ABSTRACT
The letochilichthyids are rare deep-sea fishes comprised of three species of which only one, Leptochilichhys agassizii Garman1899, is known from the western Atlantic. This record is based on one specimen collected in the Caribbean Sea in 3,499 m depth (Anderson et al. 1985). This species is also found in the eastern North Atlantic, eastern tropical Pacific, Indian and is generally considered to be bathypelagic, usually between 2,000 & 3,000 m (Markle & Sazonov 1990a; Sazanov 1995). Machida & Shiogaki (1988) review the species of the family. These fish are very similar to alepocephalids but differ in having a high number of branchiostegals (13) whereas alepocephalids have 8-11 branchiostegals. No eggs, larvae, or juveniles have been described, but Markle & Quero (1984) described ovarian eggs. Meristic data are given in Table Leptochilichthyidae 1. Sazanov (1995) notes that meristics and morphomentrics do not vary within this species from the Atlantic, Indian or Pacific oceans. It has a large head (>36% SL), large eye (8.29.6% SL), large jaw (upper jaw 21.2-24.1% SL), and the anal fin inserts posterior to the insertion of the dorsal fin. These features together with meristic characters should aid in identifying larvae and juveniles. Figure Leptochilichthyidae 1 is a photo of a small specimen.
