Fishes of the genus Artedidraco (Pisces, Artedidraconidae) from the Ross Sea, Antarctica, with the description of a new species and a colour morph

• Published in: Antarctic Science
• Main Authors: Eastman, Joseph T., Eakin, Richard R.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1999
• Subjects: Geology; Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics; Oceanography; Antarctic; The Antarctic; Ross Sea; Antarc*; Antarctic Science; Antarctica
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0954102099000036; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0954102099000036

Notothenioid fish of the artedidraconid genus Artedidraco are a little studied, component of the bottom fauna on the Antarctic continental shelf. Trawling in the south-western Ross Sea, especially in shallow areas with sponge beds, yielded a collection of 65 specimens of Artedidraco . These included all four species occurring in the Ross Sea as well as a new species. The new species Artedidraco glareobarbatus is described and illustrated. This species is most similar to A. orianae , but is distinguished by barbel morphology, by higher counts for dorsal rays and vertebrae, by lower counts for upper lateral-line scales and by colour pattern and visceral anatomy. A distinctive spotted colour morph of A. shackletoni is also documented and compared with the typical barred morph. Depth distribution and meristic variation among species of Artedidraco are summarized, and a taxonomic key to the six species is provided.