A diagnosis and description of Bathydraco are presented, the most salient characteristics being scales, a single lateral line, and opercles not armed with spinous points or a hook. The genus is compared with other bathydraconid genera and a key to the species is given. Diagnosis and descriptive notes, based on the Eltanin material as well as type specimens, are presented for the four previously known species (B. scotiae, B. antacticus, B. macrolepis and B. marri) and B. joannae sp. nov. is described and figured. The distribution and relationships of the species are discussed. The deepwater B. scotiae stands apart from the others, which form two pairs, each with a deeper and a shallower (though overlapping) member: B. antarcticus and B. macrolepis; B. joannae and B. marri.