A new species of the deep‐sea fish genus <i>Cyclothone</i> Goode &amp; Bean (Stomiatoidei, Gonostomatidae) from the tropical Atlantic

Abstract

A new gonostomatid species, Cyclothone parapallida , is described from the tropical Atlantic. Its affinities with C. pallida are shown by the shared characters especially the presence of an enlarged caniniform tooth in the premaxilla and a posterior, irregular series of minute teeth on the pterygoid, but it is distinguished from this species by its lower gill raker count [21‐22 (23) v . 23–24 (22–25) first arch], its more restricted meningeal pigment, its lack of internasal pigment and its transparent dorsal and anal fin rays. Furthermore, it attains a larger maximum size, has a different geographic distribution pattern and, when sympatric, lives deeper than C. pallida . A synopsis of characters useful in distinguishing Cyclothone spp. in the Atlantic is presented.