In the five southernmost specimens before me there is no indication of the present or past 

 occurrence of a third SAO; therefore, these specimens are assigned to L. laurae. 



Aberrations in photophore patterns: The spacing of the first few photophores of the AOa 

 series of L. laurae is inconsistent. In the most common pattern, the first two AOa are notably 

 farther apart than the rest (Fig. 65). Of the 186 sides (93 specimens) examined, this wider 

 space was lacking on both sides of 30 specimens, on the left side only of 8 specimens, and on the 

 right only of 7 specimens. Aberrations in the PO series occurred in three instances and in four 

 in the VO series. One specimen had an extra PO on the left side, equally spaced between PO2 

 and PO.-s; in another specimen PO^ was missing on the left side; in still another specimen 8 

 equally spaced PO were present on the right side. Of the four aberrant VO series, 5 evenly 

 spaced VO occurred on the right side of one specimen, another had but 3 VO on the right side 

 (VO, missing), and another had 5 evenly spaced VO on both sides. Also, a specimen from the 

 Indian Ocean had but 3 VO on both sides (VO2 missing). 



Becker (1964a) reported that a specimen of L. "rara" from the southern Indian Ocean had 

 but one SAO on each side (the position corresponding to that of a normally placed SAO , ) and 

 also had an extra PO (a total of 6) on the left side close behind PO4. All specimens of L. laurae 

 before me had two SAO. 



Additional remarks: A discussion and redescription of L. rara (Liitken, 1892) and L. 

 interrupta (Tdning, 1928), and designation of lectotypes for each: 



Loweina laurae is very closely related to L. rara and to a lesser extent to L. interrupta. 

 Although L. rara has only twice been reported from the Pacific Ocean (Beebe and Vander Pyl, 

 1944, and Becker, 1964a, — specimens now referred to L. laurae ), and L. interrupta not at all, 

 these two species are included in this report to clarify certain points of taxonomy (in the event 

 they should be found). The two species, L. rara and L. interrupta, have often been confused by 

 authors, perhaps because of a rather confusing action by Liitken in his original description of 

 L. rara and because of a paucity of specimens by which his action could since have been 

 evaluated. A translation of the original description by Liitken (1892, p. 246, fig. 4) is presented 

 in an attempt to clarify the basic confusion. The following translation from the Danish was 

 very kindly provided by Rolf L. Bolin: 



Scopelus (Rhinoscopelus) rarus n. sp. is represented by only a few specimens of 38-40 mm 

 length (without caudal ). The light snout protrudes very distinctly out over the mouth, but 

 the edge of the opercle is as good as perpendicular. Body shape fairly short and plump; total 

 length 40 mm, height 9 mm, head length dVz mm, gape 6 mm, diameter of eye 2 mm. The 

 anal fin is shorter than the previous species i.e. Scopelus andreae (ca. 15 rays). The scales 

 are ribbed — 3 or 4 ribs at the base. Lateral line scales high and narrow, ca. 39. There is as 

 usual a light spot on the gill cover, 3 close in front of the pectoral base (the most posterior one 

 directly under or behind the pectoral) and 5 in front of the ventrals; the distance between the 

 fifth and fourth pair of these is almost twice as large as that between the more anterior 

 pairs; the distance between the second and third pairs is also normally larger than between 

 the others. In regard to the ventral light spots it is to be noted, that the two of the first pair 

 always are pulled close together, while the distance between those of the second pair is 

 distinctly larger, whereupon it decreases regularly between the following pairs. Of the 

 supraanals there are normally only 2 (not so commonly 3), of which the lower one lies 

 straight above the anus, the upper one a little farther back.' The count of the anal light spots 

 is 12-13 = 6-7 -I- 6-7, in addition to which are the two closely approximated caudals. One of 



'Two of the four specimens show the anomaly, that they lack the second and third pair of ventrals and have on 

 one side 3 supraanals, in that there occurs 1 below and in front of that one, which above is designated as the lower 

 one; in these is the space between the second and third pair of thoracics not either larger than between the others. 

 (The silhouette sketch is made from one of these specimens) Some of these are probably only individual anomalies, 

 but that both lack the two pair of ventral light spots, can possibly signify a sexual difference? It is, therefore, a form 

 which needs to be illuminated further on the basis of more material. 



76 



