Table 34. Body Proportions for the Lampanyctus achirus Species Complex from off 

 South Africa and from the Southeastern and Northeastern Pacific 

 Ocean. 



Body proportions (Table 34) are given for specimens of the L. achirus complex from near 

 South Africa and from the southwestern and northeastern Pacific Ocean. 



Lampanyctus achirus was described and figured as having SAO^. slightly before a vertical 

 from origin of anal fin but this character is highly variable througout the range. In 83% of the 

 legible specimens (a total of 70 sides) from between 64° S and 46° S, SAOj was beofre or on a 

 vertical from origin of anal fin, and over bases of second or third anal ray in 17% of the sides. In 

 specimens from between 34° S and 03° S, SAO^ was somewhat more posteriorly placed; of 56 

 sides only about 12% of SAO^ were before or over anal origin, but 68% were over bases of 

 second or third rays, and 20% were over bases of fourth or fifth rays. On 51 sides from the 

 northeastern Pacific, SAO2 had, on the average, an even more posterior position; SAO^ was not 

 observed to occur before a vertical from anal origin and was over that origin in only 6% of the 

 sides; SAO2 was over bases of second or third rays in 34% of the sides, and over bases of fourth 

 or fifth rays in 60%. In the few legible specimens from off South Africa (15 sides) SAO2 was 

 over or slightly before anal origin in 66% of the sides, and over bases of second or third rays in 

 34%. 



The position of Prc^ relative to PrC;, also is variable throughout the range of the L. achirus 

 complex. In specimens from 64' to 46° S, Prc4 is predominantly on (few slightly before or 

 behind) a vertical from Prc^; in specimens from 34° to 03° S, Prc4 is before, rarely on or behind, a 

 vertical from Pre.). In specimens from the northeastern Pacific, Prc^ is nearly always behind, 

 often by at least two diameters, the vertical from Prc.j and is rarely on or before it. 



Since the achirus-hke form was first reported from the northeastern Pacific (Berry and 

 Perkins, 1966), it has been thought to be specifically distinct. But as the above data indicate, 

 the intergrading of the various meristic characters between the southeastern and northeast- 

 ern forms and the variability in positions of SAO2 and Prcj suggests caution in regarding the 

 northeastern form as a separate species. However, I believe it may prove to be distinct because 

 of the consistently more posterior position of Prc4 and the much smaller size. Examination of 

 ovaries of specimens 58 to 65 mm revealed well developed, though still immature, ova, an 

 indication that this northeastern form may be fully adult at the largest known size of about 70 

 mm. 



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