A new species of Pachycara Zugmayer, 1911 (Teleostei: Zoarcidae) from deep-sea chemosynthetic environments in the Caribbean Sea.

M. ERIC ANDERSON,RUSSELL SOMERVILLE,JONATHAN T. COPLEY

doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4066.1.5

Abstract

The 28<sup>th</sup> species of the eelpout genus Pachycara Zugmayer, 1911, is described from specimens collected from an active hydrothermal vent field at a depth of about 2300 m at the Mid-Cayman Spreading Centre of the Caribbean Sea. A tentatively identified early juvenile is recorded at a methane seep at a depth of 1049 m near Tobago. The new species is distinguished from its congeners mainly by its few pectoral fin rays, low vertebral counts, single, mediolateral branch of the lateral line system and presence of scales on the nape and cheeks.

Highlights

Eelpouts of the genus Pachycara are found from upper bathyal to abyssal depths in all oceans except the Arctic (Anderson, 1989, 1994). Anderson (2012) reviewed the systematic history of the genus and named the 26th known species
In addition to Pachycara caribbaeum, three others with pelvic fins are known from the western North Atlantic: P. sulaki Anderson, 1989, P. thermophilum Geistdoerffer, 1994 and P. saldanhai Biscoito & Almeida, 2004
Pachycara caribbaeum is readily distinguished from all its congeners in having the fewest pectoral fin rays (12–14)

Summary

Introduction

Eelpouts of the genus Pachycara are found from upper bathyal to abyssal depths in all oceans except the Arctic (Anderson, 1989, 1994). Anderson (2012) reviewed the systematic history of the genus and named the 26th known species. Zoarcid fish resembling the genus Pachycara were observed in the first video images obtained from the Von Damm Vent Field on the Mid-Cayman Spreading Centre of the Caribbean Sea in April 2010 (Connelly et al, 2012). In February 2013, research cruise JC82 of the UK research ship RRS James Cook collected the first specimen of a Pachycara species from the Von Damm Vent Field at a depth of about 2300 m (Fig. 1). Two further specimens were collected from the Von Damm Vent Field in August 2013 during a research cruise of the US research ship EV Nautilus. The purpose of these research cruises was to study the ecology and biogeography of deep-sea chemosynthetic environments in the Caribbean. This paper describes the 28th species of Pachycara, which is the 4th to be described from specimens collected from chemosynthetic environments, with comments on its relationships

Methods and material

Discussion