ABSTRACT
The stephanoberyciform family Cetomimidae includes nine genera, 19-20 valid described species, and 15 or more undescribed species, found in bathypelagic waters (juveniles mesopelagic) from polar to tropical regions in all major oceans. Ten or 11 valid described and one undescribed species occur in the western central North Atlantic. Distinctive features include the lack of external scales, fin spines, and pelvic fin, posterior and opposite dorsal and anal fins, usually broad and deep lateral-line canal with large pores and internal supporting scales, large head and snout with very large jaws extending far behind orbit and small eye and nasal organ. A more detailed description of the family and a key to and figures of the five WCNA genera are in Paxton (2003). Figures of the other genera and descriptions of anatomy, biology and ecology are in Paxton (1989).
