Abstract
The buoyancy, lipid levels, and orientation of five species of myctophid from the Biscay area were examined, and it was found that two of the five were probably normally denser than the sea water in which they live. Analysis of the swimbladder gas of Myctophum punctatum collected at the surface at night indicated that this species has a less extensive vertical range in this area than elsewhere. A functional classification of myctophids is proposed, based upon density, lipid levels, and the presence or absence of a gas-filled swimbladder.

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