77: SCOPELARCHIDAE (PEARLEYES)
08-9; A 20-25; P 25-28; LL 55-59; vertebrae 55-58. Luminous organs
present on isthmus (10), within V musculature (POa), just posterior to V
bases (POp), and just anterior to anus (AO); only latter 2 (POp and AO)
are readily evident externally (see Merrett et aI., 1973, p. 32).
Colour in alcohol: uniform dull brown, with edges of
scale pockets emphasised by slightly heavier pigmentation;
dense black stripe on midventral contour between POp and
AO luminous organs. Attains 14 cm SL. Oceanic,
mesopelagic or bathypelagic; most adults taken in hauls to
depths considerably in excess of 500 m. Off southwest Cape
coast and offXai-Xai, Mozambique; tropical/subtropical in
all 3 major oceans.
77.1 Benthalbella infans: 14 em SL (after Johnson, 1974).
77.2 Benthalbella macropinna
Bussing & Bussing, 1966
Benthalbella macropinna Bussing & Bussing, 1966: 53, Fig. 1 (SE of
Cape Horn; 56°17'S, 58°09'W); Johnson, 1974: 88*.
05-6; A 35-39; P 25-27; LL 62-65; vertebrae 60-62.
Colour in alcohol: uniform dull brown, but with scale
pockets distinctly outlined by heavier pigmentation; dense
black cap of enlarged melanophores at dorsal margin oflens
pad. Attains 23 cm SL. Oceanic, mesopelagic or
bathypelagic; most adults taken in depths considerably in
excess of 500 m. Off southwest Cape coast; circumpolar in
subantarctic and Antarctic waters.
77.2 Benthalbella macropinna: 18 em SL (after Johnson, 1974).
Genus Rosenblattichthys Johnson, 1974
Three species; 1 known from off southern Africa.
77.3 Rosenblattichthys hubbsi
Johnson, 1974
Rosenblattichthys hubbsi Johnson, 1974: 452 (equatorial Atlantic); 1974:
103*; 1982: 158*. Rosenblattichthys ala/US (non Fourmanoir): Johnson,
1974: 97 (in part; record of larva from off Mozambique).
266
08-9; A 23-25; P 21-23; LL 53 (n=I); vertebrae 49 (n=I).
Colour in alcohol: more or less uniform yellow-brown,
with more intense pigmentation outlining scale pockets; P
and V covered with small, scattered melanophores; a black
streak bordering anterior margin of eye. Attains at least 145
mm SL. Oceanic, mesopelagic or bathypelagic; known
from 1 adult (equatorial Atlantic in 0 - 657 m) and 45 larval
or juvenile specimens, some taken in less than 60 m from
central water areas in all 3 major oceans; has been taken off
Xai-Xai, Mozambique.
77.3 Rosenblattichthys hubbsi: 14.5 em SL (after Johnson, 1974).
Genus Scopelarchoides Parr, 1929
Five species, 2 known from our area and S. kreffti
Johnson, 1972 probably occurs here.
KEY TO SPECIES
(adults)
la P longer than V; no pigment stripes associated with LL;
(pigment well developed on upper C lobe, lacking
or very faint on lower lobe; Prays 22-25) ..................... S. signifer
Ib P shorter than V; pigment stripes associated with LL
well developed ................................................................. 2
2a V insertion posterior to 0 origin; (upper C lobe
with pigment faint or lacking, well developed on
lower C lobe); Prays 20-22 ......................................... S. danae
2b V insertion anterior to 0 origin; Prays 23-25 .................. S. kreffti
(Transition Region of South Atlantic, presumed circum tropical in
southern Transition Region).
77.4 Scopelarchoides danae
Johnson, 1974
Scope/archoides danae Johnson, 1974: 453 (South China Sea); 1974:
124 *; 1982: 165.
06-9; A 24-27; P 20-22; LL 50-52; vertebrae 48-50.
