Zoology.'] NATURAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA. [Fishes. 



Plate 184. 



ARRIPIS GEORGIANUS (Cuv. and Val.). 

 The Roughy. 



[Genus ARRIPIS (.Tentns). .(Sub-kingdom Vertebrata. Class Pisces. Sub-class 

 Teleostea. Order Acanthoptervgii. Family Fercidie.) 



Oen. Char. — Form moderately elongate, fusiform. Branchiostegal rays seven. Gill open- 

 ings Large. All the teeth villifcirm ; numerous rows of teeth on the palatine bones and on the 

 vomer. Tongue smooth. One dorsal fin, witli nine slender spines and several branched rays ; 

 anal fin with three spines and sever.al branched rays ; caudal fin deeply forked ; pectoral small ; 

 Tentrals a little behind base of pectorals. Operculum with one or two spines at upper posterior 

 edge. Freoperculura denticulated on basal and ascending edge. Infraorbital bone slightly 

 denticulated. JIaxillary bone with scales. Scales very finely ciliated at posterior edge ; 

 anterior fan of diverging ridges nearly or quite obsolete, replaced by fine close striae, parallel 

 to the anterior truncated margin. Air-bladder simple. Pyloric appendages numerous. Confined 

 to Australia.] 



D. 9.14; A. 3.10; V. 1.5; P. IG; C. 18; L.l. 54t«V (seven or eight rows of 

 small scales, beyond those fifty-four of lateral line, on tail). 



Description. — General form of the body fusiform, moderately compressed, the 

 curve of the back much less convex than that of the ventral outline. Height of body 

 from 4 (at base of ventrals) to 3,^ (at greatest depth, opposite eighth spine) in large, 

 or 4i in small specimens, in total lengtb, including caudal fin ; thickness rather less 

 than half the depth; length of head about 5 to 5i in total length; diameter of eye 

 about one-quarter the length of head in largest specimens, one-third in small ones. 

 Fourth dorsal spine longest. The two spines of the operculum are very visible in 

 small specimens of the ordinary dimensions of 9 inches, both standing out as smooth 

 angular projections, the lower a little more acute than the upper; but the upper 

 one is scarcely visible in the very large specimen measured below, being in it, and all 

 approaching it in size, broad, longitudinally ridged, and so obtuse as to lose the 

 spine-like character of the young. One to two rows of scales on maxillary bone; 

 lower and ascending edge of preoperculum distinctly- serrated in the small specimens; 

 but almost smooth in the very large. Lower edge of suborbital bone from anterior 

 half of lower edge of orbit to snout with coarse sulci extending downwards and 

 backwards, rougbly serrating the lower edge, especially in small specimens. Snout 

 short, obtuse; the lower jaw very slightly longer than tbe upper. Scales very 

 finely serrated on posterior margin; the anterior portion marked with vertical lines 

 of growth, and quite without raiiiating fan-like ridges. Lateral line about one- 

 quarter of depth of body below dorsal profile. Colour: Top of head dark-olive 

 to level of eye, with a paler extension round the eye. Top of snout of both 

 jaws, blackish. Back dark olive -grey' with bronze and steel-blue reflections. 

 Sides gradually getting lighter to ventral edge; rather more than one-third of 

 each scale in the longitudinal rows darker and more olive than the lighter 

 greyer interval, forming sixteen or seventeen longitudinal stripes, fainter towards 

 the belly. Cheeks pearly, with bronze reflections on operculum, the upper 

 posterior edge and a spot about middle of anterior edge, darker; throat and 

 maxillar}' white; iris bronze, j'ellowish, and green. Fins: Light-grey, speckled with 

 black ; dorsal and anal flecked with blackish; an imperfect, narrow, blackish edge to 

 dorsal; ventral nearly colourless; caudal darkest, blackish-olive, with the posterior 

 margin and tips black; pectoral dark, but less so than caudal. Measurements: Very 



Vol. II.— Decate XIX.— 2«. [ 305 ] 



P.S. — By a mishap plate IS4 has been spoiled at the last moment. The belly of the fish 

 should be white, with a slight pearly-purple tinge. The latter color has been printed full 

 strength, unfortunately, but the reader must suppose it to be absent, like lower part of tail. 



