Esselenia, a New Genus of Pricklebacks (Teleostei: Stichaeidae), with Two New Species from California and Baja California Norte

Abstract

Esselenia, a new genus of the family Stichaeidae, contains relatively small, elongate, benthic fishes that resemble Cebidichthys in having the dorsal fin softrayed posteriorly, but differ in meristics of the vertical fins and axial skeleton, and in having two or three lateral lines. The two known species inhabit shallow waters from central California to northern Baja California. Esselenia carli is described from 49 specimens collected from Monterey Bay, California, to near the mouth of Rio Santo Tomas, Baja California Norte, to a depth of 26 m. It is distinguished by its lack of pelvic fins, first dorsal spine associated with the second pterygiophore, first anal pterygiophore not enlarged, 19-23 soft dorsalfin rays, 65-70 vertebrae, and ventrolateral lateral lines connected across the breast in an arc that is bisected by a medioventral lateral line that extends from the isthmus to fork about the anus. Esselenia laurae is described from 15 specimens collected near Southeast Farallon Island, California, to Punta Banda, Baja California Norte, to a depth of 46 m. It is distinguished by its minute pelvic fins, first dorsal spine associated with the first pterygiophore, enlarged first anal pterygiophore, 14-18 soft dorsal-fin rays, 60-62 vertebrae, ventrolateral lateral lines not connected across the breast, and no medioventral lateral line. A stichaeid fish collected off the mouth of Rio