Neoconger

Smith, David G., Marceniuk, Alexandre P., Rotundo, Matheus M., Carvalho, Cintia O. & Caires, Rodrigo A., 2024, A review of the genus Neoconger (Anguilliformes: Moringuidae), with the description of a new species, Zootaxa 5492 (1), pp. 109-128 : 120-122

Neoconger species

Neoconger sp. Smith 1989b: 702.

This species is represented only by larvae. The corresponding adult has not been found. Therefore, we refrain from formally describing and naming it.

Study material. From Smith 1989b. Dana 1214 (1, 43), Central Caribbean, 14° 21’ N, 76° 50’ W, 26 Jan 1922. University of the West Indies FERP 7374-A-10-11-B (1, 46), Jamaica. Dana 1186 (2, 36–37), Virgin Islands, 17° 58.5’ N, 64° 41’ W, 1 Dec 1921. Dana 1189 (1), Virgin Islands, 17° 58.5’ N, 64° 41’ W, 8 Dec 1921. Dana 1192 (1), Virgin Islands, 17° 43.4’ N, 64° 54.3’ W, 16 Dec 1921. Dana 1195 (1, 43), Virgin Islands, 19° 01’ N, 65° 23’W, 3 Jan 1922. Dana 1196 (1, 43), Virgin Islands, 17° 43’ N, 64° 56’ W, 4 Jan 1922. Dana 1289 (1, 41), Virgin Islands, 17° 43’ N, 64° 56’ W, 15 Apr 1922. Dana 1202 (1, 40), Panama (Caribbean), 09° 40’ B, 79° 56’ W, 10 Jan 1922. UMML , Pillsbury 384 (1, 41), Colombia (Caribbean), 10° 24.2’ N, 75° 58’ W, 15 Jul 1966. UMML , Pillsbury 426 (1, 21), Panama (Caribbean), 09° 48.2’ N, 79° 18’ W, 20 Jul 1966. ANSP 155452 (1, 22) , Yucatan Channel , 20° 34’ 06” N, 87° 01’00” W, 35–55 m, 8 Nov 1975. ANSP 155453 (1, 43) , Yucatan Channel , 21°27’12” N, 86°00’00” W, 27–63 m, 8 Nov 1975. ANSP 155454 (1, 31) , Yucatan Channel , 20°36’18” N, 87°00’30” W, 30 m, 8 Nov 1975 .

Diagnosis. This species differs from all the others in lacking the posterior lateral melanophore. It further differs from N. torrei and N. anaelisae in lacking the anterior ventral melanophore. In addition, it has more predorsal myomeres than the other species (57–62 vs 39–56). It has more total myomeres on average than the other species (105–110 vs 93–108). It differs from N. anaelisae in having a sharper intestinal loop.

Description (from Smith 1989b). Total myomeres 105–110, predorsal myomeres 57–62, preanal myomeres 56–63, LVBV 57–60, nephric myomeres 53–57, dorsal-fin rays 140–187, anal-fin rays 136–195. Morphometric characters in %SL: preanal 63–73, predorsal 64–73, head 7–12, greatest depth 21–30. Anterior ventral melanophore and posterior lateral melanophore absent; pigment present only on intestinal loop. Largest specimen 46 mm SL.

Distribution. Known from the Caribbean: Colombia, Panama, Virgin Islands, and Yucatan Channel, where it co-occurs with N. torrei .

Remarks. This larva is known from only 22 specimens, as opposed to 265 specimens for the other western Atlantic species ( Smith 1989b: 702, 703). Considering that larvae are much more frequently collected than adults, this suggests that the present species may be less common than the co-occurring N. torrei , and hence less likely to be collected as adults.

Etymology. None.