A new snailfish species, Paraliparis orcadensis sp. nov. (Pisces: Scorpaeniformes) from the Scotia Sea (Southern Ocean).

Paraliparis orcadensis, from the South Orkney Islands (Scotia Sea), at 1.253 m depth, differs from all other congeneric species by the following combination of characters: a suture between upper and lower hypural plates, P 19 (13 + 3 + 3), none rudimentary, shortest notch ray 6.0% standard length, head length 15.6% standard length, short maxillary, gill slit above P base, three radials, symphyseal pores very closely set and body uniformly dark-grey coloured. Relationships of this new species with P. cerasinus, P. devriesi, P. mawsoni and P. tetrapteryx are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]