Lycodes akuugun Stevenson & Orr, 2006

Family:  Zoarcidae (Eelpouts), subfamily: Lycodinae
Max. size:  32.4 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range 121 - 460 m
Distribution:  Northeast Pacific: Aleutian Islands.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal soft rays (total): 107-120; Anal soft rays: 97-103; Vertebrae: 113-120. Diagnosis: Distinguished from the majority of its congeners (46 of 61 currently recognized species) by the ventral position of the lateral line. Among species of Lycodes with a ventral lateral line, the new species is distinguished from brevipes, diapterus, hubbsi, microporus, nakamurae, nishimurai, and ocellatus by the absence of scales on the nape. It is distinguished from all remaining congeners except pectoralis and vahlii by its comparatively high vertebral count (113-120 vs. 94-113 in brunneofasciatus, caudimaculatus, frigidus, gracilis, and obscurus). It is distinguished from pectoralis and vahlii by the presence of an interorbital pore, number of anal-fin pterygiophores preceding the first haemal spine (5-7 vs. 2-4), and the color pattern (pectoralis and vahlii lack light bands on the dorsal fin, light blotches on the upper body, and the bicolor appearance of the head, body, and pectoral fin) (Ref. 56970).
Biology:  The species were collected in hauls dominated by Atheresthes stomias, Theragra chalcogramma, Hippoglossus stenolepis, and Sebastes alutus; also with Lycodes diapterus and L. concolor. Bottom temperatures of collection sites ranged from 3.3-4.3 °C. Stomach contents of 2 specimens has partially digested sea urchin tests (Ref. 56970).
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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