ABSTRACT
The crestfishes (Lophotus spp.) and the unicornfish (Eumecichthys fiski) comprise the lampridiform family Lophotidae. These are medium to largesized fishes (attaining 1-2 m total length) that are rarely collected but widely distributed in tropical and sub-tropical seas. The species occupy epi-to mesopelagic habitats. There has been considerable taxonomic confusion on nominal species of Lophotus (Goin & Erdman 1951, Nelson 1994). Craig et al. (2004) present molecular and meristic evidence for the validity of at least three species, two Lophotus species in the Pacific Ocean and at least one Atlantic species, L. lacepede. Unique among all teleosts, lophotids and their close relative Radiicephalus elongatus possess an ink gland that lies internally dorsal to the gut. The gland is analogous to the cephalopod ink sac and produces copious quantities of a dark, ink-like fluid (Goins & Erdman 1951, Oelschläger 1978, Olney 1984, Olney et al. 1993). Presumably, the ink is discharged as a fright-response. L. lacepede develops this capability at an early size (45 mm SL, Olney 1984) but the gland is not visible in small specimens of E. fiski (35-70 mm SL, Olney et al. 1993).
