A NEW SPECIES OF DEEP-WATER WORM-EEL, MURAENICHTHYS-PROFUNDORUM (ANGUILLIFORMES, OPHICHTHIDAE), FROM THE NAZCA RIDGE

A new species of deepwater eastern Pacific worm-eel, Muraenichthys pro fundorum, subgenus Scolecenchelys, is described from a specimen trawle d at 310m on the Nazca Ridge. It is the deepest capture of any known M uraenichthys. The new species is distinguished from its closest relati ves in having more vertebrae and slightly different body and head morp hometry. The distribution of eastern Pacific Muraenichthys is the resu lt of eastward dispersal along the southeastern margin of the Indo-wes t Pacific Plate. Taxonomic actions concerning the species of Muraenich thys are reviewed.