SURVEY OF STRUCTURE 27 



Stomias colubrinus Garman (Text-fig. 13B) 

 Position, 13 25' 00" N., 18 22' 00" W., 28. x. 25, N 450 V, o,oo(-o) m. Standard length 103 mm. 



Beginning above the base of the pectoral fins and running just below the kidneys is a well-defined 

 strand of fatty tissue, with a length about four-fifths that of the body-cavity. Within this tissue, about 

 three-fifths of the way along its length, was found the regressed tissues of the swimbladder. Running 

 forward to a posterior rete mirabile is an artery and vein. The rete leads to solid club-shaped structure 

 which consists of a mass of regressed gland cells invested with connective tissues. The rete and gland 

 were about 2-5 mm. in length. 



Stomias ferox Reinhardt 



Position, 41 37' N., 12 30' W., 10. x. 25, N 200 H, 90o(-o) m. B.M. Reg. no. 1930.1.12. 541. Standard length of 

 fish 85 mm. 



As in S. affinis and S. colubrinus, there is a well formed strand of fatty tissue, lying just below the 

 kidneys and originating above the base of the pectorals. In the above individual this fat body ex- 

 tended for about 25 mm. down the body-cavity to end in a tapering section attaching to the intestinal 

 mesentery. 



No remains of retia mirabilia or gas-gland could be found in this tissue. 



Family Melanostomiatidae 

 No swimbladder could be found in adult individuals (judged by the development of the gonads) in 

 each of the following species: Bathophilus metallicus Welsh, B. pawned Parr, Eustomias obscurus 

 Vaillant, Ecliiostoma tanneri (Gill). 



Beebe and Crane (1939) gave an account of the internal organs of a number of species but made no 

 mention of a swimbladder. 



Family Chauliodontidae 

 Chauliodus sloanei Schneider and C. barbatus Garman 

 No swimbladder was found in two adult fishes examined. 



Family Idiacanthidae 

 Idiacanthus fasciola Peters 



No swimbladder was found in adult specimens. 



Family Malacosteidae 



No trace of a swimbladder could be found in adult Malacosteus niger Ayres and Photostomias guernei 

 Collett. 



Suborder SALMONOIDEA 



Family Opisthoproctidae 

 Opisthoproctus soleatus Vaillant (Text-fig. 14D) 

 St. 3484, 39 55' N., 20 01' W., 1. x. 56, IKMT, 750(^0) m. Standard length 35 mm. (6-5 x 2-5 mm.). 



The swimbladder of Opisthroproctus, which is ellipsoidal in form, lies above the stomach. When 

 fully expanded it is evidently no less capacious an internal float than the swimbladder of a myctophid 

 (of the same size). 



4-2 



