D \-32; A31; P123; P2 T, 5; GR2+10=12; BR7.
HL33.7% of SL; ED4.3; BD15.5; SN14.9; PO14.0; IO8.4; UJ16.5; CP5.1; P1L17.1; P2L20.6; D1H9.2; D2H6.6; AH6.1; PreD129.3; PreD245.6; PreP134.0; PreP230.3; PreA52.6; PreAn51.5.
Body slender, elongate. Head large, about 3 times in SL. Snout long, slightly longer than postorbital length of head. Eye small, about 4 times in upper jaw length. Mouth large, its posterior end slightly posterior to anterior margin of eye. Two nostrils situated just anterior to eye, anterior nostril small pore and posterior one crescent. Jaw teeth fine conical. Tongue elongate, flat. Pectoral fin short, shorter than pelvic fin. Pelvic fin situated slightly anterior to pectoral fin. First dorsal fin low, its base short. Heights of second dorsal and anal fins almost as high as height of first dorsal fin their bases long. Caudal fin small, its posterior margin emarginate. No scales except on lateral line. Two lateral lines, upper line originating from upper insertion of opercle and ending at caudal peduncle region, lower line from below posterior 1/3 of second dorsal fin to base of caudal fin. Body brown, irregularly mottled. Up to 35 cm SL.
Distribution:
Falkland region, Straits of Magellan.
Remarks:
The fishes of Channichthyidae lack an oxygen-carrrying pigment in their blood, which appears pale whitish(DeWitt, 1971). Falkland's local name is “Pike" and although rarely eaten, is said to be a good food-fish(Norman, 1937). The depth range is about 50 to 250m. Closely related to C. gunnari is distributed in more southren water, in the depths of 0 to 450 m (DeWitt, 1971).
(Izumi NAKAMURA)
Distribution of Champsocephalus esox in Patagonia.
Gill-rakers (above). Snout (below) with nostrils arrowed.