Vitiaziella cubiceps

Description

Vitiaziella cubiceps is a species of flabby whalefish known from the Kuril-Kamchatka Trench and the South China Sea at depths of from 1,500 to 6,200 metres (4,900 to 20,300 ft); it is considered as rare species. The habitat of this fish is oceanic depth of 1,5-4,5 km. It is the only known member of its genus. This fish is named in honour of Soviet oceanographic ship „Vitiaz” (another species named after this ship are Gonostoma vitiazi Rass, 1950; Lycenchelys vitiazi Andriashev, 1955; Pelagocyclus vitiazi Lindberg et Legesa, 1955; Cypselurus vitjazi Parin, 1958; Diaphus vitiazi Kulikova, 1961; Benthodesmus vitiazi Parin et Becker, 1970; Monomeropus vitiazi Nielsen, 1971; Eustomias vitiazi Parin et Pokhilskaya 1974; Melanostigma vitiazi Parin, 1980). Type specimen had been caught first in 1949 by Soviet expedition near Kuril Islands. No females of this species are known.