FISHERY BULLETIN: VOL 78, NO. 1 



Table 2. Fin ray frequencies for females of Melanocetus species. 



Species 



Melanocetus johnsoni 

 Melanocetus polyactis 

 Melanocetus niger 

 Melanocetus eustalus 

 Melanocetus murrayi 



Total 



32 

 38 



Dorsal 



12 13 14 15 16 17 3 



70 

 4 

 3 



29 



106 



64 

 4 

 2 

 1 



71 



Anal 



1 136 



13 



5 



1 



62 



1 217 



Pectoral (both sides) 



1 



5 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 



1 13 34 69 36 12 2 



1 2 3 12 4 2 1 



2 2 5 1 

 2 



5 17 37 8 5 1 



2 5 19 52 47 88 46 15 3 



Supracleithrum 



B 



^ 



Radials 



Coracoid 



Cleithrum 



Postcleithrum 



Figure 16. — Lateral view of pectoral girdle, pectoral radials, and pelvic 

 bone: A. Melanocetus murrayi, LACM 31501-3, 84 mm SL; B. M. johnsoni, 

 LACM 32786-1, 75 mm SL. Cartilage stippled. 



Pelvic bone 



rays 4 (rarely 3 or 5), caudal fin rays 9 (1-6-2); 

 ossified posteroventral process of coracoid absent; 

 pectoral radials 4, fusing to 3 with growth; pelvic 

 bones expanded distally; esca without denticles; 

 minute, widely spaced skin spines present in at 

 least some species. 



The metamorphosed males of the Melanocetidae 

 are distinguished from those of all other ceratioid 

 families in having the following combination of 

 characters: free-living; jaw teeth absent; upper 

 denticular with 2-3 semicircular series of strong, 

 recurved denticles, fused with a median series of 

 3-9 enlarged dermal spines that articulate with 

 the pterygiophore of the illicium; lower denticular 

 with 10-23 recurved denticles, fused into a median 

 and two lateral groups; eyes directed laterally, 

 elliptical in shape, pupil larger than lens; olfac- 



tory organs large, nostrils lateral, nasal area un- 

 pigmented, inflated; dorsal fin rays 12-16, anal fin 

 rays 4, caudal fin rays 9 (1-6-2); skin spinulose or 

 naked. 



Description. — Females relatively short and deep, 

 globular (but often appearing highly compressed 

 apparently due to deformation upon capture, com- 

 pare Figures 17, 18); head short; mouth large, 

 nearly vertical, cleft not extending past eye; lower 

 jaw with a well-developed symphysial spine; oral 

 valve weakly developed; two nostrils on each side 

 on distal surface of a rounded papilla; eye small, 

 subcutaneous, appearing through a circular, 

 translucent area of integument within a shallow, 

 orbital pit formed between sphenotic and frontal 

 bones; gill opening oval in shape, situated posteri- 



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