ガマアンコウ科の魚類は我が国近海には分布しない。Hubbs and Schultz (1939)により定められたAphos属には現在までのところ本種のみが含められている(Hildebrand, 1946; Chirichigno, 1974)。
(中村 泉)
Material examined:
2 from Chile (176.0, 185.6 mm SL), FAKU CP 382, 574.
Description:
D U-33; A 31; P1 19; P2 T, 2; GR 0+1+9-10=10-11; BR 6.
HL 28.8-29.9% of SL; FO 2.2-2.6; BD 18.4-22.1; SN 8.5-8.6; IO 8.2-9.7; UJ 15.1-15.6; CP 4.7-5.0; P1L 21.2-27.3; P2L 12.0-12.3; DH 8.9-10.0; AH 8.9-10.2.
Body elongate, head and trunk depressed, tail compressed. Head large, about 3.5 times in SL. Snout length equal to interorbital width. Mouth large, protractile, reaching posterior margin of eye. Lower jaw anterior to upper jaw. Uniserial, recurved, sharp canine teeth on lower jaw. Uniserial, recurved, fine teeth on upper jaw. One or two large canine teeth on vomer, uniserial recurved canine teeth on palatine. Interorbital region flat, its width slightly longer than snout. No scales on body. Sensory pores with flaps or papillae well developed along both jaws, on cheeks, head, isthmus to belly, along dorsal and anal fin bases, and caudal fin. Four lateral lines present. A pungent, opercular spine present. Pectoral fin large and round, with well branched rays. Pelvic fin well anterior to pectoral fin origin. Caudal fin round with two rows of sensory pores radiating along caudal fin rays. First dorsal fin minute with 2 spines. Anal fin base about three-fourths length of dorsal fin base.
Distribution:
Puerto Pizzoro, Peru to the Straits of Magellan (Chirichigno, 1974). In our expedition, caught sporadically from off Chiloe to the Straits of Magellan.
Remarks:
Aphos was designated by Hubbs and Shultz (1939) and contains a single species (Hildebrand, 1946; Chirichigno, 1974).