First Record of a Rare Cusk Eel, Epetriodus freddyi, from the Northern Hemisphere (Actinopterygii: Ophidiiformes: Ophidiidae)

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A specimen (184mm SL) of the rare neobythitine ophidiid Epetriodus freddyi Cohen and Nielsen, 1978, the only known species of its genus, was collected in the Hyuga-nada basin, southwest of Shikoku Island, Japan, at a depth of 1,501-1,516m in 1999. It was identified by its unique possession of needle-like teeth on both jaws as well as the vomer and palatines, and the following combination of characters: 25 pectoral-fin rays fully joined by membranes; 8 caudal-fin rays; 21 long gill rakers on the first arch; eye diameter about half snout length; two median basibranchial tooth patches; short, sharp opercular spine; and two filamentous pelvic-fin rays originating below preopercle. This species has been reported only from South Africa, Mozambique, Western Australia, and the French territory of Wallis and Futuna in the Southern Hemisphere. Thus, the present specimen represents the first record of the genus and species in the Northern Hemisphere.