5 from Argentina (211.8-271.3 mm SL), 10 from Chile (237.8-319.0 mm SL), FAKU 42832, 42932, 43142, 43348, 43415; CP 406, 408, 465, 466, 505; uncatalogued 5 specimens.
Description:
D viii-14-17; A 12-13; P1 22-26; P2 3; GR 1-3+5-7=6-10.
HL 45.4-50.7% of SL; ED 4.0-6.3; BD 28.5-42.6; SN 13.6-18.4; IO 15.9-21.5; UJ 16.3-21.4; CP 7.8-12.0; P1L 19.3-27.9; P2L 9.1-13.7; D1H 3.5-6.8; D2H 13.5-18.1; AH 12.0-16.8.
Body tadpole-like, depressed anteriorly, compressed posteriorly. Head extremely large, about 2.3 times in SL. Body scaleless, soft and flabby. Skin tough and flexible. Small dermal appendages on head and anterior part of body. Mouth large, flabby lips on both jaws. Villiform teeth in bands on both jaws. No teeth on vomer or palatines. Snout very blunt and wide. Eye small, about 8-11 times in head. Two nostrils, both tubular, posterior one slightly larger than anterior one. Posterior margin of opercle angular. Gill-rakers on first arch stub-like. Interorbital region flat and wide, about 4 times eye diameter. Pectoral fin round, fan-like, its tip far beyond anus; anterior half larger and branched, posterior half shorter, segmented and fleshy. Pelvic fin small, reaches pectoral fin origin when depressed. First dorsal fin poorly developed. Second dorsal and anal fins covered by skin continuous with body skin. Lateral line obscure, small lateral line pores widely spaced. Body pale brown with irregular dark bloches. Color variation recognized, from yellowish to dark brown.
Distribution:
Both Argentine and Chilean Patagonia.
Remarks:
N. angustus and N. latus of New Zealand are similar to this species, but N. marmoratus has more fringes on head and body. Besnardia gyrinops Lahille, 1913 which was thought to be distributed in more northern waters, is regarded as a junior synonym of this species (Fowler, 1945; Nelson, 1977). This fish chiefly feeds on benthic animals, polychaetes, small crustaceans, and mollusks.
(Izumi NAKAMURA)
Distribution of Neophrynichthys marmoratus in Patagonia.
Anterior part of body. Dermal appendages (1) and copulatory organ (2).