Classification / Names
Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes(genus, species) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa
Teleostei (teleosts) >
Perciformes/Zoarcoidei (Eelpouts and pricklebacks) >
Zoarcidae (Eelpouts) > Lycodinae
Etymology: Patagolycus: Named for Patagonia ('Patago', the type species found mainly in Patagonian waters) and the Greek 'lykos' (= wolf), a commonly used suffix for southern hemisphere zoarcid genera; melastomus: Name from the Greek 'melas' for black or dark and 'stoma' for mouth; referring to the colour of its orobranchial cavity.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; demersal; depth range 164 - 489 m (Ref. 90127). Temperate; 45°S - 52°S, 60°W - 69°W (Ref. 90127)
Southwest Atlantic: Argentina.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 43.7 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 90127); 38.5 cm TL (female)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal soft rays (total): 83 - 89; Anal soft rays: 67 - 73; Vertebrae: 86 - 93. This species is distinguished by the following characters: presence of submental crest; elongated and narrowed neurocranium; frontals fused anteriorly with no trace of a suture; frontal corner squared; long frontal ramus; frontal and parasphenoid well separated by pterosphenoid; sphenotic and parietal in contact; parietals separated from mid-line; parasphenoid wing reaches the mid-height of the trigeminofacialis foramen; supraoccipital?exoccipìtal articulation excluded by epioccipital; no supratemporal commissure and occipital pores; intercalar well developed; 8 suborbital bones, canal with 7 pores; postorbital pores 1 and 4; ceratohyal?epihyal juncture interdigitating dorsally; branchiostegal rays 5; posterior hyomandibular ramus elongate; well developed palatal arch and posttemporal ventral ramus; scapular foramen enclosed by bone; scapular strut present; cartilaginous basal plate of pectoral girdle with 4 foramina; asymmetrical vertebrae; well developed oral valve; gill slit extending ventrally below lower end of pectoral-fin base; scalloped gill rakers; pelvic-fin rays ensheated; squamation extensive; with lateral line, pyloric caeca, palatine and vomerine teeth; oral cavity and peritoneum black (Ref. 90127).
Body shape (shape guide): elongated; Cross section: oval.
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Matallanas, J. and C. Corbella, 2012. Redescription of Iluocoetes Jenyns, 1842; proposal of a new genus, Argentinolycus, for Iluocoetes elongatus (Smitt, 1898), and description of Patagolycus melastomus gen. et sp. nov. (Teleostei, Zoarcidae). Zootaxa 3296:1-18. (Ref. 90127)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
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