Redescription of Rhinochimaera pacifica (Mitsukuri) and first record of R-africana Compagno, Stehmann & Ebert from Japan (Chimaeriformes : Rhinochimaeridae)

Rhinochimaera pacifica is redescribed and a specimen from Tokyo Bay is desi gnated as the neotype. A second species of the genus, R. africana, is newly recognized from Japan. A new scheme of measurements of the lateral line ca nals has been developed and a comparison of proportional measurements of th e snout width, eye length, and canal measurements clearly distinguishes R. pacifica and R. africana. Intraspecific variation of R, pacifica and compar ison of R. pacifica and R. africana is discussed. Rhinochimaera pacifica ha s an irregular distribution in the north and south Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean. This study also confirms a much wider range for R. africana than pr eviously known and extends the range to the northern Pacific Ocean around t he Japanese Archipelago.