8 from Argentina (420.5-615.0 mm SL), FAKU 42772, 42807, 43004; AP 676-679, 691.
Description:
D [-]-30-33; A 40-41; P1 17-18; P2 T, 5; GR 4-5+1+12-18=18-24.
HL 24.0-24.4% of SL; ED 2.0-2.5; BD 8.7-10.5; SN 6.4-6.5; IO 2.9-3.3; UJ 8.6-8.8; CP 3.9-4.4; P1L 12.3-13.3; P2L 8.3-9.2; D1H 8.5-10.7; D2H 7.3-8.4; AH 4.4-5.4.
Body extermely elongate, depressed anteriorly, cylindrical posteriorly. Snout especially depressed, pointed, so head triangular in dorsal view. Mouth large, posterior margin of upper jaw extending slightly over center of eye, lower jaw apparently more produced forward than upper jaw. Anterior teeth on lower jaw visible even when mouth closed. About 6 fang-like teeth on each upper jaw, villiform inner teeth in band and about 25 sharp caniniform teeth uniserial on upper jaw and 10-12 sharp conical teeth uniserial on lower jaw, outer teeth on upper jaw smaller and arranged more closely than teeth on lower jaw. Numerous villiform teeth in band on vomer. Villiform inner teeth in band and sharp caniniform outer teeth on palatines. Nostrils situated closely and nearer to eye than tip of snout, anterior nostril circular with a tube around and posterior nostril crescent. Eye small, 9-11 times in head. Gill-rakers short and slender with inner serrations. Pseudobranchiae well developed. Pectoral fin moderate in size with a well developed scaled flap, its length slightly longer than half of head. Pelvic fin situated extremely anterior to pectoral fin origin, its length about one-third of head. First dorsal fin with short base. Anal fin bese longer than second dorsal fin bese. Caudal fin subtruncate. Head and body covered with small ctenoid scales. Lateral line fairly straight from about upper gill-opening insertion to caudal fin base. Pyloric caeca numerous, dendritic.
Distribution:
Off southern Brazil to central Argentina.
Remarks:
Attains large size, at least 50 cm SL. Percophidae is monotypic, and considered to be closely related to Parapercidae.
(Izumi NAKAMURA)
Distribution of Percophis brasiliensis in Patagonia.
Scale below mid lateral line (left) and lateral line scale (right).