DISCUSSION OF SPECIES AND THEIK DISTBIBDTION. 349 



The typical species, .1 teleopus japonicus, Schlegel, is known from two specimens. < me 9 

 inches Long, taken at Ooniura, to Japan, and another sent to the British Museum bythe 



A IT.I.KolTS ,1 I.P0NICU8. 



Tokio Museum. The Japanese call this fish Sjatefuri, and consider it extremely rare 

 Thej believe ii to be venomous, and to have electric powers. A indieus, Alcock, Ann. & 

 Mag. Nat. Hist., 1891, 123, was obtained by the Investigator in the Indian Ocean, in L88 to 



220 fathoms. 



Family LOPHOTID^. 



Lophoteoidei, Bleeker, Syst. Nat. Pise. TentameD, 1859, xxvi. 



Lophotidce, Ginther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mils., m, 1861, 312; Challenger Report, xxn, 76. 



Body elongate, compressed, blade-like, without scales, and with vent near the tip of 

 the tail. Bead elevated in a high triangular crest upon which is a very long and strong 

 spine, followed by a series of flexible rays, supporting the dorsal fin, winch extends the 

 entire length of the back to the base of the caudal. Anal very short and very far back. 

 Ventrals thoracic. Caudal minute. Snout short. Feeble teeth, in jaws, on vomer, and pala- 

 tines. Gill openings wide. Branchiostegals 6. Pseudobranchise present. 



Gunther is of the opinion that the "Lophotas" are deep-sea fishes like the Ribbon 

 fishes, but that they do not descend to the greatest depths, their bony and soft parts being 

 firm and coherent. 



LOPHOTES, Giorna. 



Lophotes, ClORNA, Mem. Accad. Torino, ix, 1803. 17. — Cuvtek and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., x, 405. — 

 GOnthkr, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., m, 312. 



Lophotids with the head elevated in a high crest, surmounted with a long spine, which 



is followed by a very elongate dorsal fin. Vent near the extremity of the tail, with a small 

 anal fin behind it; pectorals moderate; ventrals thoracic, very small, with 4 or 5 rays; 

 caudal very small. Mouth not protractile, subvertical; with teeth pointed and feeble in 

 the jaws, on vomer and palatines. Eye very large. The abdominal cavity extends nearly 

 the whole length of the body. Air bladder present. Gills 4. PseudobranchlSB present. 



LOPHOTES CEPEDIAN1 S, Giorna. (Figure 389.) 



Lophotes Cepedianus, Giorna, Mem. Poiss. Esp. Nav., etc. (Bead Sept. 20, 1803). — Mem. Accad. Imp. Sci. 

 Torino, w i * 1809), 19, pi. n, fig. 1.— Cuvier and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. PoisB, \, 405, pi. ccci. — 

 Bonaparte, Catalogo Metodico,716. — Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., m. 312 : Challenger Report, xxn, 

 76. — Canestrini, Fauna Italica, Peaci. 193. — Giolioli. Elenco, 32. — Moreao, Hist.. Nat. Poiss., France. 

 ii,250. 



La Lophoti lactpede, Cuvier, Ann. Musee, xx, 1813, 393, pi. xvn: Regne Animal,ed. 1, 1817, n. 2133. 



Lophotus Lacipidr, Kisso. Ili^t. Nat. Europe Mfcridionale, 1829, 293. 



A Lophotes with the height of the body contained 7 times in its total length; its thick- 

 ness 21 times. The skin, which is naked, is roughened by very minute furrows. The 

 vent is very far back, near the extremity of the body. The head is very singular in its form, 

 being elevated in front in a triangular crest] exceedingly sharp, and surmounted by a lone, 

 compressed spine, which corresponds to the first ray of the dorsal. Snout short; mouth 

 small, not protractile, subvertical. Teeth cardiform upon the, jaws, the vomer and pala- 

 tines being also dentigerous. Eyes very large, their diameter about one third of the length 



