Eight New Species and a New Genus of Congrid Eels from the Western North Atlantic with Redescriptions of Ariosoma Analis, Hildebrandia Guppyi, and Rhechias Vicinalis

Eight new species of eels belonging to the family Congridae are described, based largely on material collected over the past 25 years by research vessels of the National Marine Fisheries Service and the University of Miami in the western North Atlantic. Parabathymyrus oregoni n. sp. extends the range of the genus from the western Pacific to the western Atlantic. Ariosoma coquettei n. sp. is described from the coast of the Guianas, South America. Three new species of Gnathophis Kaup, are described from the Gulf of Mexico, the Straits of Florida, and the coast of Georgia and South Carolina: G. bracheatopos, G. bathytopos, and G. tritos. The genus has not been known previously from the western Atlantic. Two new species of Rhechias Jordan are described, R. bullisi and R. polypora. It is explained that Rhechias is a senior synonym of Congrina Jordan and Hubbs. Japonoconger caribbeus n. sp. represents the second species of that genus, which was previously known from Japan.

Conger analis Poey is redescribed and placed in Ariosoma. An apparently identical form occurs off tropical West Africa. Congromuraena guppyi Norman is shown to belong in the genus Hildebrandia Jordan and Evermann, and becomes the third species of the genus in the western Atlantic. The problem of the identification of the type of guppyi with one of the three species of Hildebrandia is discussed. Uroconger vicinalis Garman is redescribed and assigned to Rhechias.

The genus Lemkea Kotthaus is synonymized with Gnathophis Kaup.

A new genus, Acromycter, is established to house Ariosoma perturbator Parr, Promyllantor alcocki Gilbert and Cramer, and Promyllantor nezumi Asano. A. perturbator is designated as the type species. It is pointed out that Promyllantor schmitti Hildebrand is a synonym of Pseudophichthys latedorsalis Roule.