MERISTIC AND MORPHOMETRIC VARIATION AMONG ANGLERFISH OF THE GENUS LOPHIUS (LOPHIIFORMES)

We studied patterns of morphological variability among species of Loph ius and Lophiomus with multivariate methods and cladistic analyses of gap-coded morphometric variables. The pattern of meristic variability among species appears to reflect temperature variability rather than t he molecular phylogeny of this group, except for Lophius vaillanti, th e most primitive Lophius. The pattern of morphometric variability diff ers from the pattern of meristic variability and also from the molecul ar phylogeny and reflects convergence in body shape between distantly- related species. It is uncertain, however, if these patterns are due t o changes in genetic information or to the continuing influence of the environment on development.