116 
Fishery Bulletin 119(2-3) 
Table 2 
Meristic characters of adults of the Lampanyctus species that have been found in the 
South Pacific Ocean. These data are from Wisner (1976), Hulley (1981), McGinnis 
(1982), Becker (1983), and Zahuranec (2000). A question mark (?) indicates that no data 
have been reported, and a dash (—) indicates that no fins have been observed. Lam- 
panyctus sp. A, L. sp. B, L. sp. C, and L. sp. D sensu McGinnis (1982). 
Anal 
rays 
Dorsal 
Species rays 
14-16 
11-13 
14-16 
12-14 
14-15 
13-14 
14-16 
14-16 
14-16 
11-13 
14-15 
14-16 
15 
12-13 
12-13 
16—20 
16-18 
16—20 
17-19 
19-21 
18-19 
18—20 
achirus 
alatus 
ater 
australis 
festivus 
gibbsi 
intricarius 
lepidolychnus 
macdonaldi 
pusillus 
wisneri 
sp.A 
sp.B 
sp. C 
sp. D 
L. 
L. 
L. 
L. 
L. 
L. 
L. 
L. 
L. 
L. 
L. 
L. 
L. 
L. 
L. 
Photophore formation Only Br, are formed in all individuals. 
Comparative remarks Morphology of 5.5- and 6.4-mm-SL 
larvae of L. australis from the southwestern Indian Ocean 
(Olivar and Beckley, 1997) and of 8.3-, 9.3-, 10.1-, and 
10.7-mm-SL larvae from the southeastern Atlantic Ocean 
(Bolshakova and Evseenko, 2016) have been described. In 
general, the morphology of our larvae is similar to that 
given previously. Larvae of a similar size from the Pacific 
Ocean and Atlantic Ocean do not differ in proportions. 
There is some variability in pigmentation between speci- 
mens from these oceans—2 larvae (8.3 and 10.1 mm SL) 
from the Atlantic Ocean lack the melanophore behind the 
dorsal fin, and all larvae from the Pacific Ocean have such 
a melanophore. Our description of larvae examined in our 
study complements the developmental series of this species. 
Distribution A total of 14 larvae of this species were found 
in the study area (st. 3009, 3010, 3042, 3052, and 3054) 
between 37°S and 46°S in the subtropical frontal zone and 
the notal zone of the South Pacific Ocean (Fig. 1B). Adults 
of L. australis have a much broader range, with isolated 
specimens occurring down to 52°S (st. 3063) (Becker and 
Evseenko, 1986). 
Lampanyctus gibbsi or L. wisneri 
Distinguishing features Meristic characters are useful in 
separating the larva of either L. gibbsi or L. wisneri exam- 
ined in this study from the larvae of other Lampanyctus 
species. The prominent jaw and the forward direction of 
teeth at the tip of the upper jaw distinguish this specimen 
Pectoral 
rays 
11- 
13- 
15— 
13— 
13- 
12- 
12- 
13- 
Gill rakers Vertebrae 
5-64+1+11-13 
3844149 (8) 
5 (4)+14+10-12 
6 (7)+1+13-14 (15) 
4+1+9 (8-10) 
3—44+1+8-10 
4+1+10 (9-11) 
4+1+10 (8-11) 
8 (9-10)+1+17-18 
34+1+8 (9) 
4-5+1+10-11 
4+14+11-13 
2 
35-36 
33-35 
36 (35) 
35 (36-37) 
35 (34) 
37-38 
38 (37) 
36-37 
34-35 
31-32 
36-37 
35-36 
? 
13 
15 
17 
14 
15 
13 
13 
14 
? 
? 
? 
? 
from the larvae of Lampanyctus species with short ros- 
trums. The larva is also well distinguished from the lar- 
vae of other long-rostrum species of Lampanyctus. These 
differences are clearly visible in pigmentation. In L. ater 
and the pinpoint lampfish (L. regalis), there is a melano- 
phore between the dorsal and adipose fins. In L. cuprar- 
ius and Nannobrachium sp. 1 (Bolshakova and Evseenko, 
2020, fig. 5), there is pigment at the midline of the body. 
In L. niger, there are melanophores at the base of pectoral 
fins and at the rays of pelvic fins. All these melanophores 
are absent in larvae of L. gibbsi and L. wisneri. The larvae 
of L. lineatus have a smaller body depth, and the larvae of 
L. achirus have a longer and more noticeable rostrum. The 
larva differs from larvae of L. ater in the absence of the 
preopercular spines. 
Morphology A single larva was collected: 13.1 mm SL 
(Fig. 5). The larva has a deep body (BD 30% SL) and a 
large head (HL 31% SL) with long jaws extending under 
the vertical of the eye posterior margin. The snout is long 
(SnL 41% HL), and the eye is round (ED 32% HL). The 
dorsal fin begins at about the middle of the body (PDL 54% 
SL). The anal fin starts under the 9-10 ray of the dorsal 
fin (PAL 70% SL). 
Meristic characters D: 15, A: 19, P,: 13, P,: 8, C: 6+10—10+5, 
GR: 4+1+10, V: 37, BrR: 9. Rays in all fins are fully formed. 
Pigmentation Pigmentation of the head includes a mela- 
nophore at the tip of the lower jaw, a paired melanophore 
above the midbrain and located posterolaterally to the 
hindbrain. There is one melanophore on the cleithrum. 
