Record of a larval whalefish (family Cetomimidae) from near the Juan Fernandez seamounts, Southeastern Pacific Ocean

Abstract

The finding of a late flexion cetomimid specimen of 24.6 mm body length (BL), plus a caudal streamer of 5.7 mm, collected in the southeastern Pacific near the Juan Fernandez seamounts (33.565°S; 77.710°W), is reported. The specimen was in good condition, almost fully pigmented, covered by small melanophores from the head to the caudal streamer, where the pigmentation is denser. It possesses an upturned mouth, developing pelvic fins with a high insertion, 14 dorsal and 15 anal fin rays, 7+7 principal caudal fin rays, ca. 54 myomeres, and a preanal distance of 75% BL. Based on the available information, the specimen can be tentatively ascribed to a species of Gyrinomimus or Cetomimus.