336 DEEP-SEA FISHES OF THE ATLANTIC BASIN. - 



PENOPUS MACDONALDI, Goode AND Bean, n. s. (Figure 293.) 



The greatest height of the body (35 millimeters) equals the length of the postorbital 

 part of the head arid about one-ninth of the total without the caudal. The greatest width 

 of the body anteriorly is about two-thirds of its greatest height. The head is stout, its 

 greatest width equaling three-fourths of its greatest depth and more than one third of 

 its length. The width of the interorbital space (14 millimeters) is about one-fifth the length 

 of the head. The eye is very small, its length (0 millimeters) less than one-half the width 

 of the interorbital space. The distance from the eye to the tip of the snout (24 millimeters) 

 equals the length of the iutermaxilla. The distance of the anterior nostril from the tip of 

 the snout equals the length of the eye. The distance of the posterior nostril from the eye 

 is slightly less than its distance from the tip of the snout. The maxilla is expanded behind 

 and reaches somewhat behind the eye; its length (25 millimeters) equals the length of the 

 snout. The mandible extends much behind the eye, its length (36 millimeters) equal to 

 postorbital part of head. The dorsal begins over the middle of the pectoral; its rays are 

 well developed, those in the middle of the fin longer than the anterior ones. It contains 

 137 rays. The anal begins under the twenty-seventh ray of the dorsal; it contains 102 

 rays, those about the middle of the fin longest. The length of the pectoral (32 millime- 

 ters) is nearly one-half the length of the head and about equal to the distance of its tip 

 from the vent. The length of the ventral (27 millimeters) is about one-third of the distance 

 of its origin from the origin of the anal. 



Lateral lines, three; the uppermost beginning at the upper angle of the gill opening 

 quicky approaching the top of the body near the base of the dorsal and merging into the 

 dorsal base about the middle of the tail; the median lateral line begins a little behind the 

 head and extends almost to the root of the caudal, becoming very faint posteriorly. The 

 lowermost lateral line has its origin under and not far from the base of the pectoral. It 

 extends along the lower side of the tail and merges into the base of the anal fin somewhat 

 beyond the middle of the length of the tail. 



Color, yellowish brown; operculum, opercular flap and branchiostegal membrane, pec- 

 toral, and ventral dusky. 



The siugle specimen obtained is 315 millimeters long, catalogue number 39433. It was 

 obtained by the steamer Albatross, September is. 1886, at station 271G, N. lat. 38° 29' 30", 

 W. Ion. 70° 57', in 1,631 fathoms. 



ACANTHONUS, Gunther. (Figure 296, A.) 

 Acanthonus, GCNTHER, Ann. ami Hag.. Nat. Hist., 1878, II, 22; Challenger Report, xxn, 116. 



Head excessively large and thick, armed in front and on the opercles with strong- 

 spines; trunk very short, the vent being below the pectoral, tail thin, strongly compressed, 

 tapering, with the caudal distinct. Eye small. Mouth very wide, with the teeth in villi- 

 form bands in the jaws, on the vomer, and palatine bones, and along the hyoid. Barbel 

 none. Ventrals each reduced to a bifid filiment, placed close together on the humeral 

 symphysis. Gill-membranes not united. The gill-laminse are remarkably short; the ii i 1 1 - 

 rakers long, lanceolate, stiff. Scales extremely small. Bones of the head soft, the super- 

 ficial ones supporting large cavities. (Giinthcr.) 



The genus is represented by a single species found by the Challenger in 1,050-1,070 

 fathoms in the Middle Pacific, station 205, off the Philippines, and station 218, north of New 

 Guinea, The type species is A. armatus, Giinther, Challenger Report, xxn, 117, pi. xxiv, 

 Fig. A. 



TAUREDOPHIDIUM, Aleock. (Figure 296, B.) 



Tauredophidium, Alcock, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist. (6), VI., 1890, 212. (Type, T. Hextii, Joe, eit.,pl. vm. tig. 1.) 



Head large and thick, armed on the opercles with strong spines ; body compressed. 

 Snout broad, not overhanging the large mouth. Eyes, none. No barbel. Villiform teeth 

 in the jaws, vomer, and palate. Gill membranes rather broadly united; 4" gills; 8 branch- 



