10 from Argentina (133.4-162.8 mm SL), 3 from Chile (288.0-463.0 mm SL), FAKU 42712-42715, 42718-42720, 42723; AP 830, 831; CP 67, 498, 499.
Description:
D X-Z, 33-36; A U-V, 31-34; P1 19-22; P2 T, 5; GR 4-7+16-19=20-25; BR 5-6.
HR 32.5-38.5% of SL; ED 8.9-10.9; BD 54.9-65.0; SN 7.7-10.0; IO 10.6-12.4; UJ 12.9-15.7; CP 6.7-7.8; P1L 13.0-14.5; P2L 11.7-14.5; D1H 6.7-12.0; D2H 10.2-14.4; AH 9.6-14.9.
Body oval, deep and extremely compressed. Head large, about 3 times in SL. Dorsal profile between interorbital region and origin of dorsal fin nearly straight. Mouth oblique and protrusible, end of upper jaw reaching to anterior margin of eye. Both jaws equal when mouth closed. Snout blunt and short. Eye large, slightly shorter than snout length. Interorbital region flat, its width slightly larger than snout. Fine villiform teeth in bands on both jaws. Vomer and palatines toothless. Pseudobranchiae developed. Two nostrils; anterior one smaller and circular, posterior one larger and elliptical. Small cycloid scales on body, further fine scales on cheek. Spiny tubercular scales on both dorsal and ventral margin. Belly extremely convex. Pectoral fin rather short, round and fan-shaped. Pelvic fin situated slightly behind pectoral fin origin. Dorsal fin spine rather feeble, first spine longest. Second dorsal fin continuous to first dorsal fin, its height increasing toward posterior rays. Anal fin similar to second dorsal fin in shape and size. Caudal fin subtruncate. Lateral line extremely curved anteriorly, nearly straight in caudal peduncle region.
Distribution:
Deep waters of both Chilean and Argentine Patagonia, also known from Suriname, South Africa and the Subantarctic Sea.
Remarks:
Drastic metamorphosis occurs with growth, so many scientific names have been given to each growth stage.
(Izumi NAKAMURA)
Distribution of Pseudocyttus maculatus in Patagonia.
Metamorphosis on belly with growth (1→3). Arrow shows direction to head.