Zoology.-] NATURAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA. \_Fishes. 



Plate 112. 



CALLORHYNCHUS ANTAKCTICUS (Lacep. sr.). 

 The Southeen Chbleea. 



[Genus CALLOEHYNCHUS (Gronovius). (Sub-kingd. Vertebrata. Class Pisces. Sub- 

 class Elasmobranchia. Order Holocepbala. Family Cbimaeridae.) 



Gen. Char. — Body semifusiform, tapering from tbe head, laterally compressed ; tail 

 elevated, heterocercal, caudal fin on underside only; head with the snout produced into a long 

 proboscis, of median and two lateral cartilages, terminating in a wide, thin, ovate, skinny flap ; 

 anterior dorsal fin with a long, compressed, serrated, bony spine on its anterior edge; second 

 dorsal with a longer base ; anal fin small, deep, triangular, close to the caudal ; pectoral very 

 large, triangular ; skin smooth, except two rows of minute spines usually felt between the 

 dorsals; pupil elliptical, vertical. Dentary plates: Anterior of upper jaw thick, narrow, 

 pointed in front ; grinding surface in both jaws large ; male with a small frontal appendage 

 between the eyes, with bifurcate base, lodged in a cavity, both cavity and tip of appendage 

 set with numerous small, recurved spines.] 



Description. — Pectornl reaching- a little beyond the base of the ventral fins; first 

 dorsal commencing slightly behind the gill -opening, and origin of pectoral; second 

 dorsal commencing over front edge of ventrals ; dorsal spine nearly twice the length 

 of the space from its base to corner of orbit, bare in its whole length, compressed, 

 gently curved backwards, posterior edges finely serrated on apical third of length ; 

 skinny flap at end of snout ovate, broad end down, with rounded margins, twice 

 as long as wide. Lateral line slightly undulating from extremity of tail, running 

 along its lower margin, taking an abrupt turn upwards a little behind front edge of 

 caudal to a little behind the eye where it branches, one branch going over the eye 

 forwards nearly to tip of snout, giving off a branch behind the eye crossing top of 

 head to join that of other side at an acute angle directed backwards ; lower branch 

 going forward under the eye and sending one branch along side of proboscis, one to 

 anterior part of mouth, and one to angle of mouth, and one backwards to a little 

 in front of gill-opening extended by a few pores, as if to join that from the other 

 side, but interrupted in the middle under the throat. Color : Body bluish-grey lead 

 color with silvery lustre; under surface whitish ; a black upper margin to orbits ; a 

 black trigonal spot in front of dorsal fin, with base behind, and apex reaching 

 between eyes ; a black band on each side of base of first dorsal uniting into a broad 

 mesial band along middle of back to sides of second dorsal, and thence along midline 

 to end of tail, receiving a small lateral branch from under hind half of second 

 dorsal ; dorsal, anal, and caudal fins brownish, with blackish tips and margins ; 

 ventrals brownish with blackish base ; pectorals brownish below, blackish towards 

 margins, black above, brownish at base. Iris green ; front of snout-flap flesh color. 



Measurements. 



Length from tip of proboscis to end of caudal fin 



„ „ „ base of proboscis 



„ ,, „ anterior edge of orbit 



„ „ „ anterior base of 1st dorsal 



„ „ „ „ „ 2nd dorsal ... 



„ „ „ „ „ pectoral 



„ „ „ „ „ ventral 



» » » n jt anal 



» » » » » caudal 



„ of spine ... 



„ of base of 1st dorsal 

 Height of 2nd dorsal 



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