27. Serrivomeridae 
(3 occurrences, 3 leptocephali) 
Leptocephali of this family were rare (Table 13). They were 
present well offshore in the eastern tropical Pacific (Ahlstrom 
1971, 1972), and were not collected in the eastern Gulf of Mexico 
(Houde et al. footnote 4). 
28. Exocoetidae 
(9 occurrences, 12 larvae) 
Despite the abundance of this family in tropical waters, it was 
poorly represented in these collections because these larvae are 
confined to nearsurface waters. Representatives of this family 
were taken in the eastern Gulf of Mexico (Houde et al. footnote 
4), eastern tropical Pacific (Ahlstrom 1971), and western Indian 
Ocean (Nellen 1973). 
29. Gadidae 
(2 occurrences, 3 larvae) 
These larvae were from stations where nets were lowered to 
greater than normal depths (293 and 325 m), and they are ten- 
tatively identified as belonging to this family. Houde et al. (foot- 
note 4) found a few larvae of Urophycis in the eastern Gulf of 
Mexico; Nellen (1973) recorded a few gadids from the western In- 
dian Ocean; and Ahlstrom (1971, 1972) reported very few from 
the eastern tropical Pacific. 
30. Bregmacerotidae 
(64 occurrences, 390 larvae) 
Four species of bregmacerotids comprised these abundant lar- 
vae from this area (Table 14). Both Bregmaceros macclellandii 
and B. atlanticus were widely distributed and abundant during 
both cruises (Fig. 8, 9). Bregmaceros spp. were damaged 
specimens of these two species which could not be specifically 
identified, although they reflect the same distribution pattern. 
Bregmaceros type A were not widely distributed; Bregmaceros 
type B were found on both cruises, but were especially concen- 
trated off the coast of Venezuela adjacent to the Gulf of Cariaco. 
Nellen (1973) found members of this family to be common in the 
western Indian Ocean, but identifications were not made to the 
species level. Belyanina (1980) described the distribution of three 
species (3. atlanticus, B. macclellandii, and B. nectananus = type 
B) in the western Caribbean and southwestern Gulf of Mexico. 
Bregmaceros macclellandii is widely distributed in"the tropical 
Atlantic (D’Ancona and Cavinato 1965). Houde et al. (footnote 
4) and Houde (1981) found B. macclellandii larvae in the eastern 
Gulf of Mexico, but they were relatively uncommon and were 
taken there only at offshore stations (> 50 m). Bregmaceros mac- 
clellandii was abundant on my cruises because the stations were in 
deep water. Ahlstrom (1971) tentatively identified this species in 
limited numbers in the eastern tropical Pacific. 
Bregmaceros atlanticus is also widely distributed in the Atlantic 
(D’Ancona and Cavinato 1965). Houde et al. (footnote 4) and 
Houde (1981) found it in greater abundance in the eastern Gulf of 
Mexico than B. macclellandii, but it too is principally a deepwater 
species being absent from station samples taken <50 m deep. As 
in the Caribbean, neither B. atlanticus nor B. macclellandii ex- 
hibited any seasonality in the eastern Gulf of Mexico (Houde et 
al. footnote 4; Houde 1981). 
Bregmaceros Type A was the second most abundant 
Bregmaceros in the eastern Gulf of Mexico (Houde et al. footnote 
4; Houde 1981). Few larvae were taken at stations <50 m deep. 
Interestingly, I found only one small area of occurrence of this 
20 
species. Houde et al. (footnote 4) and Houde (1981) found varia- 
tion in annual abundance of these larvae in the eastern Gulf, 
which may explain in part type A’s unusual distribution pattern in 
the Caribbean Sea. 
Bregamaceros Type B was the most abundant Bregamaceros 
found in the eastern Gulf of Mexico (Houde et al. footnote 4; 
Houde 1981). It was also wideranging, found in shallow water 
< 50m deep. In the Caribbean collections, it was extremely abun- 
dant in the two stations off the Gulf of Cariaco. The inshore sta- 
tion was in water < 200 m (110 m depth of tow). This species was 
most abundant in the fall in the eastern Gulf, but it did occur 
throughout the year (Houde et al. footnote 4; Houde 1981). Un- 
fortunately, my cruises did not sample the Gulf of Cariaco in the 
summer months, which precluded determining the prevalence of 
seasonality. Baird et al. (1973) have discussed the distribution of 
adults in the Cariaco Trench area. 
Identification.—Bregmaceros macclellandi and B. atlanticus 
follow D’Ancona and Cavinato (1965). Bregmaceros Type A is an 
undescribed species illustrated in Houde et al. (footnote 4) and 
Houde (1981). Bregmaceros Type B is also undescribed, and notes 
on its larval identification are given by Houde et al. (footnote 4) 
and Houde (1981). Houde confirmed the identification of all my 
material. He noted that the B. nectabanus discussed by Baird et 
al. (1973) is a misidentification of the Bregmaceros Type B species. 
31. Macrouridae 
(1 occurrence, 1 larva) 
One specimen of this family was taken north of the Gulf of 
Cariaco off Venezuela. Houde et al. (footnote 4) collected four 
specimens in the eastern Gulf of Mexico. Neither Ahlstrom (1971, 
1972) nor Nellen (1973) reported this taxon. 
Identification.—Sanzo (1933). 
32. Eutaeniophoridae 
(1 occurrence, 1 larva) 
One specimen of the unusual Eutaeniophorus festivus was 
taken in the eastern Caribbean. Bertelsen and Marshall (1956) 
found them to be abundant in the Sargasso Sea. Nellen (1973) col- 
lected two specimens in the western Indian Ocean as did Ahlstrom 
(1972) in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. 
Identification.— Bertelsen and Marshall (1956) 
33. Aulostomidae 
(3 occurrences, 3 larvae) 
Larvae of Aulostomus maculatus were rare. None were col- 
lected in the eastern Gulf of Mexico (Houde et al. footnote 4). 
Identification.— Larvae resemble adults and present no identifica- 
tion problems. 
34. Fistulariidae 
(1 occurrence, 1 larva) 
Only one specimen of Fistularia tabacaria was taken on the 
winter cruise. Nellen (1973) reported one specimen from the 
western Indian Ocean; Ahlstrom (1972) reported one specimen 
from the eastern tropical Pacific; and Houde et al. (footnote 4) 
collected one specimen in the eastern Gulf of Mexico. 
Identification.— Fritzsche (1976). 
