Studies on the Zoarcidae (Teleostei: Perciformes) of the Southern Hemisphere. XI. A new species of Pyrolycus from the Kermadec Ridge

Abstract

A new species of deep‐sea eelpout of the genus Pyrolycus Machida and Hashimoto, 2002 is described from two specimens collected from a hydrothermal vent field on Brothers Seamount, Kermadec Ridge. The specimens, an adult male and a juvenile male, were caught in a suction collector from the Japanese submersible Shinkai 6500 at a depth of 1336 m. Compared to its sole congener, the new species is characterised by its higher vertebral counts, lack of palatine teeth, fewer pectoral‐fin rays, and a few head pore pattern differences. An expanded generic diagnosis is provided.