ABSTRACT
There are 9 genera, and 23 species of Oneirodidae recognized in the western central North Atlantic (WCNA): Chaenophryne draco, Chaenophryne longiceps, Chaenophryne ramifera, Danaphryne nigrifilis, Dolopichthys allector, Dolopichthys danae, Dolopichthys jubatus, Dolopichthys karsteni, Dolopichthys longicornis, Dolopichthys pullatus, Letacanthichthys gracilispinis, Lophodophus acanthognathus, Microphichthys microlophus, Microphichthys andracanthus, Oneirodes anisacanthus, Oneirodes bradburyae, Oneirodes carlsbergi, Oneirodes eschrichti, Oneirodes macronem, Oneirodes macrosteus, Oneirodes melanocauda, Oneirodes myrionemus, Pentherichthys venustus, Phyllorhinchthys micractis, and Spiniphryne gladisfenae. There are also specimens identified only to genera that are unrecognized as to species (Bertelsen 1951). These include: Oneirodid (Gen. sp.), Oneirodes sp., Dolopichthys sp., Lophodophus sp., Microphichthys sp., Penterhichthys sp. (Pietsch 2003g, pers. comm.). As with all the Ceratioidei their taxonomy is in great need of biochemical review. Current taxonomy is dependant upon meristics and external characteristics (pigmentation etc.). A larval key was developed for larvae in this family by Bertelsen (1951). It is often referred to as the main source of larval information for the oneirodids. Subsequent revisions of the Oneirodidae include; (Bertelsen & Pietsch 1977), Spiniphryne (Bertelsen & Pietsch 1975), Chaeno phryne (Pietsch 1975), Lophodolos (Pietsch 1974), Dolopichthys (Pietsch 1972, Bertelsen & Pietsch 1987).
