (1915) Sur les poisons abyssaux de la famille des Brotulides dans l'ocean Atlantique nord. C. Royal Academy of Sciences, 161, 56 - 58.","Roule, L. (1916) Notes preliminaire sur quelques especes nouvelles ou rares des poisons provenantdes croisieres de S. A. S. le Prince de Monaco. Bulletin Institute de Monaco, No 320, 1 - 32.","Roule, L. (1919) Poissons provenant des campagnes du yacht \" Princesse Alice \" (1891 - 1913) et du yacht \" Hirondelle II \" (1914). Resultat Campagne Scientifique Prince Albert I, Monaco, Fasc. 52, 1 - 192.","Legendre, R. (1934) La faune pelagique de l'Atlantique au large du Golfe de Gascogne recueillie dans des estomacs de Germons. Premiere Partie: Poissons. Annalles de Institute Oceanographique, Nouvelles Serie, 14 (Fasc. VI), 247 - 418.","Koefoed, E. (1927) Fishes from the Sea Bottom. \" Michael Sars \" North Atlantic deep-sea Expedition 1910, IV (Part 1), 7 - 147.","Grey, M. (1956) The distribution of fishes found below a depth of 2000 meters. Fieldiana Zoology, 36 (2), 75 - 337. https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. title. 2788","Nybelin, O. (1957) Deep-sea bottom-fishes. Report of the Swedish deep Sea Expedition, 2 (Zoology No. 20), 247 - 345.","Nielsen, J. G. (1969) Systematics and Biology of the Aphyonidae (Pisces, Ophidioidea). Galathea Report, 10, 1 - 89.","Nielsen, J. G., Jespersen, A & Munk, O. (1968) Spermatophores in Ophidioidea (Pisces, Percomorphi). Galathea Report, 9, 239 - 254.","Goode, G. B. & Bean, T. H. (1886) Oceanic Ichthyology. United States National Museum, Special Bulletin, 2, 1 - 553. https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. part. 27494"]}

Paraphyonus bolini (Nielsen, 1974) Table 1, Figs. 1, 11 Aphyonus bolini Nielsen, 1974: 179 (type locality 15°38’N, 111°54’E). Paraphyonus bolini: Nielsen 2015: 329. Material examined. (6 specimens, 101–155 mm SL) NMV A 31819 -002, male, 129 mm SL, off Newcastle, NSW, 33°26.10’S, 152°39.90’E, RV Investigator, st. IN2017_VO3/065, beam trawl, 4173–4280 m, 30 May 2017. CSIRO H 8125-03 (GenBank Accession MH 491990), female, 145 mm SL, Hunter Commonwealth Marine Reserve, NSW, 32°08.28’S, 153°31.62’E, RV Investigator, st. IN2017_ V03 /078, beam trawl, 3980–4029 m, 4 June 2017. NMV A 31832 -001, male, 155 mm SL, off Byron Bay, NSW, 28°21.30’S, 154°38.16’E, RV Investigator, st. IN2017_VO3/ 0 97, beam trawl, 3762–3803 m, 8 June 2017. CSIRO H 8129-02 (GenBank Accession MH 491991), female, 124 mm SL, off Byron Bay, NSW, 28°22.26’S, 154°38.92’E, RV Investigator, st. IN2017_ V03 /099, beam trawl, 3825– 3754 m, 9 June 2017. NMV A 31836 -003, female, 126 mm SL, east of Moreton Bay, Qld, 27°00.47’S, 154°13.89’E, RV Investigator, st. IN2017_VO3/102, beam trawl, 4264–4274 m, 10 June 2017. NMV A 31838 - 0 0 2, male, 101 mm SL, off Fraser Island, Qld, 25°15.18’S, 154°11.52’E, RV Investigator, st. IN2017_VO3/109, beam trawl, 4005–4006 m, 11 June 2017. Diagnosis. Paraphyonus bolini differs from the other species in the genus by the following combination of characters: long rakers on anterior gill arch 11–15, number of pectoral fin rays 13–17, anterior anal fin ray below dorsal fin ray 14–19, dorsal fin origin above vertebra 18–22, precaudal vertebrae 26–30, preanal length 49.5–60 % SL; no black pigmentation laterally in roof of mouth. Size. The largest known specimen (155 mm SL) is a ripe male. Distribution (Fig. 1). The present six specimens were caught off NSW and southern Qld at depths of 3754– 4280 m. The six earlier known specimens are from off Madagascar, South China Sea and off Vanuatu at depths of 1075–1300 m. Remarks. The