Fig. 9 — Capture localities of Protomycotphum (Hierops) crockeri (small solid circles), P. (H.) thonipsoni (X), P. (H.) 

 chilense (large solid circles). P. (H.) becken (solid triangles). 



Discussion 



Becker ( 1963b) stated that, based primarily on meristic characters, within the total popu- 

 lation of P. (H.) crockeri three areal groups were evident. He defined them broadly as: Western 

 (coastof Honshu to 165° E), Eastern (coast of Oregon to 155° W), and Southeastern (coast of 

 California). Becker concluded that despite an almost complete overlap in counts the numbers 

 of pectoral and dorsal rays and gill rakers increased from west to east but that the number of 

 AO photophores increased from east to west. Unfortunately, Becker had few specimens from 

 the we.stern and southeastern areas (no more than 13 counts and as few as 7) and from 34 to 52 

 counts from the eastern area. 



No specimens were available to the present study from the western area, but a large 

 number were available from the areas corresponding to the eastern and southeastern areas, as 

 defined by Becker. Specimens from these areas were separated into the following four subareas 

 (Table 1): 40° to 50° N, west of 130° W; coasts of Washington and Oregon; southern California 



20 



