Order STOMIIFORMES
Introduction by S.H. Weitzman
Mesopelagic and bathypelagic fishes distributed in all
oceans, with 9 families, about 50 genera and 300 species.
Adults reach 15 to 500 mm in length. Anatomical diversity
extensive from relatively primitive Diplophos to highly derived Sternoptyx and Malacosteus. Neoteleosts, derived
from base of that group (Rosen, 1973; Fink & Weitzman,
1982). Stomiiforms are characterised by the structure of
their photophores or light organs which they bear in series
along body, by type 3 tooth attachment, a special arrangement of jaw muscles and ligaments, and several derived
features of branchial arches (Fink & Weitzman, 1982).
Family classification last revised by Weitzman (1974). Identification of stomiiform families, genera and species requires use of special terminology for photophores.
QP
O~B ".
r-------oA c;oc-----~
;.-- - - OA; OAB ---____.
: - -VAL-----;
;...-- -OAA :
\
:
.
~ OV~ VA L A --ir- vAL B +VALC~
"
.
"
.
"
.
"
.
:
:
"........
:
~ IP~ PV--LVAV~AC ----.;
;
IV
i
~
'----- - - - - - IC
'
ORB
~
~uborbitol
.p os torbi lo l
: ~IP--~ BRPj
'---VAV-' '--AC~
PHOTOPHORE TERMINOLOGY
AC = Posterior part of IC series; usually extending
between a vertical line at anal fin origin to posterior termination of IC photophore row on
caudal peduncle. In barbelled stomiiforms with
posterior part of IC (or OAC) row offset from
rest of row, offset photophores comprise AC
series even when they begin posterior to anal fin
origin.
BR
BRP. A series of photophores on branchiostegal
membranes.
IC
Entire ventral photophore row extending from
anterior end of isthmus to posterior termination
of this row on caudal peduncle; consists of IP,
PV, VAV and AC.
IP = Anterior part of IC, extending from anterior end
of isthmus to a vertical line at origin of pectoral
fin.
IV
Part of I C extending from anterior end of isthmus
to a vertical line at pelvic fin origin; comprises IP
andPV.
LLP
Series of small photophores on midside from
opercular margin, or just medial to it, to near
base of middle caudal fin rays.
OA = OAB. All large photophores of the OAC series;
comprises OV, V ALA and V ALB.
OAA = Part of OAC extending from opercular border,
or just medial to it, to a vertical line at anal fin origin; comprises OV and V ALA.
OAC
Oc. Entire lateral photophore series on body
sides just dorsal to ventral series and extending
from opercular border, or just medial to it, to
caudal fin base; comprises OV, VALA, VALB
and V ALC (when last is present).
OP = Three photophores associated with gill cover;
one near anterior base of preopercle, one just
dorsal to anterior part of subopercle, and one anteriorly adjacent to dorsal region of opercle.
ORB
Photophores associated with eye. In some
stomiiforms an organ anterior and ventral to eye
is called a preorbital or suborbital organ and one
posterior and ventral to eye is called a postorbital
organ.
OV = Part of OAC from opercular border, or just medial to it, to a vertical line at pelvic fin origin.
PV
Part of IC series extending between vertical lines
at origins of pectoral and pelvic fins; bends dorsal
(lateral) to pelvic fin origin in astronesthids;
separate from V A V, which may begin anterior to
lastfewPV.
SO
Photophore situated near anterior end or symphysis of lower jaw.
VAL = Part of OAC series extending between a vertical
line at origin of pelvic fin and end of large photophores of this series; consists of VALA and
VALB.
227
Introduction by S.H. Weitzman
Mesopelagic and bathypelagic fishes distributed in all
oceans, with 9 families, about 50 genera and 300 species.
Adults reach 15 to 500 mm in length. Anatomical diversity
extensive from relatively primitive Diplophos to highly derived Sternoptyx and Malacosteus. Neoteleosts, derived
from base of that group (Rosen, 1973; Fink & Weitzman,
1982). Stomiiforms are characterised by the structure of
their photophores or light organs which they bear in series
along body, by type 3 tooth attachment, a special arrangement of jaw muscles and ligaments, and several derived
features of branchial arches (Fink & Weitzman, 1982).
Family classification last revised by Weitzman (1974). Identification of stomiiform families, genera and species requires use of special terminology for photophores.
QP
O~B ".
r-------oA c;oc-----~
;.-- - - OA; OAB ---____.
: - -VAL-----;
;...-- -OAA :
\
:
.
~ OV~ VA L A --ir- vAL B +VALC~
"
.
"
.
"
.
"
.
:
:
"........
:
~ IP~ PV--LVAV~AC ----.;
;
IV
i
~
'----- - - - - - IC
'
ORB
~
~uborbitol
.p os torbi lo l
: ~IP--~ BRPj
'---VAV-' '--AC~
PHOTOPHORE TERMINOLOGY
AC = Posterior part of IC series; usually extending
between a vertical line at anal fin origin to posterior termination of IC photophore row on
caudal peduncle. In barbelled stomiiforms with
posterior part of IC (or OAC) row offset from
rest of row, offset photophores comprise AC
series even when they begin posterior to anal fin
origin.
BR
BRP. A series of photophores on branchiostegal
membranes.
IC
Entire ventral photophore row extending from
anterior end of isthmus to posterior termination
of this row on caudal peduncle; consists of IP,
PV, VAV and AC.
IP = Anterior part of IC, extending from anterior end
of isthmus to a vertical line at origin of pectoral
fin.
IV
Part of I C extending from anterior end of isthmus
to a vertical line at pelvic fin origin; comprises IP
andPV.
LLP
Series of small photophores on midside from
opercular margin, or just medial to it, to near
base of middle caudal fin rays.
OA = OAB. All large photophores of the OAC series;
comprises OV, V ALA and V ALB.
OAA = Part of OAC extending from opercular border,
or just medial to it, to a vertical line at anal fin origin; comprises OV and V ALA.
OAC
Oc. Entire lateral photophore series on body
sides just dorsal to ventral series and extending
from opercular border, or just medial to it, to
caudal fin base; comprises OV, VALA, VALB
and V ALC (when last is present).
OP = Three photophores associated with gill cover;
one near anterior base of preopercle, one just
dorsal to anterior part of subopercle, and one anteriorly adjacent to dorsal region of opercle.
ORB
Photophores associated with eye. In some
stomiiforms an organ anterior and ventral to eye
is called a preorbital or suborbital organ and one
posterior and ventral to eye is called a postorbital
organ.
OV = Part of OAC from opercular border, or just medial to it, to a vertical line at pelvic fin origin.
PV
Part of IC series extending between vertical lines
at origins of pectoral and pelvic fins; bends dorsal
(lateral) to pelvic fin origin in astronesthids;
separate from V A V, which may begin anterior to
lastfewPV.
SO
Photophore situated near anterior end or symphysis of lower jaw.
VAL = Part of OAC series extending between a vertical
line at origin of pelvic fin and end of large photophores of this series; consists of VALA and
VALB.
227