DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES OF PACHYCARA ZUGMAYER, 1911 FROM THE ABYSSAL SOUTH-EASTERN PACIFIC AND REDESCRIPTION OF P-THERMOPHILUM GEISTDOERFER, 1994, WITH A NEW KEY TO THE SPECIES

A new species of the eelpout genus Pachycara Zugmayer is described fro m the abyssal south-eastern Pacific Ocean on the basis of five males a nd eight females. It is distinguished mainly by its single mediolatera l lateral line, furcate gill rakers, lack of pelvic fins and lack of s cales on the anterior portion of the body. Pachycara thermophilum Geis tdoerfer is redescribed from the two adult type specimens and two addi tional juveniles from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. It is distinguished by i ts single mediolateral lateral line (said to be absent in the original description), furcate gill rakers, two pelvic fin rays, dorsal fin or igin associated with vertebrae 7-8 and 31 precaudal vertebrae. A revis ed key to all 16 species of Pachyara is presented.