Biological Results of the University of Miami Deep-Sea Expeditions. 110.

Aspects of the Structure, Relationships, and Biology of the Deep-Sea Fish Ipnops Murrayi (Family Bathypteroidae)

The accumulation of a large series (60 specimens) of the unusual benthic bathypteroid fish, Ipnops murrayi Günther, 1878, has prompted a comparison with material previously described. The few differences found are attributable to increased sample size. The lateral-line system is described in detail and compared with those of Bathytyphlops and Bathypterois. The family Bathypteroidae is recognized to contain the subfamilies Bathypteroinae, Ipnopinae, Bathymicropinae, and Bathytyphlopinae. Relationships between the aulopoid, myctophid, synodontoid, and alepisauroid fishes are discussed.