genus was represented by a few specimens in the eastern tropical 
Pacific (Ahlstrom 1971, 1972). 
Identification.—1I followed Hensley (1977) and Evseenko (1977), 
both of whom described these larvae in 1977, unknown to each 
other. 
Trichopsetta ventralis—One specimen was taken during the 
winter cruise (Table 19). Houde et al. (footnote 4) collected two 
larvae in the eastern Gulf of Mexico. 
Identification.—I followed Futch (1977). 
Bothus.—Three species of Bothus were collected and all but 
two specimens are B. ocellatus (Table 19, Fig. 14). Bothus robinsi 
occurs abundantly in the Gulf of Mexico and Florida Straits and 
its larvae are indistinguishable from, and closely related to, B. 
ocellatus (Houde et al. footnote 4). Bothus ocellatus, which in 
part may be B. robinsi, were the most abundant bothid in the col- 
lections studied. Bothus species were taken in small numbers in 
the eastern tropical Pacific (Ahlstrom 1971, 1972) and western In- 
dian Ocean (Nellen 1973). 
Identification—I followed Kyle (1913). Larval differences be- 
tween B. robinsi and B. ocellatus need to be studied. Bothus 
lunatus and B. maculiferus were identified using meristics 
(Gutherz 1967). 
75. Soleidae 
(1 occurrence, 3 larvae) 
Three unidentified specimens of this family were taken at a 
single station in the northeastern Caribbean Sea during the sum- 
mer cruise. Houde et al. (footnote 4) collected few soleid larvae in 
the eastern Gulf of Mexico. Ahlstrom (1971, 1972) did not record 
this family in the eastern tropical Pacific. Nellen (1973) collected 
most of his soleids in the northern Persian Gulf and few elsewhere 
in the western Indian Ocean. 
Identification—I followed Houde et al. (1970) for general 
features of this family. 
76. Cynoglossidae 
(6 occurrences, 8 larvae) 
A few specimens of this family were collected on each cruise at 
widely scattered locations (Table 7). Houde et al. (footnote 4) col- 
lected a number of Symphurus in the spring and summer in the 
eastern Gulf of Mexico. Ahlstrom (1971, 1972) collected Sym- 
Dhurus larvae along a broad coastal band in the eastern tropical 
Pacific. Nellen (1973) collected some cynoglossids throughout the 
western Indian Ocean, but most in the northern Persian Gulf. 
Identification — Kyle (1913). 
77. Gobiesocidae 
(7 occurrences, 11 larvae) 
These larvae were collected on the summer cruise from scat- 
tered locations throughout the area. Houde et al. (footnote 4) col- 
lected a few larvae during fall, winter, and spring cruises in the 
eastern Gulf of Mexico. Neither Ahlstrom (1971, 1972) nor Nellen 
(1973) listed these larvae from their respective areas. 
Identification — Larvae in the size range of my specimens resem- 
ble adults. 
33 
78. Balistidae 
(8 occurrences, 11 larvae) 
All but one balistid larva were taken on the summer cruise 
(Table 7), and the specimens were from widely scattered stations. 
Houde et al. (footnote 4) ranked larvae of this family the 13th 
most common in the eastern Gulf of Mexico. Larvae of this fami- 
ly were not reported from the eastern tropical Pacific by Ahlstrom 
(1971, 1972). Nellen (1973) collected some balistids, most from the 
Red Sea, in the western Indian Ocean. 
Identification.— Aboussouan (1966) and Berry and Vogele (1961). 
79. Ostracidae 
(1 occurrence, 1 larva) 
One 11 mm specimen was collected in the southwestern Carib- 
bean Sea on the winter cruise. Houde et al. (footnote 4) collected 
three larvae in the eastern Gulf of Mexico, but neither Ahlstrom 
(1972) nor Nellen (1973) listed the family from the eastern tropical 
Pacific or western Indian Ocean. 
Identification.— Larvae of the size captured resemble adults. 
80. Tetraodontidae 
(14 occurrences, 25 larvae) 
Larvae of this family were found throughout the area. Based 
on meristics, two specimens were identified as Canthigaster 
rostratus and one specimen as Sphoeroides sp. Houde et al. (foot- 
note 4) found puffer larvae to be common in the eastern Gulf of 
Mexico, but Ahlstrom (1972) found only one specimen in the 
eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. Nellen (1973) found few in the 
western Indian Ocean. 
Identification.—Identification of small specimens is very difficult. 
This includes placing them in the proper tetraodontiform family 
or separating them from lophiiform larvae. I followed the char- 
acters given by Leis (1978) plus meristics of the adults found in the 
region. 
81. Diodontidae 
(10 occurrences, 17 larvae) 
These larvae were collected only on the summer cruise from 
widely scattered locations. Houde et al. (footnote 4) collected only 
two larvae in the eastern Gulf of Mexico, and Nellen (1973) col- 
lected a few in the western Indian Ocean. Ahlstrom (1971, 1972) 
did not record them from the eastern tropical Pacific. 
Identification —Please refer to the section under the Tetraodon- 
tidae. 
82. Lophiiformes 
(24 occurrences, 33 larvae) 
Larvae of this order were found throughout the area and 
almost equally divided between the two cruises (Table 7). One lar- 
va each was identified from the families Lophiidae, 
Ogcocephalidae, Ceratiidae, Linophrynidae, and two from the 
Gigantactidae. The remaining larvae were not identified to lower 
taxa because of their small size. Houde et al. (footnote 4) did not 
identify any larvae from this order in the eastern Gulf of Mexico. 
Ahlstrom (1971, 1972) collected several hundred larvae, but only 
enumerated and discussed his EASTROPAC II larvae. He found 
representatives of 10 families and discussed their distribution. 
