334 
THE CORAL TRIANGLE: HEARST BIODIVERSITY EXPEDITION 
to be found in the Philippines (Allen and Adrim 2003; Allen and Erdmann 2012; and unpub. data). 
Included are; Brachysomophis cirmcheilos, B. henshawi, Callechelys catostoma, C. marmorata, 
C. papulosa, Hemewrhinus heyningi, Phyllophichthus xenodontus, Schultzidia johnstonensis, 
Scolecenchelys acutirostris^ and Xestochilus nebulosiis. 
Wliereas most ophichtliids are benthic and occupy 100 m or less, more recent deepwater trawl¬ 
ing and trapping have demonstrated that many deepwater ophichthids remain to be discovered 
(McCosker 2010). I herein describe an additional womi eel known from a single specimen and col¬ 
lected in deep water from the Verde Island Passage. It is closely related to the deep water Pyloro- 
branchus hoi McCosker et al. (2013) from Taiwan and is remarkable in that it is nearly twice as 
long and three times heavier than any known myrophine. 
Materials and methods 
Measurements are straight-line, made either with a 300 mm ruler with 0.5 mm gradations (for 
total length, trunk length, and tail length) and recorded to the nearest 0.5 mm, or with dial calipers 
(all other measurements) and recorded to the nearest 0.1 mm. Body length comprises head and 
trunk lengths. Head length is measured ft'orn the snout tip to the posterodorsal margin of the gill 
opening; trunk length is taken from the end of the head to mid-anus; maximum body depth does 
not include the median fins. Head-pore terminology follows that of McCosker et al. (1989:257) 
such that the supraorbital pores are expressed as the ethmoid pore + pores in supraorbital canal, 
e.g., 1 X 3, and the infraorbital pores are expressed as pores along the upper jaw + those in vertical 
part of canal behind eye (the “postorbital pores”), e.g., 4 x 2, in that frequently the last pore includ¬ 
ed along the upper jaw is part of the postorbital series. Osteological examination of the gill arches 
involved clearing and counterstaining with alcian blue and alizarin red dyes (Dingerkus and Uhler 
1977). Other osteological examinations were made from radiographs. Vertebral counts, which 
include the hypural, were taken from a radiograph. Radiographic tecliniques are described in Boh- 
Ike (1989). The vertebral formula (VF) is expressed as the predorsal/preanal/total vertebrae (Boh- 
Ike 1982). Institutional abbreviations are as listed at http://asih.org/codons.pdf The holotype of the 
new species is deposited in the fish collection of the California Academy of Sciences. Comparative 
material is despoiled at both the CAS and at Taiwan Ocean University (TOU) 
Genus Pylorobmnchus McCosker & Chen 2013 
Type species Pylorobranchiis hoi McCosker, Loh & Lin 2013, by original designation 
Pylorobranchus hearstomm McCosker, sp. nov. Gigantic worm eel 
Figures 1-4 
Material examined.— Holotype: CAS 235464, 1218 mm TL, female, field number DC- 
1426, from the Verde Island Passage, Philippine Archipelago, captured by beam trawl at 892-966 
m between 13.583°-!3.575°N, 120.382-120.411°E over a muddy substrate, aboard M/V DA- 
BFAR, Sta. HEPD 016, between 1405-1440 hrs. on 31 May 2011. 
Diagnosis. — An elongate myrophine with the following characteristics: tail 66% of TL; dor¬ 
sal fm arising in posterior trunk region; dorsal fin slightly elevated, anal fin very elevated; pectoral 
fin wedge-shaped, developed, about four times eye diameter; eye moderate, 17 in HL; rear margin 
of orbit above posterior third of upper jaw; cephalic pores small, SO 1 x 3,10 5 x 2, POM 7 x 3 (2 
right), and ST 3 present; teeth needle-shaped, not enlarged, slightly retrorse, uniserial on jaws and 
vomer; coloration brownish black, median fins grayish black, anal-fm membrane black posterior¬ 
ly. Vertebral fonnula 39/66/226. 
Counts and measurements of the holotype (in mm).— Total length 1218; head length 
