470 DEEP-SEA FISHES OF THE ATLANTIC BASIN. 



Family PERISTEDIID^E. 



Peristediitue, Jordan and Gilbert, Bull, xvi, U. S. Nat. Mus., 731. 

 Penstediida, Gill, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus.. xi, 1888, 590. 



Trigloids, closely allied to Triglidm, from which they are distinguished by having the 

 body mailed instead of scaly, by the absence of teeth, and the separation of the operculum 

 and suboperculum from the interoperculum; and the lesser number of pectoral append- 

 ages, which are two rather than three. 



PERISTEDION. Lacepede. 



Peristedion, Lacepede, Hist. Nat. Poiss., ill, 1802, p. 368. 



Body elongate, fusiform, covered with bony plates, each of which is armed with a 

 strong spine; head bony; each preorbital produced into a long flat process, which projects 

 more or less beyond the mouth; mouth small; teeth none; lower jaw included, provided 

 with barbels; gill membranes separate, narrowly joined to the isthmus anteriorly; gill 

 rakers slender. Dorsal tin continuous or divided. Pectoral fin short, with the two lower- 

 most ray's detached. Ventrals i. •"», separated by a broad flat area. Air bladder simple. 

 Pyloric caeca about 10. Warm seas. Color, generally red. 



In addition to the Atlantic species named below the Challenger took P. molluccense, 

 Blkr., off the Ki Islands (station 19:2), 140 fathoms; P. Murrayi, Giinther, from the Sea of 

 Banda, 200 fathoms; and /'. liorhynchum, from the Admiralty Island, 152 fathoms. 



PERISTEDION MINIATl'M. Co,, i.e. (Figures 385, 385 A, B.) 



Peristedium miniatum, Goode, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mas., hi, 1880, 340, 180. — Goode and Bean, Bull. Mus. Comp. 

 Zoiil., x, 1883, 212.— Jordan aud Gilbert, Bull., xvi, U. S. Nat, Mus., 732. — Gt ntiier, Challenger Keport, 

 xxii, 64. 



The greatest width of the body (20) is equal to its greatest height (19.. r >) being one- fifth 

 of its total length without caudal. The general armature of the body is much like that 

 described by Giinther under Peristethus brevirostre? The number of plates between the 

 yill openings and the base of the tail is from 27 to 29. There are 1 series of spiny plates 

 on each side, the spines of the abdominal series becoming very weak and obsolete towards 

 the tip of the tail. 



The length of the head (40.15) is two-fifths of the total length without caudal. The 

 length of the preorbital processes (7) is contained about 3J times in the distance from their 

 extremities to the anterior margin of the orbit. The interorbital space is deeply concave; 

 its width (6.75) contained between t> and 7 times in the length of the head. Protuberance on 

 the forehead very slight. The length of the snout (22.5) is more than half that of the head 

 (in young less). The diameter of the eye (65) is contained between <> aud 7 times in the 

 length of the head. There is one pair of spines upon the upper surface of the snout behind 

 the base of the preorbital processes, and another larger pair upon the preorbital processes, 

 one upon each. The ridge of the preoperculum terminates in a depressed short, sharp- 

 pointed spine. The number of small tentacles upon either side of the lower jaw is about 

 10, the smallest nearest to the symphysis. The long tentacles at the angles of the mouth 

 are fringed, and extend to the base of the pectorals. In other respects Giinther's descrip- 

 tion of 1'. brevirostre is ample for this species. 



Color, bright crimson. 



Radial formula: D. vn, 18; A. 17; C. 16; P. 2 + 10; Y. 6. L. lat., 27 on one side, 28 

 on the other 



Three other specimens had the following: D. VIII, 18; A. 17. 1). vn, 18; A. 18. D. 

 VII, IS; A. IS. 



Total length of type (No. 2G023) 300 millimeters. 



1 Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., n, I860, p. 218. 



