本種はヨーロッパに分布するH. dactylopterusとされていたが,Norman (1937)により別種H. lahilleiとされた。ここではRinguelet and Aramburu (1960)の見解に従い,H. dactylopterusの亜種とした。本種に近縁のH. maculatusが南アフリカに,H. papilosusがニュージーランドに分布する。
(稲田伊史)
Material examined:
4 from Argentina (144.6-279.2 mm SL), FSFL EM 465, 604; EL 744, 866.
Description:
D ]U, 12; A V, 5; P119; P2 T, 5; LLS 57-61; GR 7-8+18-20=25-27.
HL 35.8-38.1% of SL; ED 9.0-11.0; BD 31.8-35.3; SN 8.6-9.6; IO 4.8-5.2; UJ 18.4-19.7; CP 9.3-10.5; PreD 33.6-36.2; PreP1 32.3-36.2.
Body rhomboidal and slightly compressed. Both anterior and posterior nostrils with tubes, situated close together anterior to upper part of eye. Interorbital slightly concave, many small strong spines developed along both edges. Mouth large, posterior end of upper jaw extending below middle of eye. Lower jaw projecting slightly further than upper and a small knob present on chin. Teeth on both jaws forming villiform bands; vomer and palatines toothed. Strong bony ridge developed below eye. Five spines on preopercle and 2 spines on opercle. No spine on lower margin of preorbital. Upper part of pectoral margin truncate obliquely. Caudal margin slightly concave. Snout scaleless; end of upper jaw, fin membranes and base of second dorsal fin scaled. Six to 8 lowermost rays of pectoral simple. Upper part of body orange-red; side more or less spotted or mottled with vermilion color; lower part pinkish white; dorsal fin membranes with dark spots and blotches; pectoral, pelvic and anal fins reddish.
Distribution:
From Uruguay to northern part of Argentina (to 40°S) in 80-200 m depths.
Remarks:
This species has been confused with H. dactylopterus known from Europe, but Norman (1937) identified the former as a separate species, H. lahillei. I have considered this as a subspecies of H. dactylopterus following Ringuelet and Aramburu (1960). Closely related species, H. maculatus and H. papillosus are distributed in South Africa and New Zealand respectively.
(Tadashi INADA)
Distribution of Helicolenus dactylopterus lahillei in Patagonia.