384 STKRNOPTYCHID^i. 



Fam. 4. STERNOPTYCHID^. 



Scopelini, part., Mull. Berl. Abhandl. 1844, p. 184. 



Body naked or with very thin, deciduous scales; 

 barbels none. Margin of the upper jaw formed by 

 the maxillary and intermaxillary, both of which are 

 toothed ; opercular apparatus not completely deve- 

 loped. Gill-opening very wide ; pseudobranchiae ab- 

 sent or present ; air-bladder simple, if present. Adi- 

 pose fin present, but generally rudimentary. Series 

 of phosphorescent bodies along the lower parts. The 

 eggs are enclosed in the sacs of the ovarium, and ex- 

 cluded by oviducts. 



Pelagic or deep-sea fishes from the Mediterranean and Atlantic. 



I divide the fishes oi tnis family into the following groups and 

 genera : — 



A. Body without scales ; pseudobranchiae present ; a rudimentary spinous 



dorsal fin : Stemoptychina. 



Teeth in the jaws in a single series 1 . Argyropelecus, p. 384. 



Teeth in the jaws in several series 2. Sternoptyx, p. 886. 



B. Body without scales; pseudobranchiae present; no rudimentary spi- 



nous dorsal : Cocciina. 



The entire lower jaw is received between the dilated maxillary bones. 



3. Coccia. p. 387. 

 Lower jaw rather prominent 4. Maueolicus, p. 388. 



C. Body with deciduous scales ; pseudobranchiae none : Chauliodontina. 



Dorsal fin opposite the anal 5. Gonostoma, p. 391. 



Dorsal fin before the ventrals 6. Chauliodus, p. 392. 



First Group. STERNOPTYCHINA. 



Sternoptychoids with the body scaleless, with pseudobranchiae 

 and a rudimentary spinous dorsal fin. 



1. ARGYROPELECUS. 



Argyropelecus, Cocco; Cuv. ty Val. xxii. p. 392. 

 Pleurothysis, Lowe, Fish. Madeira, p. 64. 



Trunk much elevated and compressed, passing abruptly into the 

 tail, which is narrow : body covered with a silvery pigment, without 



