is notched posteriorly, but the upper fork of this 

 bone is considerably shorter than the lower fork 

 and sometimes absent. The subopercle is narrow 

 and elongate, the upper part tapering to a fine 

 point, the lower part rounded with a well- 

 developed anterior spine or projection. The in- 

 teropercle is unusually long and slender. The 

 preopercle is more or less straight. 



Branchial arches (Figure 13). — Pharyngobran- 

 chials I and IV are absent; those of the second and 

 third arches are well developed, bearing four to 

 nine recurved and depressible fangs. Epibranchial 



FISHERY BULLETIN: VOL. 78, NO. 1 



I is reduced lying free in the connective tissue 

 matrix. Ceratobranchial V is also reduced but 

 tightly connected to the medial-proximal margin 

 of ceratobranchial IV. There are three hypo- 

 branchials, and a single basibranchial ossification 

 surrounded by a triangular-shaped cartilage. 



Vertebrae and caudal skeleton (Figure 14). — The 

 vertebral column forms a sigmoid curve, dipping 

 down behind the region of the gut and sloping up 

 again to support the tail. In the five cleared and 

 stained specimens examined there are 20 verte- 

 bral centra (including the half-centrum to which is 



Hypobranchial I 



Ceratobranchial I 



Epibranchial I 



Pharyngobranchial II 



Basibranchial 



Ceratobranchial V 



Epibranchial IV 



Figure 13.— Branchial arches of 

 Melanocetus murrayi, LACM 31501-3, 

 84 mm SL. The ventral portion of the 

 branchial basket is shown in dorsal 

 view, the dorsal portion (epibranchials 

 and pharyngobranchials) is folded back 

 and shown in ventral view. Cartilage 

 stippled. 



Pharyngobranchial III 



Figure 14. — Lateral view of vertebral col- 

 umn, dorsal and anal fins, and caudal skele- 

 ton oi Melanocetus murrayi, LACM 31501- 

 3, 84 mm SL. Cartilage stippled. 



66 



