In young specimens (37-55 mm) the anterior portion of the palatine, and the entire surface 

 of the mesopterygoids, are densely set with minute teeth. 



Size: To 94 mm. 



Least depth of capture: The single capture was from 0-880 m at night. 



Distribution: Form R-3 is known from only one locality in the North Pacific Ocean (Fig. 

 119). It is probably sympatric with Forms R-1 and R-2. 

 Discussion 



The difficulty is definitely assigning any of Forms A, B, C, and D to the species described 

 by Brauer (1904, p. 402, fig. 4) and further delineated by Brauer (1906, p. 224, fig. 146) as 

 Myctophum (Nyctophus) fulgens lies in the fact that the species is at present undefinable. Dr. 

 C. Karrer, Zoological Museum, Humboldt University, Berlin, has informed me that the 3.9-cm 

 specimen figured by Brauer is not among the specimens cataloged in that Museum (personal 

 communication). Dr. Karrer kindly provided me with two specimens cataloged as Myctophum 

 (Nyctophus) fulgens, each designated as "Typen." One specimen, 10.0 mm SL, ZMB 17606, 

 from Valdivia Station 228, is of a circumglobal species complex related to Diaphus theta 

 Eigenmann and Eigenmann (1890); the second specimen, 22.0 mm SL (Fig. 122), ZMB 17605, 

 from Valdivia Station 226, probably a female (based on appearance of Vn), is not of the same 

 species described and figured by Brauer. Instead, I believe it may be the same as Form C, 

 diagnosed above in that the VOo.-, interspace is about 60% of the space between VLO and VO-, 

 a value similar to that found for Form C, and higher than for Forms A, B, and D. Also, the 

 numbers of gill rakers, 5 + 1 + 12, agree with the count for Form C (Table 21 ), as does the 

 count of AO photophores, 5 + 5 (Table 22). 



Also in agreement with the counts for the "Type" of Z). fulgens are those given for Diaphus 

 nanus Gilbert ( 1908, p. 224, pi. 2) described from nera Nukuhiva, Marquesas, 5 + 5(6) AO and 

 5+13 gill rakers, including all rudiments. Unfortunately, the holotype of D. nanus is only "17 

 mm long"; Gilbert recorded four paratypes from the same region and stated that "All are 

 smaller than the type." It is possible that Form C, D. nanus and the "Type" of D. fulgens (ZMB 

 17605) are conspecific. But, if the latter specimen is not of the same species as that described 

 and figured by Brauer, the name fulgens is not available and must remain in doubt until the 

 3.9-cm specimen is reexamined. The solution to that dilemma is not within the scope of this 

 publication. 



-p 



Fig. 122— A specimen, 22.0 mm, ZMB 17065, labeled as "Type" of Myctophum (Nyctophus) fulgens Brauer, 1904. 

 (Photophores retouched). 



137 



