92 DEEP-SEA FISHES OF THE ATLANTIC BASIN. 



DASYCOPELUS ASPER (Richardson). (Fig. 106.) 



Myctophum asperum, Richardson, Voy. Erel>. and Terr., Iclith,, 41, PI. xxvii, Fig. 105. 

 Scopeluacispci; CuviERaud Valencienxes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., xxii, 454. — Guntiier, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., v, 

 1864, 411. 



The height of the bod.y is one-fourth of the total h-ngtli (without caudal), the leugtliof 

 the head two-sevenths; the least depth of the tail is one-third of the height of the body; 

 the depth of the head is contained IJ times in its length. Eye very large, two-fifths of the 

 length of the head ; distance between the posterior margin of the orbit and the preoperculur 

 edge equal to one-third of the diameter of the eye; posterior margin of the preoperculum 

 vertical. Snout extremely short and obtuse, with its upper profile abruptly bent down- 

 wards. Cleft of the mouth nearly horizontal with the lower jaw received within tlie u|)i)er. 

 The maxillary reaches nearly to the angle of the preoperculum, and is gradually and slightly 

 dilated behind. The origin of the dorsal fin is considerably nearer to the extremity of the 

 snout than to the root of the caudal, and immediately behind the base of the ventral; its 

 last ray is a little before the origin of the anal. The pectoral extends to the middle of the 

 ventral, which is the shorter. Scales with the margins strongly serrated; those of the 

 lateral line are much larger than the others. Some of the adult specimens have a ])earl- 

 colored matter imbedded in the substance of the scales on the back of the tail. (Giinther.) 



Eadial formula: D. 13; A. 20; Y. 8; scales 2 | 37 | 3. 



The British Museum preserves the types of the species, obtained by the Erehuis and 

 Terror at New Itelaud, and also others from the Gulf of Guinea. 



DASYSCOPELUS SPINOSUS (Steindachner). 



Scopelus spinosm, Steindachner, Lltken, Spolia Atlautica, ii, 1892, 239, jil. i, fig. 2. 



A species described and figured by Liitken, of which he had a number of specimens 

 from the Atlantic from the following localities: K lat. 14° 11', VV. Ion. 29=32'; N. lat. !P, 

 W. Ion. 220; N. lat. (i°, 22', W. Ion. 220; N. lat 5° 31', W. Ion. 23° 15'; N. lat. 4°, W. Ion. 

 240; N. lat. 3° 10', W. Ion. 20° 30'; N. lat. 3° 10', W. Ion. 27° 50'; N. lat. 3° 9', W. Ion. 23°, 

 11'; S. lat. 0° 04', W. Ion. 25°; S. lat. 2° 30', W. Ion. 16° 4'; N. lat. 2°, W. Ion. 31° 30'; and 

 S.lat. 7° C, W. Ion. 7^30', as well as others from the central Pacific. It diflers from J), asper 

 chierty in the character of the lateral line, which in IJichardson's figure of 7>. asper has the 

 scales very much enlarged. The arrangement of the photophores is much the same. 



DASYSCOPELUS SUBASPER (Gunthek). 



Scopelus suhasptr, Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. JIiis., v. 411. — LtiTKEN, Spolia Atlantica, il, 1892, 240, fig. 1. 



GtiDther described this species from the Pacific Ocean (lat. 73° 30' S. Ion. 123° E.) 

 and Liitken identifies from the Atlantic a species under this name, which he distinguishes 

 from the others l)y the absence of the break in the superaual series of photophores, the 

 absence of the ixjsterolateral photophore, the arrangement of the anterolaterals and inedio- 

 laterals in groups of two each, and also a peculiarly inverted triangular patch of the prc- 

 pectorals. 



NEOSCOPELUS, Johnson. 



Neoscopelua, Johnson, Proc. Zoiil. Soc. Loud., 1863, 44. — GCnther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., v. 405 (as subgcuus). 



Oblong, compressed, covered with large caducous scales. First dorsal placed over the 

 abdominal ventral fins. The pectoral fins long; their inferior rays not thicker than the 

 rest. Mouth-cleft not extending beyond eyes. The maxillary dilated below and furnished 

 with a small supplementary jiiece. The upper border of the mouth formed entirely of the 



premaxillary; scobinate bands of teeth in both jaws, on the palatine bones, and on the 



vomer; scobinate jiatches of teeth on the entopterygoids. 



