A NEW SPECIES OF PSYCHROLUTID FISH FROM WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Psychrolutes occidentalis, a new species of psychrolutid fish, is described from mud bottoms at depths of 350-740 m on the continental slopes around Rowley Shoals, northwestern Australia. The new species is illustrated and compared with other species of the genus Psychrolutes. It differs from other species in the following characters: 14-15 dorsal soft rays, 21-23 pectoral rays, 30-31 vertebrae, no cirri on head and body, lateral line not emerging through tubes, and reddish brown head and body color with darker brown marblings. Aspects of the zoogeography of this new species from the tropical region and of the other species of Psychrolutes are discussed. © 1990 The Ichthyological Society of Japan.