794 



Fishery Bulletin 88(4), 1990 



fig. 15 (spermiogenesis; southern California off San 

 Clemente I. at about 1280 m; off Los Coronados I. 

 at about 1097 m; Theisen 1976: 167-173, figs. 2. 4. 

 7. 10 (niicrostructure of olfactory system; southern 

 California; 1097 m. 



Holotype USNM 57820, sex not determined, "21" 

 inches (about 535 mm TL), taken near Yes Bay, Behm 

 Canal, Cleveland Peninsula, southeastern Alaska, east- 

 erly of Ketchikan, about 55°55'N, 131°55'W, by dredge 

 at 419-423 m (Albatross Station 4238), 8 July 1903. 



Paratypes USNM 61162, two: one a female, in rot- 

 ting condition, taken at Albatross Station 4229 and 

 4235, Behm Canal, southeastern Alaska, Nose Point, 

 near the holotype, by dredge at 419-423 m. 16 July 

 1903. (The type specimens were examined by Carl L. 

 Hubbs at USNM, 25 February 1972.) 



Additional material SI059-47, 6(359-458), 823 m; 

 SIO60-540, 1(484), 1920 m; SI063-177, 20(286-457), 

 2743 m; SI063-868, 21(345-498), 107 m; SI064-281, 

 1(451), 587 m; SI064-496, 5(374-455), 475 m; SI064- 

 497, 26(335-445), 512 m; SI064-498, 37(291-441), 616 

 m; SI064-499, 38(294-473), 960 m; SI065-499, 54 

 (321-521), 933 m; SI065-465, 19(370-554), 1302 m; 

 81066-27, 2(148-455), 1252 m; SI066-36, 130(233- 

 509), 512 m: SI066-535, 21(377-453), 1013 m; SI066- 

 537, 1(417), 1244 m; SI066-551, 2(390-401), 1156 m; 

 SI067-64, 20(380-510), 980 m; SIO67-109, 52(312- 

 523). 1024 m; SIO67-110, 1(369), 1445 m; SI067-118, 

 51(288-467), 732 m; SI068-427, 5(396-470). 1840 m; 

 SI068-428, 6(320-481), 800 m; SI069-225F, 38(342- 

 429), 633 m; SI069-227B, 26(288-495), 744 m; SI069- 

 288D, 56(182-423), 609 m; SIO71-103. 4(401-484), 

 1373 m; SI071-7, 42(280-484), 1244 m. 



The following collections, with incomplete data were 

 taken between British Columbia and northern Califor- 

 nia: OSUO 3869, 3(267-450), OSUO 3870, 2(385-415), 

 OSUO 3871, 2(404-447), BCPM 46-15, 1(366), BCPM 

 72-9, 4(402-475), BCPM 72-10, 1(460), CAS 10877, 

 1(390), CAS 26633, 2(318-365), CAS 20404, 1(395), 

 Albatross Station 3126, 1(317), 378 m; UW 00379, 

 1(440), 155 m; UW 18148, 1(391), 595 m; UW 18149, 

 1(383), 1098 m; UW 18151, 1(405), 1190 m; UW 18152, 

 7(370-445), 1190 m; UW 18153, 2(402-466), 932 m; 

 UW 18154, 1(354), 183 m; UW 18155, 6(376-433), 

 1190 m; UW 18157, 5(400-440), 732 m; UW 18158. 

 12(342-459), 824 m; UW 18159, 2(343-375), 732 m; 

 UW 19095, 3(421-440), UW 19127. 2(414-444), UW 

 19206, 1(320), UW 19310, 6(382-479). 



Distribution Southeastern Alaska to near Guadalupe 

 Island, Mexico. Despite this extensive range of about 

 2600 miles, no significant variation in counts or mea- 



surements with latitude was demonstrated. 



Diagnosis Prebranchial slime pores 7(4-10). Pre- 

 branchial length usually greater than branchial length, 

 rarely equal to or less. Tail length variably equal to, 

 or slightly less or greater than branchial length. Color 

 a purplish-black, with occasional pale spots and areas. 

 Anterior part of head often pale. Three fused cusps 

 (multicusp) on anterior set of cusps, two fused cusps 

 on posterior set. 



Description Counts (Tables 2-8) and body propor- 

 tions (Table 1) are given and compared with similar 

 data for the other four species treated here. 



Body robust, deeper than wide at midbody, progres- 

 sively laterally compressed toward tail. Prebranchial 

 slime pores 7(4-10). Branchial apertures 11(10-12). 

 Prebranchial length usually greater than branchial 

 length, rarely equal to or less. Tail length greater than 

 branchial length in 45%, equal-to in 30%, and less-than 

 in 26% of 441 specimens. Ventral finfold weakly 

 developed, occasionally absent, without pale margin. 

 Tail spatulate, its ventral surface sloping downward at 

 a slight angle from the ventral body line. Head wider 

 than deep. First barbels usually shorter than second, 

 occasionally equal to or slightly longer; the first about 

 58% of length of third barbel, the third about 70% of 

 preocular length. Eyespots prominent, variable in size, 

 usually with irregoilar margins. Length of first nasal 

 barbel is given in Table 6 and compared with that of 

 other species treated. 



Head grooves Of 104 specimens selected for mucus- 

 free condition, 18 (17%i) had no grooves. Of those hav- 

 ing grooves before eyespots, 45% had them on both 

 sides, about 6% had them on either the right or left 

 side only. Grooves occur on both sides beliind eyespots 

 in 80'7o, on the left only in 8%i, and on the right side 

 only in 12% of the 104 specimens. 



Color Color usually a purplish-black or very dark 

 brown. Specimens with a brownish base color show 

 variable amounts of pale spots and patches (piebald- 

 ness) that range from slight to considerable. An occa- 

 sional specimen has a pale head from rostrum to first 

 few prebranchial slime pores. Most heads are pale near 

 tip of rostrum. On pale heads, the barbels usually are 

 unpigmented. Ventral and caudal finfolds without pale 

 margin except when spotted in piebald specimens. Gill 

 apertures and slime pores with narrow pale margins. 

 Cloacal margins with rather wide pale areas. 



Variation occurs in numbers of GA l)etween left and 

 right sides with higher numbers predominating on the 

 left, 125 (11%) vs. 21 (2%) on the right side in 1145 

 counts (Table 8). 



