Revision of the Manefish GeneraCaristiusandPlatyberyx(Teleostei: Percomorpha: Caristiidae), with Descriptions of Five New Species

Abstract

The family Caristiidae, commonly known as manefishes or veilfins, includes several species of mesopelagic, oceanic fishes found throughout the major ocean basins of the world. We present herein the second part of our revision of the family, including all of the “large-mouth” species, which are distinguished from other members of the family by having a narrow suborbital space and a long upper jaw that extends to mid-orbit or beyond and which is visible externally, not covered by the thin bones of the suborbital series. This group, which is comprised of the genera Platyberyx and Caristius, is described in full, including descriptions of five new species. The genus Platyberyx, which includes six species, three of which are newly described, is distinguished from all other caristiid genera by the presence of a conspicuous lateral line with large scales. The genus Caristius, with four species, two of which are newly described, is distinguished from Platyberyx by the absence of a conspicuous lateral line and by ...