200 ALLAN HANCOCK PACIFIC EXPEDITIONS VOL. 9 



Head bluntly pointed, snout projecting beyond mouth. Anterior 

 nostrils tubular, directed downward, near tip of snout. Posterior nostrils 

 large, elongate pores, placed before the eye and above edge of upper lip. 

 Branchial region swollen, jugostegalia present. Teeth in jaws small, 

 pointed, slightly recurved, and in a single row. Premaxillary teeth in a 

 small, ovate patch of five or six small, pointed teeth. Vomerine teeth in a 

 single row. Lateral line present; well developed anteriorly, less so pos- 

 teriorly and lying in a groove. 



The author is hesitant in adding a new genus to the family Echelidae, 

 but the two specimens at hand conform most closely to the accepted defini- 

 tion of this family, and cannot be assigned to any of the known genera. 

 Pseudomyrophis dififers from all other Echelid genera in having the pos- 

 terior nostrils placed well above the edge of the upper lip, and not covered 

 by a protective flap of membrane. From Myrophis it differs, in addition 

 to the above character, in having uniserial vomerine and jaw teeth, and 

 in the smaller pectoral fins. From Ahlia it differs in having vomerine 

 teeth, a more anteriorly inserted dorsal fin, smaller pectoral fins, and 

 differently placed posterior nostrils. From other Echelid genera this 

 new genus differs still more greatly. 



Pseudomyrophis micropinna, new species 

 Plate 28, figs. 1-3 



Holotype.—AU.Y no. 905. 



Type locality. — Station 943-39, three miles south of Isla Ladrones, 

 Gulf of Chiriqui, Panama, dredged in 54 fms, green mud bottom, March 

 27, 1939. 



Paratype. — AHF no. 906, 1 specimen, 124 mm, same locality as 

 holotype. 



Measure?nents of holotype in mm. — Total length 139, depth 4.2, head 

 and trunk 48.6, tail 90.4, head 15, snout 2.5, eye 1, gape of mouth 3.6, 

 isthmus 1.8, gill-opening 1.95. 



Diagnosis. — Body elongate, wormlike, depth 31.4 to 33.1 in total 

 length. Tail much longer than head and trunk, 1.54 to 1.57 in total 

 length. Head long, bluntly pointed, 8.85 to 9.25 in total length. Eyes 

 small, 14 to 15 in head. Dorsal origin midway between gill-opening and 

 vent. Pectoral fins minute. Posterior nostrils an elongate pore before 

 eye and above edge of upper lip. Jaw teeth uniserial, premaxillary teeth 

 in a small, ovate patch ; vomerine teeth uniserial. Lateral line present, 

 complete. Uniform light yellowish buff in color. 



