Velocity anisotropies and isophote shapes in elliptical galaxies.

: Rotation and velocity dispersion data are presented for 17 elliptical galaxies for which no or only insufficient measurments were available. Taking further data from the literature I investigate the relation between velocity anisotrophies and isophote shapes in elliptical galaxies. It is found that elliptical galaxies most likely can be separated into two classes. Objects having peaked isophotes (indicating weak disk components) are in genaral consistent with being rotationally flattened, suggesting that these objects are similar to S0 galaxies. In contrast, elliptical galaxies with box-shaped isophotes frequently owe their shape to anisotropies in their velocity dispersion and most likely are triaxial.