Lycenchelys fedorovi: A new species of eelpout (Teleostei : Zoarcidae) from the northwestern Pacific Ocean

Lycenchelys fedorovi is described from 42 specimens from the northern Kuril Islands, Russia. Unknown before 1993, specimens have been taken only along a rise complex in the western wall of the Kuril-Kamchatka Trench at depths of 190-700 m. The species differs from all congeners in the northwestern P acific in lacking pelvic fins and is the fifth species of Lycenchelys to be described with this character state. The new species is most closely relat ed to another northwestern Pacific congener, Lycenchelys maculatus, but dif fers from it in its lack of pelvic fins and predorsal scales, usually five postorbital pores, and whitish tail tip.