Checklist of deep-sea fishes of the Russian northwestern Pacific Ocean found at depths below 1000 m

Abstract

Abstract On the basis of an analysis of recent reviews and other published sources, as well as the author’s unpublished data, an annotated checklist of fishes and fish-like animals found in the Russian waters of the northwestern Pacific Ocean at depths greater than 1000\u202fm was compiled. The results show that 244 species of fishes and fish-like animals are currently recorded in this region representing 145 genera, 68 families and 24 orders. The most diverse by species are three families: Zoarcidae, Liparidae, and Myctophidae, which account for about 33% of all recorded species. The maximum number of species (230) was observed within the bathymetric range of 1000–2000\u202fm, which is likely due to diurnal and seasonal vertical migrations of these species, for which the main habitats are the mesopelagial, upper continental slope and the adjacent lower shelf waters.