410 



FISHERY BULLETIN OF THE FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE 



All of the specimens shown in figures 3, 4, 5, 6, 

 <and 7 are juveniles of P. iiuiculatus. Figure 6 

 shows metamorphosed (upper) and pelagic 

 (lower) specimens of similar size for comparison. 



The small specimens up to 61.0 mm. were taken 

 by dip net or with aid of rotenone. With one 

 exception, the dip-netted specimens had long, 

 slender, dark bodies typical of pelagic fish. The 

 one exception, a 43.0-mm. specimen, had begun to 

 acquire the three black pigmentation blotches pe- 

 culiar to P. mandatus. The fact that this stage 

 was dip netted over depths as great as 1,000 to 

 2,000 fathoms (table 2) is evidence of their pelagic 

 mode of life. 



The smallest specimen taken by bottom trawl 

 was 67.0 mm. (table 2), and this and all trawled 

 specimens had attained the coloration and most 

 of the body shape of the adult. That tliese were 

 routinely trawled from the bottom in depths not 

 exceeding 42 fathoms is indication of their 

 shallow-water, bottom-living mode of life. They 

 have also been observed and photographed in this 

 habitat (Longley and Hildebrand, 1941). 



When the sizes of specimens, depths of capture, 

 and methods of capture are plotted (table 3, p. 

 411) the ditl'erent habitats of the adults and juve- 

 niles become apparent. The shallow-water speci- 

 mens ranged from 41.0 mm. upward, and all of 



Figure 4. — Pelagic Psciiduiiciiciin niaciihitKH. From top to bottom, SS.'i mm., 



by Gill personnel. (BLBG) 



."i().2 mm., ami 4(1..". mm. Dili netted 



