368 



ONTOGENY AND SYSTEMATICS OF FISHES-AHLSTROM SYMPOSIUM 



prinodontiforms that have been studied the caudal fin rays form 

 first (Fig. 192) and often this occurs before hatching (Foster, 

 1967). 



Within the oviparous cyprinodontoid killifishes the presence 

 and location of melanophores as well as the relative location of 

 the dorsal finfold may be useful systematic characters (Foster, 

 1968). In most fundulid larvae the dorsal finfold originates pos- 

 terior to the origin of the anal finfold (Foster, 1967; Fig. 192) 

 with the possible exception of Lucania parva (see Hardy, 1 978a). 

 In the cyprinodontids studied however, the dorsal finfold orig- 

 inates anterior to the anal finfold (Foster. 1967). The larvae of 

 most fundulids, the aplocheilid, Nothobranchius eggersi and the 

 rivulid, R. marmoratus also possess three rows or stripes of 

 melanophores (middorsal, midlateral and midventral) on the 

 body (Fig. 192). This characteristic is shared by the beloniform 

 Oryzias latipes and some atheriniforms (Martin and Drewry, 

 1978) and suggests that this character may be symplesiomorphic 

 within the Atherinomorpha. In cyprinodontids these rows of 

 melanophores are lacking and the existing melanophores are 

 scattered evenly over the body or appear as saddle-shaped groups 

 of melanaphores on the dorsolateral surface of the body (see 

 Foster, 1967; Hardy, 1978a). 



Summary 



The early life history of cyprinodontiforms appears to offer 

 many possibilities for elaborating on their phylogeny. Several 

 authors (Rosen and Parenti, 1981; Collette et al., this volume; 

 White et al., this volume) have pointed out the usefulness of 

 early life history characters in defining the monophyletic nature 

 of the Atherinomorpha and the orders within. Although studies 

 of the early life history of the Cyprinodontiformes are not as 

 far along, they may offer more potential for several reasons. 

 First, Foster (1967, 1968) has already pointed out the value of 

 early life history characters in resolving the phylogeny of the 

 group. Second, based on this review, both egg morphology and 

 larval characters vary within the group and thus seem to offer 

 real promise for assessing relationships. Third, many killifishes 

 are easily maintained and will reproduce in aquaria so that study 

 material should be easily obtainable, especially given their pop- 

 ularity in the aquarium trade. 



Biological Sciences and Center for Coastal and Envi- 

 ronmental Studies, Doolittle Hall, Rutgers 

 University, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08903. 



Lampriformes: Development and Relationships 

 J. E. Olney 



THE order Lampriformes (=Lampridiformes, see Robins et 

 al., 1980) is composed of approximately 21 species (Table 

 98) of pelagic, marine fishes with worldwide distribution ex- 

 cluding polar seas. Highly evolved and extremely divergent in 

 form and lifestyle, these species occupy meso- and epipelagic 

 habitats and have attained a remarkable degree of specialization, 

 of which the most notable examples are: the pectoral muscu- 

 lature of Laniphs (Rosenblatt and Johnson, 1976); the unique 

 feeding mechanism of S7r/e/'/7C'n«(Pietsch, 1978a); the ribbon- 

 like body form, specialized integument and rotating eye of the 

 trachipterids (Walters, 1963; Haedrick, 1974; Oelschlager, 

 1976a); the "horn" of Eiimecichthys (Fitch, 1966; Oelschlager, 

 1979); and the cephalopod-like ink gland of the lophotids and 

 Radiicephalus (Walters and Fitch, I960; Fitch and Lavenberg, 

 1968; Harrison and Palmer, 1968; Saldanha and Pereira, 1977; 

 and others). By far the most impressive species of the group is 

 the oarfish, Regalecus glesne. which attains lengths of over 8m, 

 possesses a crimson dorsal fin and cockscomb-like anteriormost 

 dorsal rays and is the probable basis for many historical sightings 

 of sea monsters (Fitch and Lavenberg, 1968). 



Regan (1907, 1924) first suggested a relationship between 

 Lophotus. Eumecichthys, Lampris, V'elifer and Stylephorus. all 

 on the basis of the common possession of peculiar characteristics 

 of the protractile mouth and assigned these genera to a new 

 order, the Allotriognathi (from the Greek, meaning "strange 

 jaw"). Presently, the order consists of 12 genera (Velifer. Me- 



tavelifer, Lampris. Zu, Desmodema, Trachipterus, Radiicepha- 

 lus, Lophotus. Eumecichthys. Stylephorus. Regalecus and 

 Agrostichthys) comprising seven families (Table 98). 



Two conflicting proposals exist for the allocation of these 

 fishes and nomenclatural inconsistencies persist. Oelschlager 

 (1976a,b, 1978a, b, 1979; also see Palmer, 1973) retains Regan's 

 ( 1 907) ordinal designation and defines two suborders of the 

 Allotriognathi: the Bathysomi, deep-bodied fishes with sym- 

 metrical caudal fins, well developed skeletons and musculature 

 (represented by Lampris and the veliferids); and the Taenio- 

 somi, elongate fishes with asymmetrical caudal fins, weak skel- 

 etons and musculature (represented by Trachipterus. Regalecus 

 and remaining genera). In contrast. Greenwood et al. (1966) 

 recognize four suborders of the Lampriformes: Lampridoidei, 

 Veliferoidei, Trachipteroidei and Stylephoroidei. At lower taxo- 

 nomic levels, Heemstra (in press) considers Lophotus to be 

 monotypic while Briggs(l952)and Oelschlager (1 979) recognize 

 two species (Table 98). In addition, a number of nominal species 

 exist within the genera Regalecus. Trachipterus and Lampris. 

 Recently, Heemstra (in press) and Heemstra and Kannemeyer 

 (in press) have treated South African Lampriformes, describing 

 a new Zu species and providing synonymies of several trachip- 

 terids. In general, the systematic status of lampriform fishes is 

 in question and the nomenclature lacks stability owing, in part, 

 to the rarity of examples in systematic collections and the fragile 

 nature of these fishes. 



