Two new species of Pseudoscopelus (Teleostei: Chiasmodontidae), with a new diagnosis for the genus

Abstract

Two new species of the deep-sea fish genus Pseudoscopelus are described, P. lavenbergi from the eastern Pacific, and P. bothrorrhinos from the western Pacific and Indian Oceans. A new diagnosis for Pseudoscopelus based on two synapomorphies is proposed: the dorsal margin of the orbit is formed by infraorbital 6; the last pore of the infraorbital canal is on the dorsal edge of the orbit, anterior to the middle of the pupil. Twelve species of the genus are considered valid, with P. microps confirmed as a junior synonym of P. altipinnis, and P. stellatus regarded as species inquerida.