Euthynnus alletteratus.—Very few E. alletteratus larvae were 
collected (Table 17). Richards and Simmons (1971) reported them 
to be abundant in the Gulf of Guinea, and Houde et al. (footnote 
4) found them to be the most common scombrid in the eastern 
Gulf of Mexico. They were amcng the 20 most abundant iden- 
tified species on six cruises, with mean abundances ranging from 
0.7 to 6.5 under 10 m? of sea surface. Richards and Potthoff 
(1980b) reported them to be widely distributed in May in the Gulf 
of Mexico. This species is confined to the Atlantic. 
Identification — Matsumoto (1959). 
Katsuwonus pelamis.—These larvae were much more widely 
distributed and abundant during summer cruise 7239 than the 
winter cruise (Table 17). Few larvae of this species were taken in 
the eastern Gulf of Mexico by Houde et al. (footnote 4), but 
Richards and Potthoff (1980) found large numbers in May 1978 in 
the Gulf of Mexico with concentrations in the eastern Gulf. 
Ahlstrom (1971) collected a few larvae in the eastern tropical 
Pacific only on EASTROPAC I. Nellen (1973) collected this 
species in scattered offshore locations in the western Indian 
Ocean. Conand and Richards (1982) found these larvae to be the 
most abundant of all scombrids in the tropical western Indian 
Ocean north of Madagascar. This is a widely distributed and 
abundant species in the tropical oceans of the world. 
Identification — Matsumoto (1958). 
Thunnus spp.—These larvae were the most abundant scombrids 
taken on the summer cruise (Table 17). I presume that most of 
these are probably T. atlanticus, but their size was too small for 
confirmation. Richards and Potthoff (1980) had this same pro- 
blem in the Gulf of Mexico. 
Identification.— Richards and Potthoff (1974). 
Thunnus atlanticus — Larvae of this western Atlantic tuna were 
widely distributed in the area (Table 17). Houde et al. (footnote 4) 
and Richards and Potthoff (1980) found them to be abundant in 
the Gulf of Mexico. 
Identification — Richards and Potthoff (1974). 
Thunnus alalunga—The occurrence (Table 17) of this single 
specimen (9.1 mm SL) confirms that this species spawns in the 
winter months. Nishikawa et al. (1978) collected albacore larvae 
off the northern coast of South America in the January-March 
period, but they made no collections in the April-September 
period. Wise and Davis (1973) showed the distribution of adults to 
be year-round in the Sargasso Sea area immediately adjacent to 
the larval collection site. 
Identification. Richards and Potthoff (1974). 
Scomber japonicus—One specimen was taken north of the 
Yucatan Channel in the summer cruise (Table 17). Houde et al. 
(footnote 4) found very few larvae in the eastern Gulf of Mexico; 
Ahlstrom (1971, 1972) collected few in the eastern tropical Pacific; 
Nellen (1973) did not list the genus. 
Identification —Kramer (1960). 
30 
Acanthocybium solandri.—Two specimens were taken on the 
summer cruise (Table 17). These larvae are widespread but few in 
number. Houde et al. (footnote 4) reported two from the eastern 
Gulf of Mexico; Ahlstrom (1971, 1972) collected four larvae in the 
eastern tropical Pacific; and Nellen (1973) collected one larvae in 
the western Indian Ocean. ; 
Identification. Matsumoto (1967). 
Sarda sarda.—Two larvae were collected in the rich waters off 
the coast of Venezuela (Table 17). Neither Houde et al. (footnote 
4) nor Ahlstrom (1971, 1972) reported this taxon from their areas; 
Nellen (1973) collected three specimens in the western Indian 
Ocean. 
Identification.—1 followed Pinkas (1961), although his descrip- 
tion is of the closely related S. chiliensis which shares the same 
generic characters. A thorough description is needed of the com- 
plete size range of larval S. sarda. 
66. Gempylidae 
(37 occurrences, 59 larvae) 
Five species of this family were taken throughout the area dur- 
ing both seasons but more larvae were taken during the winter 
season (Table 17). Prometichthys prometheus were taken only on 
the winter cruise (Table 17). Gempylus serpens was taken on both 
cruises and was the most abundant gempylid (Table 17). Scom- 
brolabrax heterolepis was widely distributed and was the second 
most abundant (Table 17). Nesiarchus nasutus were most fre- 
quently taken on the summer cruise (Table 17). A single Thyrsites 
atun larva was taken on the winter cruise (Table 17). Houde et al. 
(footnote 4) identified only four larvae, although 79 were taken in 
the eastern Gulf of Mexico. Ahlstrom (1971, 1972) found larvae of 
G. serpens and Nealotus tripes to be widely distributed in the 
eastern tropical Pacific. Nellen (1973) collected nearly 200 larvae 
in the western Indian Ocean but did not identify them. Potthoff et 
al. (1980) described the worldwide distribution of S. heterolepis 
larvae and included my specimens in their account. 
Identification.— Research on larval identification is needed on this 
group. Potthoff et al. (1980) gave a thorough description of S. 
heterolepis, and Voss (1954) described Gempylis serpens (= Gem- 
pylus B). The remaining species were identified using pigmenta- 
tion and meristic characters. Nesiarchus nasutus larvae have 
heavily pigmented gular membranes and a distinctly pigmented 
streak on the nose. Thyrsites atun larvae have heavily pigmented 
first dorsal fins. Prometichthys prometheus larvae have the gular 
area and the first dorsal fin pigmented. These pigmentation char- 
acters, used in conjunction with the first dorsal fin ray counts, aid 
in identification. However, accurate meristics are not available for 
all species, thus my identifications are tentative. 
67. Trichiuridae 
(14 occurrences, 18 larvae) 
These larvae were mostly Diplospinus multistriatus, which were 
taken in equal numbers on both cruises (Table 17). One specimen 
each of Benthodesmus tenuis and B. elongatus (Table 17) were 
also taken. Houde et al. (footnote 4) collected 10 larvae of D. 
multistriatus, and Ahlstrom (1971, 1972) found them to be 
distributed in two widely separated groups and few in number in 
the eastern tropical Pacific. Nellen (1973) reported the occurrence 
of Trichiurus in the western Indian Ocean, which was also taken 
by Ahlstrom on the EASTROPAC cruises. 
