NO. 7 wade: eastern pacific apodal fishes 201 



Description. — Body elongate, wormlike, subcylindrical anteriorly, 

 becoming somewhat compressed posteriorly on tail. Greatest depth 31.4 

 to 33.1 in total length, 3.55 to 3.58 in head. Tail much longer than head 

 and trunk, 1.54 to 1.57 in total length, head and trunk 1.75 to 1.85 in 

 tail. Head long, bluntly pointed, 8.85 to 9.25 in total length, 2.21 to 

 2.24 in trunk. Snout short, projecting beyond tip of lower jaw, 6 to 6.7 

 in head. Eyes small, lateral, 14 to 15 in head, 2.1 to 2.5 in snout. Much 

 nearer rictus of jaws than tip of snout. Gape of mouth extending diameter 

 of eye behind its posterior edge, 3.95 to 4.16 in head. 



Dorsal origin midway between vent and gill-opening. Low and 

 poorly developed anteriorly, becoming higher posteriorly on tail and 

 lying in a slight groove. Confluent with anal around tip of tail. Anal 

 fin well developed, origin immediately behind vent. Pectoral fins present, 

 minute, more than 18 pectoral rays, pectoral length equal to diameter of 

 eye, distal edge of fin rounded. Ventral fins absent. 



Anterior nostrils tubular, directed downward, placed on snout above 

 symphysis of lower jaw. Posterior nostrils an elongate pore lying above 

 edge of upper lip and before anterior edge of eye. Snout and interorbital 

 with many small, bluntly rounded papillae. Gill-openings low on sides, 

 slightly oblique. Upper end of gill-opening joined to upper joint of 

 pectoral base. Branchial region expanded, jugostegalia present in a 

 typical cross-hatched pattern. 



Maxillary, mandibular, and vomerine teeth uniserial. All teeth small, 

 pointed, close-set, and slightly recurved, slightly larger and more widely 

 spaced anteriorly. Premaxillary teeth in a small, ovate cluster at symphy- 

 sis of upper jaw. Lateral line present, complete, well developed an- 

 teriorly, more faintly developed posteriorly and lying in a groove. Con- 

 ti'nued forward above gill-opening; arching above gill-chamber, closely 

 approaching dorsal mid-line, and continuing forward above eye to tip of 

 snout. Short branches unite the lateral lines of the two sides across the 

 nape and behind the posterior edge of the eye. A ventral branch from 

 the nape extends downward and forward along the edge of the lower 

 jaw. Another branch extends downward around the posterior border of 

 the eye and forward along the edge of the upper jaw. 



Color in alcohol a uniform light yellowish buff. 



