Fishes of the IVestern North Atlantic 



251 



Remarks. The Alepocephalidae differ externally from the true herrings (Clupeidae) 

 in their very soft texture, in their uniformly dark, dull coloration (below as well as above), 

 and in the position far rearward of their dorsal fin. They differ internally from the her- 

 rings in lacking a swim bladder. 



Figure 60. a. Alepocefhaltis productus, from Albatross St. 2030, off New Jersey, 39°3o'N, 7i°43'W, in 588 

 fms.; after Goode and Bean. b. Alepocephalus bairdii, from Grand Banks off Newfoundland, at 200 fms.; 

 after Goode and Bean. c. Alepocephalus agassizii, from off New Jersey; after Goode and Bean. d. Xenodermich- 

 thys copei, from off Chesapeake Bay; after Goode and Bean. e. Aulostomatophora fhosphorops, from the Arabian 

 Sea; after Goode and Bean, based on Alcock. 



The members of the family as a whole are creatures ot the deep sea, seldom taken 

 in depths less than 250 fms. or so; a cursory examination of the literature revealed 

 only two records for shallower depths — 200 fms. for the Grand Banks off New- 

 foundland for Alepocephalus bairdii (j: 55) and 180 fms. north of Celebes for Bathy- 

 troctes macrolepis (j: 225). The alepocephalids can be described as "universal" in all 

 oceans, down the lower part of the slopes and on the ocean floors at depths to at 

 least 3000 fms. (5490 m) or so, and very likely deeper still. 



