Fig. 37— Supracaudal gland of the male B. fibulatum shown in fig. 36. 



Description 



D. 13 (12-14); A. 19 (18-20); P. 16 (14-17); AO 6 (5-7) -^ 4 (3-5), total 10 (9-11); gill rakers 7 

 (6-7) -H 1 -h 15 ( 14-16), total 23 (21-24); vertebrae 32 (31-33). 



VLO and PLO near lateral line. VO2 notably elevated, lying over midpoint of VO1.3 

 interspace. Suboperculum produced into a short, bluntly pointed flap at level of pectoral origin. 



Supracaudal glands of males (Fig. 37) are largest of the genus, and consist of 3 to 5 

 well-formed, translucent, luminous scales plus a posterior small, whitish patch at base of first 

 procurrent caudal ray. The entire gland fills the supracaudal space. Apparently the translu- 

 cent scales are easily lost, as many males of adequate size ( sexed by dissection) bear no glands 

 save the small white posterior patch. Females bear two small patches of luminous tissue, lying 

 just before the first ventral procurrent ray, and often a tiny one ventrally a little before lower 

 Pre. 



Size: To about 90 mm. 



Least depth of capture: To 122 m in early evening near Hawaii. 



Distribution: Not well known. Taken in Hawaiian waters, north of New Guinea, off 

 Japan, and from the Indian Ocean off South Africa. Presumably a warm water species. 



Benthosema panamense 



(Taning, 1932) 



Fig. 38 — Benthosema panamense. male, 40.6 mm. 



43 



