Morphological Differences between Beryx splendens Lowe and B. mollis Abe Teleostei: Beryciformes: Berycidae)

Since Beryx mollis Abe, 1959 was described from Sagami Bay, Honshu Island, Japan, it has been regarded as a junior synonym of B. splendens Lowe. Comparison of specimens of Beryx from Japan revealed that B. mollis is a valid species and distinguished from B. splendens in having the following characters: fewer dorsal fin rays (12-13 vs. 13-15); fewer pyloric caeca (15-20 vs. 27-36); deeper body (39.0-43.2 vs. 33.9-41.0 as % of SL); larger eyes (13.8-15.9 vs. 10.6-14.1 as % of SL); and longer pelvic fins (24.1-33.2 vs. 19.8-27.8 as % of SL); oval-shaped posterior nostril (vs. slit-like); stronger ctenoid scales. Known distribution of B. mollis is restricted to southern Japan from Sagami Bay to the Ryukyu Islands