Description of Careproctus patagonicus sp. nov. and C. magellanicus sp. nov. (Pisces: Scorpaeniformes) from the lower slope of Drake Passage

Two new species of Liparidae are described from Drake Passage (55°32·8' S, 65°54·3' W). Careproctus patagonicus differs from all other congeneric species in the following combination of characters: C 9 (1+4/4), epural and parhypural unfused to single hypural; gill slit above P base; lower pectoral lobe well developed; pectoral girdle with one ventral radial (0+0+0+1) with a central foramen; da 2·4, aAf 10·2% LS; disk 41·5% HL; some crater-like pits on posterior half of body; head and anterior part of body white. Careproctus magellanicus has the following diagnostic characters: A 46; P 24, well-developed lower pectoral lobe; scattered crater-like spots and some thumb-tack prickles on body; one suprabranchial pore; basal plate of the pectoral girdle with two fenestrae; four radials (3+1), the first with a ventral notch; HL 17·1, preD 18·5% LS. The structure of the endochondral pectoral girdle of both species is commented.