| Description: |
Neoconger mucronatus Girard, 1858 (Figures 2, 4, 9; Tables 2, 3) Neoconger mucronatus Girard, 1858: 171; St. Josephs Island, Texas, lectotype USNM 861. Smith & Castle 1972: 200 (redescription, synonymy, lectotype designation, osteology, life history). Smith 1989a: 60 (updated account with additional material and analysis). Study material (18 specimens, 98–302 mm TL). LECTOTYPE: USNM 861 (female, 302), St. Joseph Island, Texas. PARALECTOTYPES: MCZ 36006 (1, 267), same data as lectotype. USNM 204928 (3 females, 263–267), same data as lectotype. OTHER MATERIAL: ANSP 94213 (1 female, 256), 28° 01.5’N, 96° 48.5’W, 7 fm (12.8 m), 15 Aug 1960, Oregon 2916. ANSP 110071 (1, 265 +), 27° 45’N, 96° 10’W, 40–45 fm (73.2–82.3 m), 2 Feb 1958, Silver Bay 276. ANSP 136001 (1, 176), Texas. FSBC 9078 (1 male, 159), off Port Mansfield, Texas, 35 fm (64.0 m), 7 Sep 1975. TCWC 3981.1 (1 male, 107), 25° 20.0’N, 97° 02.0’W, 40–45 m, 10-ft otter trawl, 18 Nov 1975. TCWC 6097.1 (6 females, 187–265), 18° 50.0’ N, 93° 43.0’ W, 158–170 m, 10-ft otter trawl, 12 Nov 1975. USNM 154997 (1 female [?], 98), 27° 03’ 30” N, 97° 04’ 38” W, 18 fm (32.9 m), 17 Feb 1939, Pelican 121-4. USNM 154998 (1 female, 209), 27° 46’ N, 96° 55’ 30” W, 11 fm (20.1 m), 20 Apr 1938, Pelican 38-2. Uncatalogued (1, cleared and stained), no data. Diagnosis. Neoconger mucronatus differs most distinctly from the geographically adjacent Neoconger torrei in the total number of vertebrae, 94–99 vs 104–107 respectively. It differs from N. anaelisae in the number of predorsal vertebrae (38–44 vs 32–34). It differs from N. hygomi in the number of predorsal vertebrae (38–44 vs 48), preanal vertebrae (43–47 vs 55), precaudal vertebrae (ca. 50–52 vs 58), and total vertebrae (94–99 vs 107). It differs from N. vermiformis in the number of predorsal vertebrae (38–44 vs 34–38), preanal vertebrae (43–47 vs 41–44), and precaudal vertebrae (ca. 50–52 vs 45–ca 49). Larvae have a sharp intestinal loop; the posterior lateral melanophore is present, the anterior ventral melanophore is ... |