Distribution: Known only from a few specimens from near Hawaii and southward to near 

 the equator (Fig. 62). Becker (1967b) recorded as M. selenops two specimens from the western 

 Pacific (Fig. 62B) that may represent M. selenoides, but no descriptions or counts were given. 



Fig. 62 — Capture localities for Myctophum selenoides (open squares), and for M. selenops (open cirlces). "B" 

 refers to localities given for "M. selenops" by Becker (1967b). 



Discussion 



Myctophum selenoides is closely related to M. selenops Taning (1928), from the Atlantic 

 Ocean (Fig. 63). It differs primarily in that the SAO series is at an angle of 20° (17°-23°) to the 

 vertical axis of the body, rather than about 30° (28°-31°) as in M. selenops. Meristic data (Table 

 11) and body proportions (Table 12) are given for both species. Meristic characters appear to be 

 essentially the same, but because of the few specimens involved it is probable that the limits of 

 variation are not yet observed. The rather wide range in numbers of lower and total gill rakers 

 (Table 1 1 ) among the two specimens from the equatorial region and the six from near Hawaii 

 indicates a potential bimodality; however, in all other respects these two specimens are much 

 more like those from Hawaii than like M. selenops. 



Of the body proportions given in Table 12, only the orbit length differs notably between 

 the two species, averaging 12% of SL vs 15% for M. selenops. The orbit averages 58% of upper 

 jaw in M. selenoides vs 67% in M. selenops. 



Fig. 63 — Myctophum selenops, holotype, male, 51.6 mm. An unpublished drawing 



by Rolf L. Bolin. 



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