34 p. : 26 cm

Several primitive clupeomorphs are described, and a hypothesis of clupeomorph interrelationships is proposed. The genus ýDiplomystus is revised and the type species for the genus, ýD. dentatus Cope, 1877, is redescribed. ýDiplomystus dentatus is closely related to ýD. birdi Woodward, 1895, and ýD. dubertreti Signeux, 1951, and all three species form the sister group to ýEllimmichthys longicostatus (Cope, 1886). Because the dorsal scutes of ýE. longicostatus lack the pectinate posterior border diagnostic of ýDiplomystus, Jordan's (1910 and 1919 (in Jordan and Gilbert, 1919)) removal of this species from ýDiplomystus is considered valid. Both ýDiplomystus and ýEllimmichthys are placed in ýEllimmichthyidae, new family (ýDiplomystidae is preoccupied by a family of South American catfishes). The ýEllimmichthyidae, new family, is the sister group to the Clupeiformes. ýArmigatus, new genus, is proposed for ýClupea brevissimus Blainville, 1818. The relationship of ýArmigatus brevissimus, new genus, to other clupeomorphs is not clear, and it forms an unresolved trichotomy with ýellimmichthyids and clupeiforms. Many other species erroneously assigned to the genus ýDiplomystus are removed to make the genus monophyletic and thus useful in systematic and comparative anatomical studies. The comparative morphology of clupeomorph dorsal scutes is discussed. It is found that 'double armor' in clupeiforms is not restricted to a small specialized group, but rather is a widespread character, occurring in clupeids, engraulids, ýellimmichthyids, and ýArmigatus. Detailed morphological study of the dorsal scute in clupeomorphs shows a complex of several characters. some of which can be used to define monophyletic groups within the Clupeomorpha"--P. [1]

Title from caption

"June 4, 1982."

In title "Diplomystus" is preceded by a dagger

Includes bibliographical references (p. 30-34)

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