ABSTRACT
The alepocephalids are deep-sea fishes sometimes found quite abundantly on the continental slope, but most are rarely collected from bathy-and mesopelagic to benthic and abyssal habitats. There are about 31 species in 17 genera in our area (Carter & Hartel 2003e), but continued deep collecting often reveals species new to the area (Moore et al. 2003). Two of the species reported by Carter & Hartel (2003e) are not treated as they are outside of our area. Bathytroctes oligolepis is a temperate species and Mirognathus normani has only been taken on the Bear Seamount south of Georges Bank. Thus we treat 29 species in 16 genera. In addition recent taxonomic revisions indicate that some genera are not well defined (see Sazanov 1999). Earlier classifications placed some species in the families Bathylaconidae and Bathyprioidae, but now they are considered as one family with two sister families,
Leptochilichthyidae and Platytroctidae. Young stages are rare for all three families though some information has been published on ovarian eggs and a few treat larvae and juveniles. Young stages are rarely collected so we have not included any species accounts, but have assembled summary tables of meristics (Table Alepocephalidae 1) and depth, distribution and egg references (Table Alepocephalidae 2). In addition we depict illustrations from the literature and new illustrations of selected species.