comparison (Table 1) between the present six specimens and the six earlier known specimens (Nielsen 2015: 332) shows full agreement in all meristic characters. In morphometric characters there is a variation in preanal length, base of pelvic fin to anal fin and head length and furthermore, the Australian specimens occur deeper than the non-Australian specimens (3754–4280 m vs 1075–1300 m). However, we do not consider the differences enough to justify establishing of a new species. Nielsen (2015: 332) considered a specimen as tentatively identified to P. bolini based on differences in number of vertebrae and rays in dorsal and anal fins. However, the Australian material levels out these differences., Published as part of Nielsen, Jørgen G., Pogonoski, John J. & Appleyard, Sharon A., 2019, Aphyonid-clade species of Australia (Teleostei, Bythitidae) with four species new to Australian waters and a new species of Barathronus, pp. 554-572 in Zootaxa 4564 (2) on pages 566-567, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4564.2.12, http://zenodo.org/record/2589009

Paraphyonus rassi (Nielsen, 1975) Table 1, Figs. 1, 12 Aphyonus rassi Nielsen, 1975: 350 (type locality 12°59’N, 62°59’W). Paraphyonus rassi: Nielsen 2015: 339. Material examined. (4 specimens, 85–109 mm SL) NMV A 31819 -003, male, 103 mm SL, off Newcastle, NSW, 33°26.10’S, 152°39.90’E, RV Investigator, st. IN2017_VO3/065, beam trawl, 4173–4280 m, 30 May 2017. CSIRO H 8125-02 (GenBank Accession MH 491989), female, 109 mm SL, Hunter Commonwealth Marine Reserve, NSW, 32°08.28’S, 153°31.62’E, RV Investigator, st. IN2017_ V03 /078, beam trawl, 3980–4029 m, 4 June 2017. CSIRO H 8132-01, 2 males, 85–101 mm SL (GenBank Accessions MH 491992 and MH 491993, respectively), east of Moreton Bay, Qld, 27°00.47’S, 154°13.39’E, RV Investigator, st. IN2017_ V03 /102, beam trawl, 4274– 4264 m, 10 June 2017. Diagnosis. Paraphyonus rassi differs from the other species of the genus by the black pigmentation laterally in the roof of the mouth distinctly visible externally and only 3–4 developed rakers on the anterior gill arch. Size. Largest known specimen (109 mm SL) is a ripe female with eggs ca. 1 mm in diameter. Distribution (Fig. 1). Known from four specimens in the West Atlantic (2610–4400 m), from two in the East Atlantic (4415 m) and now from four specimens off NSW and southern Qld (3980–4280 m). Remarks. The comparison in Table 1 between the present four specimens and the six earlier known specimens all from the Atlantic Ocean (Nielsen 2015) shows close agreement between the specimens from the two areas. One of the six specimens was originally tentatively identified as P. rassi due to differences in number of rays in dorsal and anal fins, number of vertebrae and length between base of pelvic fins and anal fin. However, the present material levels out the differences in number of fin rays and vertebrae. Consequently, there seems no longer any reason for considering the specimen tentatively identified., Published as part of Nielsen, Jørgen G., Pogonoski, John J. & Appleyard, Sharon A., 2019, Aphyonid-clade species of Australia (Teleostei, Bythitidae) with four species new to Australian waters and a new species of Barathronus, pp. 554-572 in Zootaxa 4564 (2) on pages 567-568, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4564.2.12, http://zenodo.org/record/2589009, {"references":["Nielsen, J. G. (1975) 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 (in Russian-English version. Translation No. 72. Systematic Laboratory, NOAA, National Museum of Natural History, Washington D. C.)"]}