Gonostomatidae- — G rey 
471 
TABLE 2 
Photophore Counts of Argyripnus Species 
VAV+ 
STAND- 
FIRST 
POSTE- 
VAV 4 
ARD 
GROUP 
RIOR AC 
+AC 
SPECIMENS 
LENGTH 
IV 
OF AC 
GROUP 
TOTAL 
IC 
OA 
A. atlanticus, juv. 
Hawaii 
27-27.5 
- 
(14) 
„ 

(2) 
A. atlanticus, juv. 
Hawaii ........... 
35.5 
(6)+(ll)=17 
(21) 
(17) 
43 
60 
(2)+3 = 5 
A, atlanticus, type 1 
eastern Atlantic...... 
A. atlanticus 
56 
(6)+(10)=16 
(28) 
(18) 
51 
67 
7 
western Atlantic 
55-71 
(6/ 7)+(9/10)= 
(24-28) 
(16-18) 
46-51 
62-67 
(3-4) +3-4=7 
15-17 3 
A. ephippiatus 
Hawaii 
72 
(6)+(10)=l6 
(20) 
(14) 
39 
55 
(5)+2=7 
A. ephippiatus, type 
Hawaii 
75 
(6)+(10)=l6 
(19) 
(14/15) 
38/39 
55/56 
(5)+2=7 
A. ephippiatus 
Hawaii 
80 




— 
(5)+2=7 
A. iridescens 2 
Australia 
90-135 
«5)+(10) = l6 
(20-21) 
(12-14) 
37-40 
53-56 
7 
Argyripnus sp. 
Philippines 
82 
(6)+(10)=l6 
(18) 
(12) 
35 
51 
(5/ 6)+(l/2) = 
7 
1 From Maul s 1952: 56. 
2 See footnote to Table 1. 
3 iv usually (6) + (10) = l6; 7 in isthmus group on one side of 1 specimen only and 9 in abdominal group on one side only 
of a second specimen. 
4 Including middle AC group, which is always (5). 
SPECIES OF Argyripnus 
Meristic characters and some body propor- 
tions of a number of specimens of Argyripnus 
are shown in Tables 1-3. In addition to the 
young specimens reported here the following 
have been examined: A. ephippiatus Gilbert 
and Cramer, holotype, USNM no. 47708, "Al- 
batross” sta. 3472; and two specimens, USNM 
no. 126079, Hawaii, "Albatross,” 1902, exact 
data lacking (probably the specimens reported 
in 1905 by Gilbert). Argyripnus sp., USNM 
no. 135402, Philippines, "Albatross” sta. 5542, 
vicinity of northern Mindanao, 8° 48' 30" N., 
123° 35' 30" E., 200 fathoms (366 m.), 1 speci- 
men, hitherto unreported. A. atlanticus Maul, 
"Oregon,” western Caribbean Sea, 1 specimen 
(Grey, I960: 67); and 13 hitherto unreported 
specimens taken off Puerto Rico ("Oregon” sta. 
2644, 2645, 2646) and north of the Bahamas 
"Combat” sta. 235 ) . 
Specimens of Argyripnus are too scarce in 
museum collections to allow a determination of 
the number of species contained in the genus 
but are numerous enough to show that at least 
2 distinct species exist. It is equally clear that 
each of these 2 forms is variable but the extent 
and limits of the variation are not determinable. 
The eastern Atlantic form of A. atlanticus , rep- 
resented by a single specimen, differs from west- 
ern Atlantic specimens in having a few more 
anal rays, more posteriorly situated dorsal and 
anal fins, and a smaller mouth. A. atlanticus 
also inhabits the Pacific at Hawaii as shown 
above. 
The second distinct form of the genus has 
been found so far only in the Pacific, at Ha- 
waii, the Philippines, and Australia. As shown 
in Tables 1-3 these Pacific specimens show 
variation that may indicate specific distinction. 
A. ephippiatus Gilbert and Cramer, from Ha- 
waii, has fewer pectoral rays than other Pacific 
specimens. A. iridescens McCulloch, from Aus- 
tralia, is deeper bodied than other Pacific speci- 
