Additions to the ichthyofauna of the Tristan da Cunha Group, South Atlantic Ocean

Abstract

Specimens of two, possibly three, rare species of fishes were collected at the Tristan da Cunha Group toward the end of a 2004 South Atlantic cruise (ICEFISH). The dragonet Synchiropus valdiviae (Trunov, 1981), was previously known from only two adult males taken on Walvis Ridge. We collected two adult females and three juveniles, which are described here. The pearlfish Echiodon atopus Anderson, 2005, was recently described from a specimen collected north of Inaccessible Island. It differs from congeners in its high precaudal vertebral count, equivalent dorsal and anal rays anterior to vertebra 31 and other features of the axial skeleton and fins. Lastly, an unusual specimen of the rockfish genus Sebastes taken in a commercial lobster pot represents either a previously unreported variant of S. capensis or an undescribed species. It differs from the typical South Atlantic S. capensis in its coloration and lack of supraocular spines.