Studies on the Bathypelagic Fishes of the Family Paralepididae. 
1. Survey of the Genera 
Robert R. Harryi 
INTRODUCTION 
The Paralepididae are large-eyed, elongate 
fishes lacking light organs and are members 
of the suborder Alepisauroidea (Alepisaurina, 
using the recently proposed endings of Sten- 
zel, 1950: 94) of the order Iniomi (also called 
Scopeliformes by Berg, 1940: 256; Iniomida 
by Schultz, 1948: 233; Iniomida- or Mycto- 
phida, using Stenzel’s endings). These abun- 
dant pelagic and deep-sea teleosts of world- 
wide distribution have been termed barracu- 
dinas by Fowler (1936). The family appears 
to be most closely related to the Anotopteri- 
dae and Alepisauridae. 
While I was endeavoring to determine the 
relationships of a new species of the genus 
Lestidium from off the coast of central Califor- 
nia, it became evident that the classification 
of the Pacific paralepidids was in deplorable 
confusion, especially in regard to generic 
grouping. Comparison of the form and de- 
velopment of various parts of the body in the 
different genera has shown, unexpectedly, 
that certain structutes not heretofore used are 
of phylogenetic or taxonomic importance. 
Among the most useful are the structure of 
the maxillaries, the form and distribution of 
the dentition and gillrakers, modifications of 
squamation, and variation of the lateral-line, 
tube. These new observations form the basis 
for this revision of the Paralepididae. 
In addition, these fish form an important 
food of tunas and other large oceanic fishes. 
A more complete knowledge of them, partic- 
ularly in regard to speciation and limits of 
1 Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. 
Manuscript received. August 23, 1950. 
distribution, would furnish a valuable tool 
for obtaining information on the migration 
of these larger food fishes by means of stom- 
ach analyses. 
In the course of the present study I have 
been able to examine material totaling several 
hundred specimens, , representing all the 
known genera {Sudis, Notolepis, Paralepis, Les- 
tidium, Macroparalepis, Arctozenus, Bathysudis, 
and Lestidiops), and all the generic types. One 
genus and one species are described as new. 
The revision is divided into parts comprising 
(1) a survey of the genera, (2) a review of the 
North Pacific species, and (3) a synopsis of 
the South Pacific species. The illustrations 
are by the author. 
Acknowledgments: Many people have been 
extraordinarily helpful by giving, loaning, ex- 
changing, or examining specimens, and by 
offering helpful criticism during the prepara- 
tion of this paper. Of these I wish to thank 
particularly Dr. Vilh. Ege of the Marinbio- 
logisk Laboratorium, Charlottenlund Slot, 
Denmark, Dr. George S. Myers of Stanford 
University, Dr. Rolf L. Bolin of the Hopkins 
Marine Station, Dr. Carl L. Hubbs of the 
Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Mr. 
John E. Fitch of the California Division of 
Fish and Game, Dr. E. H. Ahlstrom of the 
United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Dr. 
Ethelwyn Trewavas and Mr. N. B. Marshall 
of the British Museum, Mr. G. E. Maul of the 
Museum Municipal do Funchal, Dr. Arthur 
D. Welander and Dr. A. W. Herre of the 
University of Washington, Dr. Earl S. Herald 
of the California Academy of Sciences, Dr. 
Leonard P. Schultz of the United States Na- 
tional Museum, Dr. William Beebe of the 
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