Redescription of Rhinochimaera pacifica (Mitsukuri) and first record of R. africana Compagno, Stehmann and Ebert from Japan (Chimaeriformes: Rhinochimaeridae)

Rhinochimaera pacifica is redescribed and a specimen from Tokyo Bay is designated as the neotype. A second species of the genus, R. africana, is newly recognized from Japan. A new scheme of measurements of the lateral line canals has been developed, and a comparison of proportional measurements of the snout width, eye length, and canal measurements clearly distinguishes R. pacifica and R. africana. Intraspecific variation of R. pacifica and comparison of R. pacifica and R. africana is discussed. Rhinochimaera pacifica has an irregular distribution in the north and south Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean. This study also confirms a much wider range for R. africana than previously known and extends the range to the northern Pacific Ocean around the Japanese Archipelago.