TAXONOMY, BIOLOGY AND ABUNDANCE OF ICEFISHES, OR NOODLEFISHES (SALANGIDAE), IN THE YELLOW-RIVER ESTUARY OF THE BOHAI SEA, CHINA

Four species of icefishes were sampled in the Yellow River estuary of the Bohai Sea from April 1984 to April 1985 and from February 1988 to June 1989. Morphological analysis showed that they belonged to three s ubfamilies of Salangidae: one species from Protosalanginae, Protosalan x chinensis; two species from Salanginae, Salanx ariakensis and Salanx prognathus; and one species, Neosalanx andersoni, from Salangichthyin ae, a new subfamily. External morphological characteristics, populatio n composition, growth, maturity, food habits, longevity, fecundity, ab undance and distribution of these icefishes are described. Based on th ese analyses, a clear outline of taxonomy, zoogeography and biology of icefishes in the Yellow River estuary of the Bohai Sea was establishe d.