108 DEEP-SEA FISHES OF THE ATLANTIC BASIN. 



STOMIAS BOA (Risso), Cuvusr. (Figure 128.') 



Esox boa, Risso, Ichtli. Nice, 1810, 330, pi. x, fig. 34.— Risso, Hist. Nat. Eur. Mdri.l., iii, 1, 440, fig. 40. 

 Stomias boa, Cuvieu, Regue Animal, 1st cd., ii. 1817, 184, Cuviek and Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., xvii, 



368, fig. 545. — Vaiixant, Exp. Sci. Travailleur et Talisman, 115. 

 Stomius hni-hatus, Cuviek, 1. c. — Bonaparte, Fauna Italica, Pesc. Fasc. xxvii (bad fig.). 



The height of the body is contained 12J times hi the total length, without caudal; the 

 length of the head !);\ times. Barbel as long as the head, terminating in ?> filaments. Pec- 

 toral and ventral fins very narrow and elongate. Each of the median abdominal series of 

 luminous spots contains 54 between pectoral and ventral tins, 14 between ventral and anal, 

 and 15 between the origin of the anal and caudal. (Giinthcr.) 



Radial formula: D. IS; A. IS; P. G; V. 5; L. lat. 88. 



Stomias boa was obtained by the Frencli expedition in eleven different localities, one 

 individual from each, at various depths in the Gulf of Gascogne, on the (toasts of Portugal 

 and Morocco, on the Banc d'Arguin, and about the Cape Verde Islands, at depths from about 

 405 to 1,800 meters, the greatest depth being in the (Julf of Gascogne. 



Dr. Peters also identified this form ll-om the Pacific. [Monatsbericht, Ak. Wiss., Ber- 

 lin, 1876, 1846. 



Vaillant having examined a considerable amount of material, coincides with the opin- 

 ion of Gunther that Stomias boa and Stomias barbafus are identical, but reinforces recent 

 opinions as to the distinctness of Stomias ferox, which is well characterized by its coloration 

 and its slender body, as well as by the form of the mandibulary barbel, which, although it 

 is soft and extensible, so that the characters derived from its relative dimensions are not of 

 special value, has an unfringed tip which may be regarded as a satisfactory character, 

 although even upon this question there is some doubt. 



STOMIAS AFFINIS, Gunther. (Figure 129.) 

 Stomias affinis, GiiNTnEU, Challenger Report, xxii, 1885, 205, pi. liv, fig. A. 



Scaleless, but with the hexagonal divisions of the skin distinct. The height of the body 

 is one-twelfth of the total lengtli, without caudal, the length of the head one-eiglitli. Teeth 

 fixed. The barbel is about as long as the head, and terminates in 3 filaments (fig. a) ; the 

 end of the stem of the barbel white, with a black i)igmeiit spot, and probably luminous. 

 Pectoral and ventral fins narrow and elongate, especially the latter, which taper into a fila- 

 ment and extend beyond the anterior anal rays. Anal tin higher than dorsal. Each of the 

 abdominal series of luminous spots contains 43 between the pectoral and ventral fins, 6 

 between ventrals and anal, and 15 (16) between the origin of the anal and caudal; another 

 parallel series runs below, and a third above the middle of the side of the body. Fins 

 white, dorsal, anal, and ventrals with black margins. (Gunther.) 



Eadial formula: D. 17; A. 20; P. 6; V. 5. 



Known from one specimen, 5 inches long, taken south of Sombrero Islands, Challenger 

 station 23, at a depth of 450 fathoms. 



Stomias nebulosus, Alcock, a related form (Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., 1889, ii, 451), 

 is from the Gulf of Manaar, 597 fathoms. S. elongatus, AiCOCK (1. c, 1S91, li, 129), is from 

 the Indian Ocean, 738 fathoms. 



ECHIOSTOMA, Lowe. 

 Echiostoma, Lowe, Proc. Zocil. Soo. Lond., 1843, 87 (type, ICehiostoma barbatum, Lowe). — GOnther, Cat. Fish. 

 Brit. Mus., V, 427. — Jordan and Gilbert, Bull, xvi, U. S. Nat. Mus., 286. 



Body elongate, compressed, naked. Head compressed, with short snout and wide; 

 mouth cleft. Teeth pointed, unequal, those on premasillary and front of lower jaw being 

 longest; maxillary teeth in single series, those of its h)wer two-thirds being small; teeth 

 of hinder part of the mandible in double or triple series; vomer with a pair of fangs; 

 palatines with a single series of small pointed teeth; two groups of similar teeth on tongue. 

 Eye moderate. Opercular ])ortion of head very narrow and ilexiblc; a fleshy barbel on the 

 center of the hyoid region. Dorsal fin far back, opposite anal. Caudal forked. Vent not 

 far in advance of caudal fin. Pectorals and ventrals feeble, the latter behind the middle 

 of the body. Series of phosphorescent dots along the lower side of the head, body, and 

 tail. Gill openings very wide. Gill rakers minute. No pseudobranchiai. No air bladder. 



