Untitled - Alaska Resources Library

Some readers may question the capitalization of common names herein. We recognize that there is debate
over this issue (Kendall 2002, Nelson et al. 2002), and have capitalized them only to make them stand out and be
more easily read. We take no stand on this debate.
Size and depth conversions — We give size and depth in both metric and standard units. For publications
giving both metric and standard (e.g., Hart 1973, Eschmeyer and Herald 1983) we did not recalculate the
conversions or round whole numbers or fractions but present them as given in the original publications.
To convert centimeters to inches, we divided centimeters by 2.54; meters to feet, by multiplying meters
by 3.2808; and fathoms to meters, by multiplying fathoms by 1.829. Rather than round any of the resulting
converted numbers, say to 3,500 m from 3,481 m, as some authors have done (e.g., Quéro et al. 1990, Fischer
et al. 1995), we have chosen to give the numbers as calculated so that subsequent authors do not reconvert and
inadvertently make the lengths or depths decrease or increase.
In a few instances, we found sharp divergences in maximum lengths or depths reported by recent authorities.
In these cases, we have listed more than one maximum length or depth. Such differences can occur due to
taxonomic revisions, and one of the lengths or depths may no longer relate to the species for which it is given.
We spotted and corrected several of these cases, but resolution of a few remained elusive.
Geographic range — Geographic ranges are stated from broadest to finest scale. If the species is found
outside the eastern North Pacific, we first give the broader range. For example, we may first note that a species is
circumglobal, without giving specific locations throughout the world. By circumglobal we do not mean in all the
seas of the world, but usually in the three major oceans or circumglobal in the Arctic. We then provide a more
specific range in the Pacific Ocean, beginning with the westernmost record (e.g., “Japan”) and then the eastern
Pacific range. Records from eastern Asia (Japan, Korea, eastern Russia) are usually given in less precise terms (e.
g., “northern Japan”) than those within our geographic boundaries (e.g., “La Jolla, southern California”).
We have separated California and Baja California each into northern, central, and southern areas. Northern
California runs from the Oregon border to about San Francisco, central from just south of San Francisco to Point
Conception, and southern California to the Mexican border. Northern Baja California extends from the Mexican
border to about Punta Baja, central Baja California extends to Punta Eugenia, and southern Baja California runs
to Cabo San Lucas. While we generally give only the extremes of geographic range, in some instances, such as
along the southern California and Baja California coast, we have often included both northern- or southernmost
island and mainland occurrences. Geographic coordinates (latitude and longitude) are included in instances
where fishes were captured well offshore or in areas where we felt there are no well-known landmarks.
Depth range — Depths given are minimum and maximum. Because the very young life stages of many
fishes live at or near the surface or in shallow waters, we tried to exclude records of pelagic or newly settled
juveniles. In some cases, where a depth of “0” meters or feet was given, it was not possible to differentiate between
intertidal and surface water collections.
Synonyms — In the text at the end of each account we have included alternative names when we judge these
are still in use or we wish to make it clear that the species in our area has recently gone by another name and
our account includes records published under that name. We generally have not included the original scientific
names when these have been changed, such as by moving from one genus to another, as these are readily found
by searching for the species names in Eschmeyer (1998 and online editions). Where generic shifts have occurred,
the fact is evident from the convention of enclosing the species’ author name in parentheses.
References Cited — Please note that we do not assign letters to differentiate between works of an author
published in the same year unless it is not clear from the title which work is being cited.
Comments on the Inventory
We look forward to comments, corrections, and additions to this inventory. Please send these to Milton
Love (love@lifesci.ucsb.edu) or Catherine Mecklenburg (ptstephens@alaska.com).
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