Description 



D. 22 (21-23); A. 19 (18-20); P. 12 (11-13); AO 8-9 + 5 (4), total 13-14; gill rakers 6 (7) + 1 -H 

 13 (12-14), total 20 (19-22); vertebrae 37 (35-38), 



Dn somewhat elongate along anterodorsal margin of orbit; Vn tiny, often hidden in pig- 

 mented tissue, slightly below level of nasal apparatus. A thin streak of whitish tissue is 

 present on iris above ventral margin of orbit. Only the last PO and VO are slightly elevated. 

 AOa series curved anteriorly; last AOa slightly elevated. AOa-AOp interspace usually some- 

 what greater than half the least depth of caudal peduncle. Pre 2 + 1 in all eastern Pacific 

 specimens. 



Supracaudal luminous gland long, of 8-10 scales, filling space between base of adipose fin 

 and first procurrent caudal ray. No infracaudal gland. Small paired luminous scales over bases 

 of procurrent caudal rays. The patches of luminous tissue (Fig. 203, dotted lines) are a compos- 

 ite of several specimens in good condition. There was no indication that in life each scale bore 

 a luminous patch. 



Size: To about 80 mm. 



Least depth of capture: To 200 m at night in eastern Pacific. In the North Atlantic, it has 

 been taken at night between and 30 m. 



Distribution: Known primarily from near-shore waters, possibly due to greater collecting 

 effort, in eastern Pacific between Southern California and Chile (35° N to 33° S). Scattered 

 collections from near Hawaii and from 37° N, 140° W indicate that it may also range into 

 midocean. Aron (1960) reported "Notoscopelus elongatus" from the north-central Pacific, but I 

 have not seen these specimens. 

 Discussion 



Bolin (1959) revised the genus and restricted A'^. elongatus to the inner Mediterranean 

 Sea. According to Bolin's data, all specimens from the eastern Pacific examined by me, were N . 

 resplendens. A far western form, N.japonicus, has strongly dentate scales. Matsubara (1938) 

 recorded "N. resplendens" from off Japan, but did not mention body scales; he listed 8-9 -l- 

 16-17 gill rakers — well above the number for A^. resplendens. Also, Matsubara gave the size 

 as up to 153 mm "body length." None of the material before me exceeded 75 mm. 



Body proportions for A^. resplendens from the eastern Pacific Ocean (Table 42) are com- 

 pared with similar data given by Bolin (1939, p. 152, as A^. elongatus ). Bolin's data were based 

 on two large specimens (110 and 113.5 mm) from Misaki Sea, Japan. These data differ sig- 

 nificantly from those of A^. notoscopelus from the eastern Pacific. 



Table 42. Body Proportions for Notoscopelus resplendens from the Eastern 

 Pacific Ocean, and for Two Specimens Identified by Bolin (1939) as A''. 

 elongatus from off Japan. 



Measurement 



N. elongatus 

 110.0 mm 113.5 mm 



Head length 

 Head depth 

 Orbit length 

 Upper jaw length 

 Prepectoral length 

 Prepelvic length 

 Preanal length 

 Predorsal length 

 Preadipose length 

 Dorsal origin to pelvic origin 

 Dorsal origin to anal origin 

 Dorsal base length 



264 



58 

 189 

 273 

 413 

 574 

 393 

 786 

 141 

 236 

 266 



266 



61 

 195 

 278 

 414 

 587 

 423 

 837 

 156 

 251 

 268 



216 



