Descriptions of Fixing from ///<' Const of Natal. 73 



FAMILY PEDICULATI. 



GEN. LOPHIUS, L. 



LOPHIUS UPSICEPHALUS, Smith. 

 Illustr. Zool. S. Afr. p. 9, pi. 9, 1849. 



Teeth arranged in 2 alternate series ; a minute patch on vomer, 

 with a strong tooth on each side ; a single series of strong, slightly 

 recurved teeth on palatines. Head disproportionately large, de- 

 pressed, broad and flat. Depth of body 2|- times in total length 

 excluding caudal, length of head 1^ times ; width of head nearly 

 -,'77 its length. Snout l^t- times as long as eye, which is 6f times in 

 length of head and about equals the interorbital width ; lower jaw 

 projects beyond upper, cleft of mouth wide and reaches to vertical of 

 anterior margin of eye, upper lip fringed with a row of cirri, lower 

 lip with a fringe of branched filaments ; 4 strong spines on pre- 

 orbital, 2 on each side of symphysis of jaw; orbital ridge with 

 coarse serrations, with a strong spine behind posterior upper angle 

 of each orbit ; a short, strong, upright spine on preoperculum ; 

 a strong humeral spine with 3 points ; a spine on top of head on 

 each side. 



Dorsal iii + iii 8 ; the first 3 spines distinct and situated on the 

 head ; the 1st consists of a simple filament, T % length of head, 

 terminating in a few cirri and a long simple flap, and is inserted just 

 behind the lip ; the 2nd spine rises close behind it and is longer, 

 nearly ? length of head, with a row of soft spines on its anterior 

 margin, and with short stalks or filaments branching off the main 

 stem ; the 3rd spine is about the same height as the 1st and is 

 inserted midway between the posterior margin of dorsal fin and 2nd 

 spine, which latter it resembles, but the branches are fewer and less 

 developed ; the 4th spine is a little more than f length of head, 

 originates in line with base of humeral spine, and is a little apart 

 from but connected by a low membrane with the remaining 2 spines. 

 Pectorals length of head, the carpal bones being much produced 

 form a sort of arm to the fin. Ventrals about same length as 

 pectorals. Anal 6 ; posterior rays longest and about )- length of 

 head. Caudal truncate, nearly ^ length of head. 



Colour (of preserved specimen), light yellowish brown, with a few 

 small dark spots ; membrane of the 3 posterior spines of dorsal 

 blackish. 



