Abyssal demersal fishes recorded at station M (34°50′N, 123° 00′W, 4100 m depth) in the northeast Pacific Ocean: An annotated check list and synthesis

Abstract

The demersal ichthyofauna at the abyssal Station M at 4100 m depth in the NE Pacific Ocean (34°50′N, 123° 00′W) has been sampled from 1989 onwards using a combination of techniques; baited traps, long lines, otter trawls, towed camera sledge, remotely operated vehicles (ROV), human occupied vehicle (Alvin), benthic long-term time lapse camera and baited camera landers. The fish fauna is dominated by two species of macrourid Coryphaenoides armatus and C. yaquinae. Other species present are Bathysaurus mollis (Bathysauridae), Coryphaenoides leptolepis (Macrouridae), Bassozetus nasus, Spectrunculus grandis (Ophidiidae), three species of Liparidae, including Genioliparis ferox and a Zoarcid (Pachycara sp.). Evidence of deposition of egg masses by snail fishes, liparids on oceanographic equipment is discussed.