Lycenchelys melanostomias Toyoshima, 1983, a senior synonym of L. brevimaxillaris Toyoshima, 1985 (Teleostei: Zoarcidae)

The holotype of Lycenchelys melanostomias Toyoshima, 1983, the original description of L. brevimaxillaris Toyoshima, 1985, and 54 Lycenchelys specimens from the Okhotsk Sea and the Pacific off northern Japan were compared. Lycenchelys brevimaxillaris was distinguished from L. melanostomias in having 4 postorbital pores, pale-colored stomach, and smaller mouth in the original description (vs. 5 postorbital pores, dark stomach, and larger mouth in L. melanostomias). However, L. melanostomias has 4 or 5 postorbital pores, as recently pointed out. The coloration of the stomach of the L. melanostomias holotype and the new material is pale. Meristic counts and proportional measurements of the new material include those of the type specimens of both species. The length of upper jaw exhibits sexual dimorphism in L. melanostomias larger than ca. 170 mm TL: upper jaw reaching near posterior margin of pupil in males vs. near middle of eye in females. The L. brevimaxillaris holotype (female) agrees well with female L. melanostomias in this character. These facts indicate that L. melanostomias is a senior synonym of L. brevimaxillaris.