Two New Species of Snailfishes (Cottiformes: Liparidae) from the Aleutian Islands, Alaska, and a Redescription of the Closely Related Careproctus candidus
Two new species of snailfishes are described from the Aleutian Islands. Both are similar to Careproctus candidus, described originally from four specimens, here redescribed on the basis of 67 specimens in addition to the types. All three species are allocated to the Careproctus subgenus Temnocora. Careproctus candidus is distinguished from all other species of Careproctus by the combination of an anterior dorsal-fin lobe formed by a distinct notch, pupil a horizontal slit, and variegated reddish coloration. It is redescribed to note the presence of prickles, a variable pectoral-girdle morphology, and variable exsertions of the fin rays of the dorsal-fin lobe. Careproctus klisi, new species, is distinguished by having an anterior dorsal fin uniquely of five to seven short anterior dorsal-fin rays nearly equal in length preceding distinctly longer succeeding rays, pupil a horizontal slit, a variegated reddish coloration, and a relatively deep body. Careproctus bromius, new species, is distinguished by having low vertebral and median-fin ray counts, pupil a horizontal slit, a variegated light brown and pale coloration, and in lacking an anterior dorsal-fin lobe. Careproctus candidus ranges across the Aleutian Islands from Attu Island to the northern Gulf of Alaska at depths from 88 to 432 m. Careproctus klisi, new species, is found in the central and western Aleutian Islands from off Buldir Island in the west to Amlia Island in the east at depths from 134 to 180 m. Careproctus bromius, new species, is found in the central and eastern Aleutian Islands from Amchitka Pass to off Akutan Island at depths from 80 to 232 m.
Careproctus candidus: (A) UW 158412, 73.4 mm, female, Aleutian Islands, Tanaga Pass, 51.6261°N, 178.439°W, 178 m depth; (B) UW 158291, 75 mm, male, Aleutian Islands, south of Seguam Island, 52.1823°N, 172.4394°W, 190 m depth; (C) UW 117558, 66 mm, male, Aleutian Islands, northwest of Herbert Island, 52.9288°N, 170.4111°W, 221 m depth; (D) UW 117177, 90.5 mm, female, Aleutian Islands, south of Amukta Island, 52.3675°N, 171.2463°W, 320 m depth. All photographed before preservation.
Careproctus candidus: (A) UW 158412, 1 of 2, 73.4 mm, female, Aleutian Islands, Tanaga Pass, 51.6261°N, 178.439°W, 178 m depth, photographed after preservation; (B) USNM 74384, 60.7 mm, illustration previously published in Gilbert and Burke (1912: fig. 22).
Anterior dorsal-fin morphology in Careproctus candidus and two new species from the Aleutian Islands: (A) anterior dorsal-fin lobe with notch rays not exserted (based on C. candidus, USNM 74384, 60.7 mm, holotype); (B) anterior dorsal-fin lobe with notch rays partially exserted (based on C. candidus, UW 117177, 90.5 mm); (C) dorsal-fin lobe and notch absent, fin with anterior section of rays one to seven roughly equal in length (based on C. klisi, new species, UW 200421, 105.3 mm, holotype); (D) anterior dorsal-fin lobe and notch absent, rays short and embedded in skin (based on C. bromius, new species, UW 155719, 43.5 mm, holotype).
Medial views of right pectoral girdles. (A) Careproctus candidus, UW 117243, 80 mm; (B) C. candidus, UW 154876, 1 of 4, 78 mm; (C) C. klisi, new species, paratype, UW 117553, 106.0 mm; (D) C. klisi, new species, paratype, UW 155491, 88.7 mm; (E) C. bromius, new species, paratype, UW 155709, 2 of 2, 42.0 mm, dashed lines indicate where coracoid was cut during dissection; (F) C. bromius, new species, paratype, UW 158400, 44.2 mm. Shaded areas represent cartilage.
Distribution of Careproctus candidus (white), C. klisi, new species (gray), and C. bromius, new species (black), from the Aleutian Islands. Careproctus candidus distribution is based on material examined; the two new species, on all known material. Each symbol may represent more than one capture. Holotype localities represented by stars. Gray line represents the 200 m isobath.
Careproctus klisi, new species: (A) UW 200421, 105.3 mm, holotype, male, Aleutian Islands, Petrel Bank, 52.0360°N, 179.3053°E, 277 m depth; (B) UW 159772, 103.6 mm, female, Aleutian Islands, Petrel Bank, 52.5150°N, 179.5188°W, 134 m depth; (C) UW 158344, 90.3 mm, female, Aleutian Islands, northwest of Semisopochnoi Island, 52.0381°N, 179.3166°E, 280 m depth; (D) UW 159773, 80.0 mm, female, Aleutian Islands, Petrel Bank, 52.3688°N, 179.9117°W, 182 m depth. All photographed before preservation.
Careproctus klisi, new species, UW 200421, 105.3 mm, holotype, male, Aleutian Islands, Petrel Bank, 52.0360°N, 179.3053°E, 277 m depth: (A) photographed after preservation; (B) illustration by Loren Eakins.
Careproctus bromius, new species: (A) UW 155719, 43.5 mm, holotype, ripe female, Aleutian Islands, Seguam Pass, 52.2629°N, 172.8827°W, 158 m depth; (B) UW 158401, 38.5 mm, ripe female, Aleutian Islands, Tanaga Pass, 51.5078°N, 178.5773°W, 168 m depth; (C) UW 155709, 2 of 2, 42.0 mm, ripe female, Aleutian Islands, Tanaga Pass, 51.6163°N, 178.1877°W, 126 m depth; (D) UW 158417, 35.1 mm, male, Aleutian Islands, Tanaga Pass, 51.6177°N, 178.1883°W, 122 m depth. All photographed before preservation.
Careproctus bromius, new species, UW 155719, 43.5 mm, holotype, ripe female, Aleutian Islands, Seguam Pass, 52.2629°N, 172.8827°W, 158 m depth: (A) photographed after preservation; (B) illustration by Loren Eakins.
Contributor Notes
Associate Editors: D. Buth and M. T. Craig.