Svetovidov(1948)によれば本種の臀鰭鰭条数は48〜58となっており,本標本の測定値とかなり異なる。近縁のU. mystaceusがリオデジャネイロからアルゼンチン北部にかけ分布するが,第1背鰭は糸状に延長しない(Figueiredo and Menezes, 1978)。
(稲田伊史)
Material examined:
3 from Argentina (345-369 mm SL), FSFL EM 44, 45, 226.Description:
D 9-10, 53-59; A 43-46; P1 17-18; P2 2; LLS 133-135; GR 14-15.
HL 24.1-25.3 % of SL; ED 2.0-3.2; BD 21.2-23.5; SN 7.1-7.2; IO 5.3-5.6; UJ 11.2-11.8; CP 4.9-5.5; P1L 12.4-14.4; P2L 39.8-45.7; D1 2nd ray L 30.2-33.5; Barbel L 2.8-3.1; PreD 25.3-27.1; PreA 49.3-50.3; D1 base L 5.9-6.3; D2 base L 62.9-65.6; A base L 47.0-48.6.
Body elongate and compressed, head rather depressed. Second ray of first dorsal fin considerably elongate, reaching middle ray of 2nd dorsal. Both dorsal fins extremely close together. Posterior ends of second dorsal and anal fins slightly rounded at tip. Pectoral fin short and fan-shaped. Pelvic fin composed of two long filamentous rays, its inner ray greatly elongate and reaching anterior one-third of anal fin. Posterior margin of caudal fin rounded. Interorbital space wide and convex. Eye small. Snout protruded. Lower jaw included under upper; barbel short, situated at tip of lower jaw. End of upper jaw reaching beyond level of posterior margin of eye. Teeth on both jaws villiform, in bands. Vomerine teeth present, palatines edentate. Caudal peduncle short and deep. Scales small, thin, cycloid. Upper part of body brownish, belly pale brown. Tip of each fin blackish.
Distribution:
Atlantic coast of South America, from southern Brazil to northern Argentina (35°-40°S) at depths of about 45-50 m.
Remarks:
According to Svetovidov (1948), U. brasiliensis has 48 to 58 anal fin rays, and thus differs from the specimens examined here. A closely related species, U. mystaceus is recorded from Rio de Janeiro to northern Argentina, but does not have an elongate dorsal fin ray.
(Tadashi INADA)
Distribution of Urophysis brasiliensis in Patagonia.