body. Attains 12 cm SL. Oceanic, mesopelagic; most adults
taken in depths of 300 - 800 m. Numerous records in
Mozambique Channel and off Xai- Xai, Mozambique. Circumtropical; most records near continental and insular land
masses.
77.5 Scopelarchoides signifer
Johnson, 1974
Scopelarchoides signifer Johnson , 1974: 454 (central equatorial
Pacific) ; 1974: 145*; 1982: 167.
D 9-10; A 26-29; P 22-25 ; LL 49-52; vertebrae 48-49.
No dermal pigment stripes on body; upper C lobe dusky;
pigment lacking or very weakly developed on ventral lobe.
Attains 10 cm SL. Oceanic, mesopelagic; most adults taken
in 300 - 500 m. Numerous records in Mozambique Channel
and off Xai-Xai, Mozambique; tropical Indian and Pacific
oceans, not in the Atlantic.
77.5 Scopelarchoides signifer: 8 em SL holotype (after Johnson. 1974).
Genus Scopelarchu5 Alcock, 1896
Four species, 3 known from off southern Africa.
KEY TO SPECIES
(adults)
1a No pigment on P; A rays 24-29 ................... 00 .. .. . . . . . . . S. guentheri
1b Ppigmented; A rays 18-26 " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " 0 0 " " " " ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' 3
2a A rays 21-26; LL scales 45-50; vertebrae 44-49 ................ S. analis
2b A rays 18-21; LL scales 40-44; vertebrae 40-44 ""'''' S. michaelsarsi
77.6 Scopelarchus analis
(Brauer, 1902)
Dissomma anale Brauer, 1902, p. 278 (offIvory Coast ; Antarctic record
is presumably in error). Scopelarchus analis: Smith, SFSA No. 180*;
Johnson, 1974: 154*; 1982: 169.
D 7-9; A 21-26; P 18-22; LL 45-50; vertebrae 44-49.
77.6 Scopelarchus analis: 11 em SL (after Johnson, 1974).
77: SCOPELARCHIDAE (PEARLEYES)
Pigment on P either on fin-ray bases or whole fin as individually distinguishable melanophores. Pigment on body
limited to dark stripes dorsal and ventral to LL. Attains 126
mm SL. Oceanic, mesopelagic; most adults taken in depths
exceeding 500 m, but some captured in less than 300 m.
Common off southern Africa; tropical/subtropical waters of
all oceans.
77.7 Scopelarchus guentheri
Alcock, 1896
Scopelarchus guentheri Alcock, 1896: 306 (Arabian Sea); 1897, pt. 4,
PI. 18, Fig. 7; Johnson, 1974: 173*; 1982: 171.
D 7-8 ; A 24-29; P 18-21; LL 47-52; vertebrae 46-51.
Pigment on body limited to dark stripes dorsal and ventral to LL. Attains 12 cm SL. Oceanic, mesopelagic; most
adults from depths in excess of 500 m; some from the upper
150 m. Off Durban; mainly tropical in the Atlantic, tropical/
subtropical in the Indian and Pacific oceans.
77.7 Scopelarchus guentheri: 5 em SL (after Johnson, 1974).
77.8 Scopelarchus michaelsarsi
Koefoed,1955
Scope/arch us michaelsarsi Koefoed, 1955: 6, PI. 2, Fig. 6 (central North
Atlantic); Johnson, 1974: 183*; 1982: 171.
D 7-9; A 18-21; P 18-21; LL 40-44; vertebrae 40-44.
Medial face of P covered with dense black pigment
(except 5 ventralmost rays); individual melanophores not
readily discernible (in adults). Attains 10 cm SL. Oceanic,
mesopelagic; most adults taken deeper than 500 m. Southeast of Durban; tropical/subtropical in all oceans.
77.6 Scopelarchus michaelsarsi: 3 em SL (after Johnson, 1974).
267
taken in depths of 300 - 800 m. Numerous records in
Mozambique Channel and off Xai- Xai, Mozambique. Circumtropical; most records near continental and insular land
masses.
77.5 Scopelarchoides signifer
Johnson, 1974
Scopelarchoides signifer Johnson , 1974: 454 (central equatorial
Pacific) ; 1974: 145*; 1982: 167.
D 9-10; A 26-29; P 22-25 ; LL 49-52; vertebrae 48-49.
No dermal pigment stripes on body; upper C lobe dusky;
pigment lacking or very weakly developed on ventral lobe.
Attains 10 cm SL. Oceanic, mesopelagic; most adults taken
in 300 - 500 m. Numerous records in Mozambique Channel
and off Xai-Xai, Mozambique; tropical Indian and Pacific
oceans, not in the Atlantic.
77.5 Scopelarchoides signifer: 8 em SL holotype (after Johnson. 1974).
Genus Scopelarchu5 Alcock, 1896
Four species, 3 known from off southern Africa.
KEY TO SPECIES
(adults)
1a No pigment on P; A rays 24-29 ................... 00 .. .. . . . . . . . S. guentheri
1b Ppigmented; A rays 18-26 " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " 0 0 " " " " ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' 3
2a A rays 21-26; LL scales 45-50; vertebrae 44-49 ................ S. analis
2b A rays 18-21; LL scales 40-44; vertebrae 40-44 ""'''' S. michaelsarsi
77.6 Scopelarchus analis
(Brauer, 1902)
Dissomma anale Brauer, 1902, p. 278 (offIvory Coast ; Antarctic record
is presumably in error). Scopelarchus analis: Smith, SFSA No. 180*;
Johnson, 1974: 154*; 1982: 169.
D 7-9; A 21-26; P 18-22; LL 45-50; vertebrae 44-49.
77.6 Scopelarchus analis: 11 em SL (after Johnson, 1974).
77: SCOPELARCHIDAE (PEARLEYES)
Pigment on P either on fin-ray bases or whole fin as individually distinguishable melanophores. Pigment on body
limited to dark stripes dorsal and ventral to LL. Attains 126
mm SL. Oceanic, mesopelagic; most adults taken in depths
exceeding 500 m, but some captured in less than 300 m.
Common off southern Africa; tropical/subtropical waters of
all oceans.
77.7 Scopelarchus guentheri
Alcock, 1896
Scopelarchus guentheri Alcock, 1896: 306 (Arabian Sea); 1897, pt. 4,
PI. 18, Fig. 7; Johnson, 1974: 173*; 1982: 171.
D 7-8 ; A 24-29; P 18-21; LL 47-52; vertebrae 46-51.
Pigment on body limited to dark stripes dorsal and ventral to LL. Attains 12 cm SL. Oceanic, mesopelagic; most
adults from depths in excess of 500 m; some from the upper
150 m. Off Durban; mainly tropical in the Atlantic, tropical/
subtropical in the Indian and Pacific oceans.
77.7 Scopelarchus guentheri: 5 em SL (after Johnson, 1974).
77.8 Scopelarchus michaelsarsi
Koefoed,1955
Scope/arch us michaelsarsi Koefoed, 1955: 6, PI. 2, Fig. 6 (central North
Atlantic); Johnson, 1974: 183*; 1982: 171.
D 7-9; A 18-21; P 18-21; LL 40-44; vertebrae 40-44.
Medial face of P covered with dense black pigment
(except 5 ventralmost rays); individual melanophores not
readily discernible (in adults). Attains 10 cm SL. Oceanic,
mesopelagic; most adults taken deeper than 500 m. Southeast of Durban; tropical/subtropical in all oceans.
77.6 Scopelarchus michaelsarsi: 3 em SL (after Johnson, 1974).
267