Dark stripe just ventral to LL and extends to lower C
lobe; pigment lacking or weakly developed elsewhere on
77.4 Scopelarchoides danae: 9.5 em SL holotype (after Johnson, 1974).
08-9; A 20-25; P 25-28; LL 55-59; vertebrae 55-58. Luminous organs
present on isthmus (10), within V musculature (POa), just posterior to V
bases (POp), and just anterior to anus (AO); only latter 2 (POp and AO)
are readily evident externally (see Merrett et aI., 1973, p. 32).
Colour in alcohol: uniform dull brown, with edges of
scale pockets emphasised by slightly heavier pigmentation;
dense black stripe on midventral contour between POp and
AO luminous organs. Attains 14 cm SL. Oceanic,
mesopelagic or bathypelagic; most adults taken in hauls to
depths considerably in excess of 500 m. Off southwest Cape
coast and offXai-Xai, Mozambique; tropical/subtropical in
all 3 major oceans.
77.1 Benthalbella infans: 14 em SL (after Johnson, 1974).
77.2 Benthalbella macropinna
Bussing & Bussing, 1966
Benthalbella macropinna Bussing & Bussing, 1966: 53, Fig. 1 (SE of
Cape Horn; 56°17'S, 58°09'W); Johnson, 1974: 88*.
05-6; A 35-39; P 25-27; LL 62-65; vertebrae 60-62.
Colour in alcohol: uniform dull brown, but with scale
pockets distinctly outlined by heavier pigmentation; dense
black cap of enlarged melanophores at dorsal margin oflens
pad. Attains 23 cm SL. Oceanic, mesopelagic or
bathypelagic; most adults taken in depths considerably in
excess of 500 m. Off southwest Cape coast; circumpolar in
subantarctic and Antarctic waters.
77.2 Benthalbella macropinna: 18 em SL (after Johnson, 1974).
Genus Rosenblattichthys Johnson, 1974
Three species; 1 known from off southern Africa.
77.3 Rosenblattichthys hubbsi
Johnson, 1974
Rosenblattichthys hubbsi Johnson, 1974: 452 (equatorial Atlantic); 1974:
103*; 1982: 158*. Rosenblattichthys ala/US (non Fourmanoir): Johnson,
1974: 97 (in part; record of larva from off Mozambique).
266
08-9; A 23-25; P 21-23; LL 53 (n=I); vertebrae 49 (n=I).
Colour in alcohol: more or less uniform yellow-brown,
with more intense pigmentation outlining scale pockets; P
and V covered with small, scattered melanophores; a black
streak bordering anterior margin of eye. Attains at least 145
mm SL. Oceanic, mesopelagic or bathypelagic; known
from 1 adult (equatorial Atlantic in 0 - 657 m) and 45 larval
or juvenile specimens, some taken in less than 60 m from
central water areas in all 3 major oceans; has been taken off
Xai-Xai, Mozambique.
77.3 Rosenblattichthys hubbsi: 14.5 em SL (after Johnson, 1974).
Genus Scopelarchoides Parr, 1929
Five species, 2 known from our area and S. kreffti
Johnson, 1972 probably occurs here.
KEY TO SPECIES
(adults)
la P longer than V; no pigment stripes associated with LL;
(pigment well developed on upper C lobe, lacking
or very faint on lower lobe; Prays 22-25) ..................... S. signifer
Ib P shorter than V; pigment stripes associated with LL
well developed ................................................................. 2
2a V insertion posterior to 0 origin; (upper C lobe
with pigment faint or lacking, well developed on
lower C lobe); Prays 20-22 ......................................... S. danae
2b V insertion anterior to 0 origin; Prays 23-25 .................. S. kreffti
(Transition Region of South Atlantic, presumed circum tropical in
southern Transition Region).
77.4 Scopelarchoides danae
Johnson, 1974
Scope/archoides danae Johnson, 1974: 453 (South China Sea); 1974:
124 *; 1982: 165.
06-9; A 24-27; P 20-22; LL 50-52; vertebrae 48-50.
Dark stripe just ventral to LL and extends to lower C
lobe; pigment lacking or weakly developed elsewhere on
77.4 Scopelarchoides danae: 9.5 em SL holotype (after Johnson, 1974).