184
Land·Ocean SYstems in the Siberian Arctic: Dvnamics and History
length about half of upper lobe length), reaching almost to anal fin origin; lower lobe with 8
rays, extending to 2/3 of distance from disk to anal fin origin (the longest ray about 1.7 times
longer than upper lobe rays). Base of lowermost pectoral rayon a vertical just behind nostril.
Notch rays somewhat more widely spaced than the others. Pectoral girdle with 3 (2+0+ 1)
radials, medium-sized; the two upper radials narrowly notched from below (Figure 3), with
rudimentary fenestrae. Scapula notched, with fenestra and a strong helve (=shaft). Coracoid
with short helve framed by wide ribs. Coracoidal part of pectoral girdle clearly protruding
beyond ventral profile of body (Figure 1).
Disk small, about 5 times in HL and 0.8 of eye diameter, pearl-shaped, with bowl-like
margins. Disk center small, round, skeletal rays not visible through skin. Anterior lobe of disk
gradually passing into marginal ring, its length equal to disk center. Marginal ring of disk
smooth, not sculptured by segmental pads on its inner rim, with width about equal to disk
center. Distance of mandible from disk equalling two disk diameters. Anus situated on a
vertical through posterior margin of eye. Distance from disk to anus about equal to disk center.
Small ural papilla present. Pyloric caeca 21, banana-shaped, length of all nearly similar, about
8-9 % SL.
Skin with cactus-like prickles, also present on snout, circumorbital space and unpaired fins,
obviously also scattered on other parts of head and body but lost in the specimen. Prickles look
like rosettes of 2-10 sharp needles (without a knob-like base) protruding beyond the
integuments. The skin is not speckled where prickles have been lost. Subcutaneous gelatinous
tissue weakly developed, and therefore the body is rather firm and solid.
Measurements given as percentage of SL (in brackets as percentage of HL): head 27.4, its
width 14.5 (52.8) and depth 23.8 (86.9); snout length 10.4 (37.9); eye 6.9 (25.1), orbit 9.4
(29.2); post-orbital head length 12.9 (47.2), gill slit 8.7 (31.7), interorbital width 12.8 (46.6);
body depth 24.7, depth above anal fin origin 20.4, predorsal 27.4, preanal 44.3, mandible to
disk 11.9, mandible to anus 18.9, disk 5.8 (21.1), disk to anus 1.8, anus to A 28.9; pectoral
length: upper lobe 17.0 (62), shortest notch ray 8.1, lower lobe 28.1.
Colour in life not known but obviously pink with dusky tint. Specimen in alcohol light, some
greyish colour, slightly darker on top of head, along dorsal fin base and sides of body above
pectoral fins. Body below integument dusky, with scattered melanophores, slightly denser than
on skin. Orobranchial cavity, stomach, peritoneum pale. No silvery guanine layer on belly
below integument, or on lower half of eye. The holotype is an inmature female contaning
unripened ovarian eggs (diameter less than 1 mm).
Distribution
The only known specimen was collected between 1934 and 2151 m water depth (temperature
near sea floor -0.8 C, salinity 34.86) at the continental slope of the Laptev Sea.
Etymology
The name is derived from the Latin "solidus" (solid, not gelatinous, firm); it refers to the
comparatively hard consistence of the body, caused by poor development of subcutaneous
gelatinous tissue, a situation which is quite unusual for the genus Careproctus.
Comparative notes.
Only three species of Careproctus, C. reinhardti (Krpyer, 1862), C. ranula (Goode et Bean,
1880) and C. micropus (GUnther, 1887) are presently recognized from the Arctic area (Able
and Irion, 1985; Chernova, 1991). Comparative material of these species examined in this
study was collected in the region extending from the Barents to Laptev Sea (see Chern ova,
Land·Ocean SYstems in the Siberian Arctic: Dvnamics and History
length about half of upper lobe length), reaching almost to anal fin origin; lower lobe with 8
rays, extending to 2/3 of distance from disk to anal fin origin (the longest ray about 1.7 times
longer than upper lobe rays). Base of lowermost pectoral rayon a vertical just behind nostril.
Notch rays somewhat more widely spaced than the others. Pectoral girdle with 3 (2+0+ 1)
radials, medium-sized; the two upper radials narrowly notched from below (Figure 3), with
rudimentary fenestrae. Scapula notched, with fenestra and a strong helve (=shaft). Coracoid
with short helve framed by wide ribs. Coracoidal part of pectoral girdle clearly protruding
beyond ventral profile of body (Figure 1).
Disk small, about 5 times in HL and 0.8 of eye diameter, pearl-shaped, with bowl-like
margins. Disk center small, round, skeletal rays not visible through skin. Anterior lobe of disk
gradually passing into marginal ring, its length equal to disk center. Marginal ring of disk
smooth, not sculptured by segmental pads on its inner rim, with width about equal to disk
center. Distance of mandible from disk equalling two disk diameters. Anus situated on a
vertical through posterior margin of eye. Distance from disk to anus about equal to disk center.
Small ural papilla present. Pyloric caeca 21, banana-shaped, length of all nearly similar, about
8-9 % SL.
Skin with cactus-like prickles, also present on snout, circumorbital space and unpaired fins,
obviously also scattered on other parts of head and body but lost in the specimen. Prickles look
like rosettes of 2-10 sharp needles (without a knob-like base) protruding beyond the
integuments. The skin is not speckled where prickles have been lost. Subcutaneous gelatinous
tissue weakly developed, and therefore the body is rather firm and solid.
Measurements given as percentage of SL (in brackets as percentage of HL): head 27.4, its
width 14.5 (52.8) and depth 23.8 (86.9); snout length 10.4 (37.9); eye 6.9 (25.1), orbit 9.4
(29.2); post-orbital head length 12.9 (47.2), gill slit 8.7 (31.7), interorbital width 12.8 (46.6);
body depth 24.7, depth above anal fin origin 20.4, predorsal 27.4, preanal 44.3, mandible to
disk 11.9, mandible to anus 18.9, disk 5.8 (21.1), disk to anus 1.8, anus to A 28.9; pectoral
length: upper lobe 17.0 (62), shortest notch ray 8.1, lower lobe 28.1.
Colour in life not known but obviously pink with dusky tint. Specimen in alcohol light, some
greyish colour, slightly darker on top of head, along dorsal fin base and sides of body above
pectoral fins. Body below integument dusky, with scattered melanophores, slightly denser than
on skin. Orobranchial cavity, stomach, peritoneum pale. No silvery guanine layer on belly
below integument, or on lower half of eye. The holotype is an inmature female contaning
unripened ovarian eggs (diameter less than 1 mm).
Distribution
The only known specimen was collected between 1934 and 2151 m water depth (temperature
near sea floor -0.8 C, salinity 34.86) at the continental slope of the Laptev Sea.
Etymology
The name is derived from the Latin "solidus" (solid, not gelatinous, firm); it refers to the
comparatively hard consistence of the body, caused by poor development of subcutaneous
gelatinous tissue, a situation which is quite unusual for the genus Careproctus.
Comparative notes.
Only three species of Careproctus, C. reinhardti (Krpyer, 1862), C. ranula (Goode et Bean,
1880) and C. micropus (GUnther, 1887) are presently recognized from the Arctic area (Able
and Irion, 1985; Chernova, 1991). Comparative material of these species examined in this
study was collected in the region extending from the Barents to Laptev Sea (see Chern ova,