FISHERY BULLETIN: VOL 77. NO 4 



40% isopropyl) or in aqueous storage fluid (10% 

 propylene glycol, 1% Formalin, 0.5% phenoxytol, 

 based upon Steedman 1974). Generally, speci- 

 mens were taken by various open midwater nets; 

 however, a number of samples were taken with 

 opening/closing nets of various designs (Clarke 

 1969; Baker et al. 1973; Hopkins et al. 1973). 



Photophore Nomenclature 



The unique pattern of photophore clustering in 

 the family Sternoptychidae (sensu Baird 1971) 

 has resulted in a different system of nomenclature 

 from that used for other stomiatoid families (Fig- 

 ure 1). Weitzman (1974) suggested a revised 

 nomenclature for stomiatoid taxa to include the 



hatchetfishes and for convenience, both appear in 

 Table 1 (Weitzman's slightly modified). The dis- 

 tinct and unusual specializations in external mor- 

 phology in the hatchetfishes (sensu Baird 1971) 

 make determinations of homology among photo- 

 phore groups difficult. We regard the new terms, 

 therefore, as a convenience rather than as sugges- 

 tions of homologies between similarly named 

 photophore groups throughout the Stomiatoidei. 

 For instance the preorbital photophore (PO) of the 

 genus Sternoptyx differs from that of either Ar- 

 gyropelecus or Polyipnus morphologically, and 

 probably functionally, and is perhaps more aptly 

 termed an oral organ (Herring 1977). Neverthe- 

 less, for convenience, the term PO (ORB of 

 Weitzman) is retained. 



P'i 



/ 



/'. 



tf 



H 



■::. M ...-; 

 , PO / 



PRO''^ 



BR' •L 

 IS 



^PTO 



SO./ 





<•?». 



'}i<viyii^ 





Figure 1. — Nomenclature of photophores and basic measurements for Sternoptyx spp. 



804 



