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 subfamilies of Salangidae: one species from Protosalanginae, Protosalanx chinensis; two species from Salanginae, Salanx ariakensis and Salanx prognathus; and one species, Neosalanx andersoni, from Salangichthyinae, a new subfamily. External morphological characteristics, population composition, growth, maturity, food habits, longevity, fecundity, abundance and distribution of these icefishes are described. Based on these analyses, a clear outline of taxonomy, zoogeography and biology of icefishes in the Yellow River estuary of the Bohai Sea was established.