



ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 



This study could not have been completed without the generous assistance 

 of many people. Special appreciation is extended to my graduate advisor, Dr. 

 Carter R. Gilbert, for providing help and encouragement throughout the course of 

 this study. I also thank the other members of my graduate supervisory committee 

 for their helpful comments: Drs. David H. Evans, Frank G. NordUe, Jonathan 

 Reiskind, and William Seaman, Jr. The Department of Zoology at the University 

 of Florida provided generous support for travel and other expenses. Portions of 

 this study were funded by Sigma Xi and a Raney Award from the American Society 

 of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists. ,. . 



I am indebted to the following individuals for providing replies to inquiries, 

 loans of specimens, radiographs, photographs, and other types of curatorial 

 assistance (institutional acronyms are from Leviton et al. 1985): Gareth J. Nelson, 

 Norma Feinberg, and Carl J. Ferraris, Jr. (AMNH); William Smith- Vaniz and 

 Barry Chemoff (ANSP); Gordon Howes and Mandy L. HoUoway (BMNH); 

 William N. Eschmeyer, Tomio Iwamoto, Pearl Sonoda, M. Eric Anderson, and 

 David Catania (CAS); Robert K. Johnson, Terry Grande, and Donald J. Stewart 

 (FMNH); Donald C. Taphorn (MCNG); Karsten E. Hartel (MCZ); Volker 

 Mahnert (MHNG); J. C. Hureau and Marie-Louise Bauchot (MNHN); Heraldo A. 

 Britski, Naercio Menezes, and Jose L. Figueiredo (MZUSP); Sven O. KuUander 

 and Erik Ahlander (NHRM); Barbara Herzig and Harald Ahnelt (NMW); Gerlof 

 F. Mees (RMNH); Robert E. Schmidt (Simon's Bard College); Brooks M. Burr 

 (SIUC); Carter R. Gilbert and George H. Burgess (UF); WiUiam L. Fink and 



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