Barathronus multidens

description

Description. For a detailed description of the holo- and paratype see Nielsen (1984 a: 583) and for the juvenile see Evseenko et al. (2018: 138). The principal meristic and morphometric characters are shown in Table 2. Comparisons. Barathronus multidens seems most similar to B. parfaiti sharing a transparent peritoneum and lack of ventral flexure of anteriormost vertebrae. They differ by B. multidens having more fangs on vomer (7 – 11 vs. 1 +) and less long rakers on anterior gill arch (23 – 25 vs. 29).

Revision of the circumglobal genus Barathronus (Ophidiiformes, Bythitidae) with a new species from the eastern North Atlantic Ocean

diagnosis

Diagnosis. Barathronus multidens differs from the other four Barathronus species with a transparent peritoneum by the following combination of characters: vomer with 11 and dentaries with 8 – 11 fangs, dorsal-fin rays 72 – ca. 75, anal-fin rays 62 – ca. 65, pectoral-fin rays 23 – 24, precaudal vertebrae 32 – 34, total vertebrae 77 – 79, long gill rakers on anterior arch 23 – 25, paired bulbs at basis of penis absent (Fig. 19), penis protected ventrally by large urogenital hood and no ventral flexure of anterior vertebrae. The very small otolith (Fig. 20) is almost circular with the undivided sulcus placed centrally. Head and body yellowish without pigmentation.

Revision of the circumglobal genus Barathronus (Ophidiiformes, Bythitidae) with a new species from the eastern North Atlantic Ocean

discussion

Remarks. Evseenko et al. (2018: 139) presented two phylogenies each based on two different genes.

Revision of the circumglobal genus Barathronus (Ophidiiformes, Bythitidae) with a new species from the eastern North Atlantic Ocean

distribution

Distribution (Fig. 1). The three specimens known are from the East (3610 - 3646 m) and West (4269 - 4279 m) Atlantic Ocean and from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (3227 m), all caught in bottom fishing gear. The specimen from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge is a juvenile with weekly ossified vertebrae which indicates that it might have been caught pelagically during hauling of the trawl. The other two specimens are adult males with well-ossified vertebrae indicating a benthopelagic occurrence.

Revision of the circumglobal genus Barathronus (Ophidiiformes, Bythitidae) with a new species from the eastern North Atlantic Ocean