Some Rare and Insufficiently Studied Snailfish (Liparidae, Scorpaeniformes, Pisces) in the Pacific Waters off the Northern Kuril Islands and Southeastern Kamchatka, Russia

Spatial and vertical distributions, size-weight compositions, age, and diets of 10 rare or poorly known snailfish (Liparidae) from the Pacific off the southeastern Kamchatka and the northern Kuril Islands are described. The species include blacktip snailfish Careproctus zachirus , Alaska snailfish C. colletti , blacktail snailfish C. melanurus , proboscis snailfish C. simus , falcate snailfish C. cypselurus , big-disc snailfish Squaloliparis dentatus , longtip snailfish Elassodiscus obscurus , slender snailfish Paraliparis grandis , gloved snailfish Palmoliparis beckeri , and stout snailfish Allocareproctus jordani . These species inhabit a wide range of depths. Careproctus melanurus, C. cypselurus, E. obscurus, P. grandis, and C. colletti are the deepest; C. simus and S. dentatus occur mostly between 300 and 600 m; the three other species seldom occur at depths of 150–200 m. The life span of these species is 10–13 years, and specimens of age classes 2–5 constitute the bulk of catches. All except A. jordani are benthophages that eat small crustaceans, shrimps, hermit crabs, and amphipods. A. jordani consumes crustaceans and also polychaete worms, sea snails, octopi, brittle stars, juvenile fish, and fishery offal.