Two New Species of Snailfishes of the Genus Careproctus (Liparidae) from the Aleutian Islands, Alaska

Two new species of snailfishes are described from the central Aleutian Islands: Careproctus staufferi and Careproctus nelsoni. The new species have trilobed teeth, moderately large pelvic discs approximately 33–49% head length, a cephalic pore pattern of 2-6-7-2, and low counts of median fins and vertebrae, including dorsal-fin rays 39–42, anal-fin rays 33–37, and total vertebrae 44–46, which distinguish them from all other congeners. Most similar to one another, they may be readily distinguished by the configuration of the chin pores, which are paired in a single pit in C. staufferi and in separate pits in C. nelsoni. Although both are overall red and pale in coloration, C. staufferi has a lateral yellow slash across the dorsal part of the abdomen and posterior, while C. nelsoni has a broad, pale, unpigmented area across the anterior part of the dorsal fin extending and broadening ventrally to a bright white abdomen. Careproctus staufferi was collected at depths of 205–366 m; C. nelsoni, at 220–329 m.