DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES OF PACHYCARA ZUGMAYER, 1911 FROM THE ABYSSAL SOUTH-EASTERN PACIFIC AND REDESCRIPTION OF P. THERMOPHILUM GEISTDOERFER, 1994, WITH A NEW KEY TO THE SPECIES

SUMMARY

A new species of the eelpout genus Pachycara Zugmayer is described from the abyssal south-eastern Pacific Ocean on the basis of five males and eight females. It is distinguished mainly by its single mediolateral lateral line, furcate gill rakers, lack of pelvic fins and lack of scales on the anterior portion of the body. Pachycara thermophilum Geistdoerfer is redescribed from the two adult type specimens and two additional juveniles from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. It is distinguished by its single mediolateral lateral line (said to be absent in the original description), furcate gill rakers, two pelvic fin rays, dorsal fin origin associated with vertebrae 7–8 and 31 precaudal vertebrae. A revised key to all 16 species of Puchycara is presented.