STOMIIFORMES
VALA = Part of OAC extending from a vertical line at
origin of anal fin to end of large photophores of
this series.
V ALC = Small photophores of OAC series extending from
just posterior to last large photophore of this series
to termination of row on caudal peduncle.
V A V = Part of IC extending between a vertical line at
insertion of posterior pelvic fin ray and anal fin
origin (when OAC is continuous) or to end of
row (when AC is offset). In astronesthids, VA V
may begin anterior to pelvic fin insertion, between posterior ends of PV rows.
KEY TO FAMILIES
la Bony pectoral fin radials 4 (reduced or fused to 1 in
Cyclothone) ..................................................................... 2
Ib Bony pectoral fin radials 3 (reduced to fewer in some
species) .......................................................................... 3
2a Branchiostegal rays 12-16, with 4-6 of
these attached to posterior ceratohyal
(= epihyal); BR photophores 7-16; AC
photophores never with single
photophores clumped into compound
light organs (posteriormost 2 AC
photophores in Diplophos taenia
sometimes so close together as to
appear nearly united into a compound
organ) ................................... GONOSTOMATIDAE (No. 74)
2b Branchiostegal rays 6-10, with 3 of
these attached to posterior ceratohyal;
BR photophores 6 (rarely 7 in Sonoda);
AC photophore series with 2 or more
photophores clumped into specialised
light organs surrounded by black or
silvery pigment ....................... STERNOPTYCHIDAE (No. 7S)
228
3a Gill-rakers well developed in young
and adults; maxilla with 2 supramaxillae
(these fused with maxilla in Ichthyococcus);
never with a mental or chin barbel; serial
photophores with a lumen and duct. PHOTICHTHYIDAE (No. 73)
3b Gill-rakers present only in larvae; gill
arches in metamorphosed specimens with
spine-like teeth or bare anteriorly; often
with a chin barbel; photophores without
ducts or a lumen ............................................................... 4
4a Entire body with hexagonal areas (reputed to be scales) ............. S
4b Body without hexagonal areas ............................................. 6
Sa Dorsal and anal fins both at rear end of
body and ending close to tail .................... STOMIIDAE (No. 67)
~ ..... ... .. .. ....... ... ~ ~
67
Sb Dorsal fin far in advance of anal fin,
close to head; anal fin close to
tail ...................................... CHAULlODONTIDAE (No. 68)
~·"·· · · d::\
68
~
6a Dorsal and anal fins both ending close
to tail; no adipose dorsal fin (except in
Chirostomias, Melanostomiidae, which
is not found in the area) ...................................................... 7
6b Dorsal fin well in advance of anal fin,
ending well in advance of tail; dorsal
adipose fin present (absent in Rhadinesthes,
which is not found in the area) ...... ASTRONESTHIDAE (No. 69)
7a Dorsal fin much longer than anal fin,
its origin anterior to mid-length of body;
paired spines present anterior to each
dorsal and anal ray ....................... IDIACANTHIDAE (No. 70)
~= ... ~ ' . . ' = . . . . = . . ~ .. . ~ . . ~~ . ' ==~~~3 U
7b Dorsal and anal fins about equal in
length, or anal fin longer than dorsal; no
paired spines anterior to dorsal or anal rays............................. 8
VALA = Part of OAC extending from a vertical line at
origin of anal fin to end of large photophores of
this series.
V ALC = Small photophores of OAC series extending from
just posterior to last large photophore of this series
to termination of row on caudal peduncle.
V A V = Part of IC extending between a vertical line at
insertion of posterior pelvic fin ray and anal fin
origin (when OAC is continuous) or to end of
row (when AC is offset). In astronesthids, VA V
may begin anterior to pelvic fin insertion, between posterior ends of PV rows.
KEY TO FAMILIES
la Bony pectoral fin radials 4 (reduced or fused to 1 in
Cyclothone) ..................................................................... 2
Ib Bony pectoral fin radials 3 (reduced to fewer in some
species) .......................................................................... 3
2a Branchiostegal rays 12-16, with 4-6 of
these attached to posterior ceratohyal
(= epihyal); BR photophores 7-16; AC
photophores never with single
photophores clumped into compound
light organs (posteriormost 2 AC
photophores in Diplophos taenia
sometimes so close together as to
appear nearly united into a compound
organ) ................................... GONOSTOMATIDAE (No. 74)
2b Branchiostegal rays 6-10, with 3 of
these attached to posterior ceratohyal;
BR photophores 6 (rarely 7 in Sonoda);
AC photophore series with 2 or more
photophores clumped into specialised
light organs surrounded by black or
silvery pigment ....................... STERNOPTYCHIDAE (No. 7S)
228
3a Gill-rakers well developed in young
and adults; maxilla with 2 supramaxillae
(these fused with maxilla in Ichthyococcus);
never with a mental or chin barbel; serial
photophores with a lumen and duct. PHOTICHTHYIDAE (No. 73)
3b Gill-rakers present only in larvae; gill
arches in metamorphosed specimens with
spine-like teeth or bare anteriorly; often
with a chin barbel; photophores without
ducts or a lumen ............................................................... 4
4a Entire body with hexagonal areas (reputed to be scales) ............. S
4b Body without hexagonal areas ............................................. 6
Sa Dorsal and anal fins both at rear end of
body and ending close to tail .................... STOMIIDAE (No. 67)
~ ..... ... .. .. ....... ... ~ ~
67
Sb Dorsal fin far in advance of anal fin,
close to head; anal fin close to
tail ...................................... CHAULlODONTIDAE (No. 68)
~·"·· · · d::\
68
~
6a Dorsal and anal fins both ending close
to tail; no adipose dorsal fin (except in
Chirostomias, Melanostomiidae, which
is not found in the area) ...................................................... 7
6b Dorsal fin well in advance of anal fin,
ending well in advance of tail; dorsal
adipose fin present (absent in Rhadinesthes,
which is not found in the area) ...... ASTRONESTHIDAE (No. 69)
7a Dorsal fin much longer than anal fin,
its origin anterior to mid-length of body;
paired spines present anterior to each
dorsal and anal ray ....................... IDIACANTHIDAE (No. 70)
~= ... ~ ' . . ' = . . . . = . . ~ .. . ~ . . ~~ . ' ==~~~3 U
7b Dorsal and anal fins about equal in
length, or anal fin longer than dorsal; no
paired spines anterior to dorsal or anal rays............................. 8