(Fig. 3 L)
Material examined. Three specimens, 448.0–559.0 mm TL: USU 0 1303 (1, 559.0 mm, x-rayed), MD, 38 CP 65; UF 231763 (2, 448.0–542.0 mm, x-rayed), R/V Gllis, off St. Paul Rocks, 0 5 o 03’ N, 20 o 48 ’ W, 2784 m.
Distribution. Histiobranchus australis is being recorded by the first time in the WSA. It was described from the western Indian and eastern South Atlantic Oceans (46 º 46 ’ S, 45 º 31 ’ E, 48 º06’S, 10 º05’ W), and is also known from the East Indian and western South Pacific Oceans.
Remarks. USU 0 1303 was reported by Séret and Andreata (1992) as Haptenchelys texis. The specimen is poorly preserved, lacking skin, dorsal- and anal-fin rays, and infraorbital bones, and the musculature is disintegrating. The bones have also suffered from decalcification, making counts of vertebrae on an x-ray very difficult. The number of vertebrae seems to fit with H. australis: total vertebra ca. 135, precaudal vertebra equal to 60 (Karmovskaya & Merrett 1998). Additional material collected in Northern Brazil confirms the existence of H. australis in adjacent waters.