Bathygadus nipponicus (Jordan and Gilbert, 1904)

Regania nipponica Jordan and Gilbert, 1904:605–606, fig. (holotype, USNM 50931, 590 + TL; Albatross sta. 3721, Suruga Bay, Japan, 207–250 fm [379–457 m]) .

Bathygadus nipponicus: Gilbert and Hubbs, 1916:142 (listed).— Okamura, 1970:33 (compiled).— Howes and Crimmen, 1990:191–192 (in part; holotype data; see Remarks under B. garretti).— Chiou et al., 2004b:42, fig. 7 (1 spec., NET, re-identified as B. garretti).— Shao et al., 2008: table 2 4 spec., NEW, SWT, SCS).

Bathygadus (Melanobranchus) nipponicus: Gilbert and Hubbs, 1920:380 (in key).

MATERIAL EXAMINED (6 spec.).— SWT: ASIZP 64117 (1, 60 HL, 210+ TL); CD 193, 821 m; ASZIP 65633 (3, 44–60.2 HL, 150–375 TL) and ASZIP 65634 (1, 66 HL, 264+ TL); CD 229, 880– 1062 m . SCS: ASIZP 66126 (1, 83.0 HL, 480 TL); CD 320, 731 m.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES.— A species of Bathygadus with gular membrane scaled; chin barbel absent; dorsal profile behind head relatively low, nape not humpbacked; 1D II,8–10, P i15–i17; V 9 (rarely 10); GR 6+(17–22) (ASIZP 65634 had 2 rudiments and 6 developed rakers on upper arm); pyl. caeca 12–19; interorbital width 27–32% HL; orbit diameter 22–26%; upper jaw length 53–56%; none of fins with greatly elongated finray.

DISTRIBUTION.— Southern Japan to Taiwan (SWT, SCS) in 731–l062 m.

REMARKS.— Jordan and Gilbert (1904:605) gave the gill raker count as 5+ 16 in the holotype and only specimen in their original description of the species; this count was confirmed by Howes and Crimmen (1990:191). That the count is lower than the values in our specimens is somewhat unsettling, but we hold to our identification until the time more specimens become available and the holotype can be re-examined by one of us. So far as we can determine, our specimens represent only the second record of the species and the first from Taiwan. Chiou et al. (2004b:42, fig. 7) listed the species as a first record from Taiwan based on ASIZP 61227, but we re-examined that specimen and determined it to be B. garretti .