First record of the liparid fish Careproctus zachirus from Japan
2017
Matsuzaki, K. | Taira, H. | Mori, T. | Nobetsu, T. | Kido, K.
The genus Careproctus Kroeyer, 1862, including more than 50 species from the North Pacific, is characterized by a single pair of nostrils, pelvic disk present, fewer pectoral fin rays than anal fin rays, pseudobranchia absent and non-variegated body color (except for fins). Seven specimens [AMF (Marine Science Museum, Aquamarine Fukushima) -2-11-04-00-0025-0031, 232-288 mm in standard length] collected in 2007, 2015 and 2016 in commercial shrimp traps and gill nets off Rausu-cho, southwestern Sea of Okhotsk, Japan, at depths of 200-800 m, were confirmed as the blacktip snailfish Careproctus zachirus Kido, 1985, having 28-31 pectoral fin rays, 10-11 caudal fin rays fin rays, 1 suprabranchial pore, a long upper pectoral fin lobe (over 40% of SL), the posterior part of the upper pectoral fin lobe pigmented with black on both outer and inner sides, and black submarginal bands on the dorsal and anal fins joining in the middle of the caudal fin. Although the species has been previously collected in Pacific waters off the northern Kuril Islands and eastern Kamchatka, and in the Bering Sea off the Aleutian Islands, the present specimens represent the first record from Japanese waters. In addition, observations on feeding behavior and reproductive ecology of the species are reported for the first time.
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