Bolinjchthys longipes 



(Brauer, 1906) 



Fig. 191 — Bolinichthys longipes, male, 45.0 mm. From the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean, (photophores retouched). 



Description 



D. 12-13 (rarely 11); A. 14 (13-15); P. 12-13; AO 5 (4-6) -I- 3-4 (2-5), total 8-9 (7-10); gill 

 rakers 5 (4) -h 1 -^ 12-13 (11-14), total 17-18 (16-19); vertebrae 33-34 (32-35). Frequency 

 distributions of the above characters are given in Table 40 and are compared with those for B. 

 supralateralis and B. photothorax . 



Bolinichthys longipes is basically similar to B. photothorax, differing primarily as stated 

 in key to species. Also, the pectoral fins may not reach quite as great a length, the longest 

 (apparently intact) reaching to about AOan rather than to Pol. In general, depth of head and 

 body is somewhat greater in B. longipes. Body proportions are given in Table 41 and are 

 compared with similar date for B. supralateralis and B. photothorax . 



The pattern of luminous organs of the head (Fig. 190) is similar to that shown for this 

 species from the western Indian Ocean by Nafpaktitis and Nafpaktitis (1969), particularly in 

 males; these authors stated that only traces of luminous tissue were found on females from 

 that area, but in females from the eastern Pacific Ocean these patches were very well de- 

 veloped anteriorly but to a lesser degree posteriorly. 



Size: To 49 mm. 



Least depth of capture: Clarke (1973, Table 1) listed depths of 50 to 150 m in nighttime, 

 and 525 to 725 m in daytime tows (few specimens taken at less than 625 m). 



Distribution: In the eastern Pacific Ocean B. longipes and B. photothorax occupy the same 

 waters, but for reasons not clear the latter is not commonly taken; both species are occasion- 

 ally taken in one haul. Their distribution appears to be limited to warmer waters, for much 

 collecting has been done north and southeast of the area shown in Fig. 192 without taking 

 either species. Insufficient collecting has been done west and southwest of the area to permit 

 firm statements as to their occurrence there. Whitley ( 1968) did not list any species of 

 Bolinichthys in his checklist of New Zealand fishes. 

 Discussion 



On the basis of size alone, it is probable that either B. supralateralis or B. photothorax are 

 synonymous with Alcock's pyrsobolus. Alcock (1890) stated the size of the holotype ofpyr- 

 snbolus to be "3V2 inches without caudal" (about 78 mm). The 10 specimens of B. supralateralis 

 from the Indian Ocean examined by me ranged from 51 to 64 mm. Of the three species from the 

 Indian Ocean discussed by Nafpaktitis and Nafpaktitis ( 1969), the largest of 60 specimens of 

 B. photothorax was 60 mm, the largest of 1267 B. longipes was 45 mm, and of 18 B. indicus, 

 37.5 mm. In the eastern Pacific area, the largest of 15 B. supralateralis was 84 mm, and of 103 

 B. photothorax, 68 mm; of hundreds of B. longipes none exceeded 47 mm. Thus, only B. 

 supralateralis and B. photothorax (or B. blacki (Fowler, 1934, "length 80 mm"), an Indo-Pacific 

 form not considered here) approach the size (ca 78 mm) recorded for the holotype of B. pyr- 

 sobolus. 



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