35. Syngnathidae 
(33 occurrences, 3 larvae) 
Only three specimens comprising two species were collected, 
Syngnathus dunckeri and Micrognathus sp. Houde et al. (foot- 
note 4) collected 247 larvae representing seven taxa in the eastern 
Gulf of Mexico; Nellen (1973) collected 10 specimens in the 
western Indian Ocean. 
Identification.—Herald (1942). 
36. Stylephoride 
(4 occurrences, 4 larvae) 
Very few larvae of this family were collected (Table 7). They 
were all taken on the winter cruise, with two from adjacent sta- 
tions in the Yucatan Channel, one south of Hispaniola, and one 
west of Guadeloupe in the eastern Caribbean Sea. 
Identification.—These larvae are tentatively placed in this family, 
one of the three trachipteroid families and the only one with an 
anal fin. Presence of an anal fin in the two largest larvae was the 
basis for this identification. Dr. John E. Olney (Virginia Institute 
of Marine Sciences, Gloucester Point, Va.) recently identified 
three specimens as Stylephorus chordatus (Family Stylephoridae), 
but the fourth specimen was too mutilated to be identified. 
37. Melamphaidae 
(7 occurrences, 8 larvae) 
Very few larvae of this family were collected (Table 7). In con- 
trast, representatives of this family were quite abundant in the 
eastern tropical Pacific (Ahlstrom 1971, 1972). Houde et al. (foot- 
note 4) collected only 38 Melamphaes larvae in the eastern Gulf of 
Mexico, and Nellen (1973) collected 66 larvae in the western In- 
dian Ocean. Thus, the eastern tropical Pacific seems to support a 
much larger melamphaiid fauna than the other areas. 
Identification.— Ebeling (1962) and Ebeling and Weed (1963.) 
38. Diretmidae 
(1 occurrence, 1 larva) 
Only one specimen of this family was taken on the winter cruise 
at the station between Jamaica and Haiti. Nellen (1973) collected 
two larvae in the western Indian Ocean, but Ahlstrom (1971, 1972) 
and Houde et al. (footnote 4) did not report them from their 
respective areas in the eastern tropical Pacific and eastern Gulf of 
Mexico. 
Identification.—I used the meristic data from Woods and Sonoda 
(1973). 
39. Holocentridae 
(3 occurrences, 9 larvae) 
These fishes are abundant reef fishes and their larvae have been 
reported from the area (McKenney 1959), but few were taken in 
my collections. Houde et al. (footnote 4) collected a few during all 
seasons in the eastern Gulf of Mexico and Nellen (1973) reported 
very few from the western Indian Ocean. 
Identification McKenney (1959) and Woods and Sonoda (1973). 
23 
40. Caproidae 
(1 occurrence, 1 larva) 
One specimen was taken on the winter cruise at the station off 
Lake Maracaibo, Venezuela. Houde et al. (footnote 4) collected a 
few larvae in the Gulf of Mexico as did Nellen (1973) in the 
western Indian Ocean. 
Identification —These larvae have strong preopercular spines and 
a strong, medial supraoccipital crest and spine (Uchida 1936). 
41. Sphyraenidae 
(10 occurrences, 17 larvae) 
Larvae of Sphyraena barracuda were taken only during the 
summer cruise and were found in several localities, especially in 
the western Caribbean and Straits of Florida (Table 7). Houde et 
al. (footnote 4) took a few specimens in the Gulf of Mexico dur- 
ing the summer; Ahlstrom (1971, 1972) did not record this family 
in the eastern tropical Pacific; Nellen (1973) collected a few 
sphyraenid larvae in the western Indian Ocean. 
Identification.— DeSylva (1963) and Houde (1972). 
42. Polynemidae 
(1 occurrence, 1 juvenile) 
The lone specimen was a 23.1 mm juvenile which resembles the 
adult. Nellen (1973) collected only three specimens in the western 
Indian Ocean. Ahistrom (1971, 1972) collected several specimens 
in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. 
43. Serranidae 
(30 occurrences, 87 larvae) 
Larvae of serranids ranked in the top 15 families during both 
cruises (Table 7). A number of the larvae were small and were not 
identified to subfamilial taxa. The occurrences of taxa of ser- 
ranids are given in Table 18. More larvae identified to lower taxa 
were taken during the summer cruise, especially those of 
Epinephelus and Liopropoma. The larvae of these largely reef- 
inhabiting fishes were widely distributed throughout the area. Ser- 
ranid larvae were not major components in the ichthyoplankton 
of the eastern tropical Pacific (Ahlstrom 1971, 1972). Houde et al. 
(footnote 4) found serranid larvae to be a major component in the 
eastern Gulf of Mexico with some kinds of serranids present at all 
stations sampled , both inshore and offshore. Nellen (1973) found 
significant numbers in the western Indian Ocean, as this family 
ranked 10th in numbers collected 
Identification.— Kendall (1979). 
44. Priacanthidae 
(14 occurrences, 22 larvae) 
These larvae were widely distributed throughout the area but 
not abundantly. They were not found in the eastern tropical 
Pacific (Ahlstrom 1971, 1972). Houde et al. (footnote 4) found 
these larvae in the eastern Gulf of Mexico, and Nellen (1973) 
found them in the western Indian Ocean. 
Identification.—These larvae resemble the adults in general shape 
and meristic features. 
