40 BULLETIN 150, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



CAREPR0CTTJ3 



Careproctus and all the remaining genera of the family differ from 

 Liparis and Polypera in the single nostril and the lack of a variegated 

 coloration. It is not among the deep-water species of Liparis but 

 rather among the shallow-water species with the notched dorsal that 

 we shall look for the primitive Careproctus stem. In certain char- 

 acters such as coloration — that is, black peritoneum or silvery abdo- 

 men — and reduced posterior nostril Liparis major and Liparis 

 tessellatus approach the condition found in Careproctus. The former 

 species also has some simple teeth. These similarities, however, 

 are only the result of parallelism or convergence. The primitive 

 Careproctus arose from an ancestor with a notched dorsal. The 

 dorsal notch is slightly evident in Careproctus pycnosoma and ectenes 

 and possibly in Careproctus attenuatus. Also the genus Temnocora, 

 agreeing with Careproctus in the single nostril and coloration and 

 probably derived from the same stem, has the dorsal notched. Care- 

 proctus pycnosoma, in addition to the notched dorsal, appears to be the 

 most primitive member of the genus in the compact body, small 

 number of fin rays, and the strongly developed anterior dorsal rays. 

 In the character of the notched dorsal and the number of fin rays 

 Careproctus pycnosoma resembles Liparis dennyi. We must, however, 

 if we are to consider Temnocora as having been derived from the same 

 stem as Careproctus, picture our hypothetical ancestor as having a 

 much deeper dorsal notch than Liparis dennyi. 



The species of the genus Careproctus vary widely in a number of 

 characters, and we may well inquire if the genus is not polyphyletic. 

 We have seen that Liparis major and Liparis tessellatus approach 

 Careproctus in the reduced posterior nostril and the coloration. With 

 the closure of the posterior nostril and the loss of the variegated 

 coloration these species would resemble typical species of Careproctus. 

 There is hardly sufficient evidence to cause us to more than briefly 

 consider the possibility of Careproctus being polyphyletic. 



TEMNOCORA 



Temnocora difiers from Careproctus in the slitlike pupil and the more 

 prominent dorsal notch. It agrees with Careproctus in the single 

 nostril and the coloration and probably has been derived from the 

 same stem. Temnocora Candida has no near relatives among the 

 known species of Careproctus. In the shape of the body and the 

 coloration it resembles Careproctus pJiasma and related species. In 

 the character of the pupil the species bears a resemblance to Crystal- 

 licJitJiys and Crystallias. This resemblance may indicate genetic 

 relationships or only convergence. 



