48 



ALLAN HANCOCK PACIFIC EXPEDITIONS 



VOL.9 



Encheliophis vermicularis Miiller is obviously related to this new 

 genus but differs from Encheliophiops hancocki, new species in several 

 respects as indicated in the comparative table below: 



Character 



Encheliophis'^ 



Encheliophiops 



Tail tapering to a: Long band. 



Vertical fins: 



Color of body: 



United around tail. 



Uniform blackish 

 brown. 



Color of vertical fins: Pale. 



The head is contained 



in the length : Eight times. 



The depth is contained 



in the length: Fifteen times. 



Point, dorsal and anal fins are not 

 confluent around the tip of the 

 caudal. 



Not united, dorsal and anal ending 

 anterior to tip of tail. 



Pale, except posteriorly when a few 

 brownish pigment cells are ap- 

 parent. 



The dorsal and anal fins near their 

 bases posteriorly on the tail have 

 a narrow black band of pigment. 



Eleven times. 



Twenty-two or twenty-three times. 



Description of the holotype only known specimen: Body scaleless, 

 elongate, gradually tapering from the occiput to the extremity of the 

 finless tail; origin of the dorsal fin 16.5 mm. from tip of snout, or 2 % 

 head lengths behind the tip of the snout, its development so gradual that 

 the first appearance of rays above the skin is difficult to make out, the 

 rays gradually lengthening posteriorly, the fin terminating about one 

 diameter of the pupil in front of the extremity of the tail ; origin of the 

 anal fin one diameter of the eye behind the upper angle of the gill open- 

 ing; directly below the rear edge of gill opening is the center of the anus; 

 anal fin more developed forward than the dorsal and ending exactly 

 as the latter; pectoral and pelvic fins absent; upper edge of gill opening 

 a trifle below a longitudinal line passing along the ventral margin of the 

 eye; branchiostegal membranes join under isthmus, and probably form 

 a free fold across it, although they are injured and this point can- 

 not be definitely determined; branchiostegal rays 6; gills apparently 4, 

 a pore behind the last ; gill- rakers undeveloped ; pseudobranchiae absent ; 



2 Data for this table were taken from Miiller (I.e.) and Giinther, 1862, Cat. 

 Fishes Brit. Mus., vol. 4, p. 384. 



■-< ii 



