10 from Argentina (95.0-155.5 mm SL); 10 from Chile (131.7-185.5 mm SL); FAKU 43137; AP 171-176, 182-184; CP 84, 156-159, 161, 314, 315, 347, 362.
Description:
D 8-9-57-62; A 52-56; P1 23-26; P2 4-5; GR 5-6+0-1+16-18=23-25 (Argentina), 2-5+0-1+11-16=16-21 (Chile);
BR 7; X 14-15+37-39=51-53 (Chile).
HL 21.8-24.0 % of SL; BD 7.6-9.9; SN 4.9-6.5; IO 2.8-3.8; UJ 10.3-12.4; CP 2.8-3.5; P1L 13.5-15.8; P2L 16.7-20.5; D1H 8.0-11.0; D2H 9.1-11.6; AH 7.0-9.1.
Body elongate and fairly compressed. Snout round and shorter than eye diameter. Eye large, about 3 times in head. Mouth oblique and moderate in size. Lower jaw slightly shorter than upper jaw; villiform teeth in bands those of outer band slightly larger in both jaws; maxilla extending to below middle of eye. Vomer and palatines edentate. Interorbital nearly equal to least depth of caudal peduncle. Nostrils situated just anterior to eye, both closely situated with a dermal flap between. A small chin barbel, about half as long as eye diameter. Gill-rakers slender, with fine inner serrations. No pseudobranchiae. Small, deciduous, cycloid scales on body and head. Membrane of abdominal cavity black. Lateral line gently curved anteriorly and fairly straight posteriorly from temporal region to caudal peduncle. Dorsal fin originating slightly behind pectoral fin base. Pelvic fins situated well anterior to pectoral fins, longest ray slightly shorter than head length. Bases of second dorsal and anal fins long, almost same length. Base of first dorsal fin short. Usually unpaired fins margined with black.
Distribution:
Both Chilean and Argentine Patagonia.
Remarks:
There is a difference in number of gill-rakers between the specimens from Argentine and Chilean sides. Maximum length is about 23 cm TL (Norman, 1937a).
(Izumi NAKAMURA)
Distribution of Austrophycis marginata in Patagonia.
Gill-rakers near angle on first arch of left side.