Two New Variegated Snailfishes of the Genus Careproctus (Teleostei: Scorpaeniformes: Liparidae) from the Aleutian Islands, Alaska

Abstract

Two new species of snailfishes are described on the basis of 99 individuals collected from the Aleutian Islands during resource assessment surveys conducted by the National Marine Fisheries Service. Both are distinguished from all known species of Careproctus by a variegated red, white, and gray body coloration, an unlobed dorsal fin, protruding snout, the absence of distal pectoral radials at the base of 8–12 ventral rays, and counts of median-fin rays and vertebrae. Careproctus comus, new species, is distinguished from Careproctus faunus, new species, by having a greater number of caudal vertebrae and median-fin rays, as well as a narrower interorbital width, shorter maxilla, shorter snout, shorter connection of anal-fin membrane to caudal fin, and more slender caudal-fin base. Careproctus comus ranges from west of Attu Island, on Stalemate Bank, to the eastern Aleutian Islands, near Unalaska Island. Careproctus faunus ranges from Adak Island in the central Aleutians to just east of Unalaska Island. Both species are found at depths of approximately 150–400 m. Among other liparids of the North Pacific, the new species are superficially similar to Temnocora candida, from which both can be readily distinguished on the basis of their unlobed dorsal fin and higher counts of median-fin rays and vertebrae.