149 

 121. Malacosteus sp. 



? Malacosteus niyer, Ayres, I. c. pl. v. Goode and Bean, Oceanic Ichthyology, p. 114, fig. 138. 

 ? M<dacosteus indicus, Giinther, Alcock, Ann. Mfig. Nat. Hist., (6) IV. 1889, p. 452 : Illustrations of thi 

 Zoology of the Investigator, Fishes, pl. XXXIII. fig. 4. 



A species of Malacosteus was dredged in the Andaman Sea in 650 fathoms. 

 It is represented by a single damaged specimen, and appears to be identical with 

 Malacosteus indicus Giinther, of the Challenger Report, p. 214, pl. liv. fig. B. 



At the same time, judging from the descriptions and figures of the two 

 species, it seems to me that Malacosteus indicus and Malacosteus wiger are 

 the same. 



The following is a brief description of the " Investigator " specimen, so far 

 as description is possible : — 



D. 18. A. 20. P. 3. V. 6. 



The gill-cleft is so wide, and the neck so narrow, that the head can be 

 turned completely upside down over the back without hurting the specimen. 



Length of jaws and mouth-cleft more than a third of the distance between 

 the tip of the snout and the origin of the anal fin. 



There is almost no snout distinct from the rim of the orbit : eye between a 

 third and a fourth the length of the lower jaw. 



The largest teeth are a pair of curved outstanding fangs at the fore end of 

 the mandible. Of the lateral mandibular teeth two exceed the others in size, 

 the anterior one being not very far from the mandibular symphysis, the posterior 

 one being a good way back. 



Skin smooth, soft, black, everywhere covered with tiny white dots. A large 

 petal-shaped luminous organ, as long as the orbit, beneath the eye, and a smaller 

 oval one on the cheek near the middle of the upper jaw. 



Dorsal and anal fins nearly equal and opposite, close to the caudal. Caudal 

 small, its peduncle narrow, — the height midway between the anal and the caudal 

 fin being about half an eye-length. The ventrals arise about an eye-length 

 behind the middle of the body. 



Length 3- inches. 



Regd. No. 11642. 



Photostomias, Collett. 



Photostomias, Collett, Ball. Soc. Zool Frnnce, 1889, p. 291, and Hirondelle Poissons (Monaco, 1896), p. 131 : 

 Goude and Bean, Oceanic Ichthyology, p. 114. 



Thaumastomias, Alcock, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., Sept. 1890, p. 220. 



Body elongate, compressed, scaleless, with the vent not far distant from the 

 caudal fin. Head compressed, with the cranium small, the snout short, and the 



