A new species of the deep‐sea eel genus Ilyophis Gilbert (Synaphobranchidae) from the eastern North Atlantic, with comments on its ecology and intrafamilial relationships

• Published in: Journal of Fish Biology
• Main Authors: Saldanha, L., Merrett, N. R.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 1982
• Subjects: North Atlantic
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8649.1982.tb02866.x; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fj.1095-8649.1982.tb02866.x; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1095-8649.1982.tb02866.x

A new species of synaphobranchid eel, Ilyophis blachei , is described from the eastern North Atlantic. It is distinguished by 179–188 vertebrae, dorsal fin inserted half (or more) of the snout length posterior to extended tip of pectoral fin, gill slits obliquely inclined anteroventrally from pectoral base, rounded posterior nostril bordered anteriorly by conspicuous triangular flap, long lateral line (87–95% S.L.), supraorbital canal pores 5–6, infraorbital 7–8 and preoperculomandibular 10–11, supraorbital and supratemporal commissures with 1 and 3 pores, respectively. The diagnosis of the genus Ilyophis is extended to embrace these characters. The transitional position of the genus between the subfamilies Synaphobranchinae and Dysomminae is discussed in the light of this new evidence. Ilyophis blachei occurs on the lower continental slope (1247–2070 m soundings) within the temperature range c. 7.0−3.3°C. The first record of I. arx in the Atlantic Ocean is also reported.