Paraliparis skeliphrus

Paraliparis skeliphrus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Scorpaeniformes
Family:	Liparidae
Genus:	Paraliparis
Species:	P. skeliphrus
Binomial name
Paraliparis skeliphrus Stein, 2005

Paraliparis skeliphrus is a species of snailfish. It was described in 2005 from a single poorly preserved specimen of 71 mm standard length collected in 1966 off the Chilean coast near Antofagasta.

Despite the poor condition of the specimen, it is sufficiently distinctive to warrant specific status. It is most similar to Paraliparis fimbrianus but differs in the position and shape of the pectoral fins. It can easily be distinguished from other congeners found in the region by a combination of characters including a horizontal mouth, the presence of teeth borne in bands on both jaws and the position of the pectoral fins far forward on the body.

From the circumstances of the collection, this is presumed to be a benthic species.

References

David L. Stein (2005). "Descriptions of four new species, redescription of Paraliparis membranaceus and additional data on species of the fish family Liparidae (Pisces: Scorpaeniformes) from the west coast of South America and the Indian Ocean" (PDF). Zootaxa 1019: 1–25.