A new species of the rare genus Myroconger G?nther, 1870 (Anguilliformes: Myrocongridae) from Brazilian waters, tropical western Atlantic

Author(s)

Espindola, Vinicius C. ^[1] ; Caires, Rodrigo A. ^{[2, 3]} ; Tighe, Kenneth A. ^[4] ; De Pinna, Mario C. C. ^[2] ; De Melo, Marcelo R. S. ^[3]

Affiliation

^[1] Smithsonian Inst, Div Fishes, Natl Museum Nat Hist, Washington, DC 20013 - USA

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Setor Ictiol, Museu Zool, Ave Nazare 481, BR-04263000 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[3] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Oceanog, Lab Diversidade Ecol & Evolucao Peixes, DEEP Lab, Praca Oceanog 191, BR-05508120 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[4] Smithsonian Inst, Museum Support Ctr, Suitland, MD 20746 - USA

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Zootaxa; v. 4965, n. 3, p. 529-540, APR 29 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

The family Myrocongridae comprises some of the rarest and least known benthopelagic eel species. It is composed of a single genus, Myroconger G?nther, 1870, and five valid species: M. compressus G?nther, 1870, from the Atlantic Ocean; M. gracilis Castle, 1991, M. prolixus Castle \& B?arez, 1995, and M. nigrodentatus Castle \& B?arez, 1995, from the Pacific Ocean; and M. seychellensis Karmovskaya, 2006, from the Indian Ocean. Herein, we report on an additional species from the Atlantic Ocean, Myroconger pietschi n. sp., based on a specimen obtained on the Aracati Bank, North Brazilian ridge, off Cear? State, western South Atlantic. Myroconger pietschi can be diagnosed by having 190 anal-fin rays, a short pectoral fin (16.6% HL), the posterior portion of the ethmovomerine teeth arranged in a single row, teeth on (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 17/12909-4 - Diversity and evolution of deep-sea fishes: DEEP-OCEAN
• Grantee: Marcelo Roberto Souto de Melo
• Support Opportunities: BIOTA-FAPESP Program - Young Investigators Grants