i94i CATALOGUE OF FISHES OF TORTUGAS jy 



from tip of snout to its beginning 2.5 in total length; pectorals long, slender,, 

 about equal to eye and snout. 



General color brownish; branchiostegal region blackish; peritoneum jet black, 

 this black showing around vent. 



Widely distributed in the north Atlantic and western Pacific. S. F. H. 



Family CONGRIDAE. Conger Eels 



Promyllantor schmitti Hildebrand 



Promyllantor schmitti Hildebrand, in Longley and Hildebrand, Carnegie Inst. Wash. Pub. 

 517, 1940, p. 226, fig. 1 — Tortugas, Florida, 350 fathoms. 



Family ECHELIDAE. Worm Eels 



Myrophis Lutken, 1851 



We follow Parr (Bull. Bingham Oceanog. Coll., vol. 3, art. 4, 1930, p. 8) in 

 considering Ahlia Jordan and Davis a synonym of Myrophis. The discovery of 

 some new species narrowed the distinction between the two genera to the pres- 

 ence or absence of vomerine teeth (which Parr thought might prove to be related 

 to age), Ahlia supposedly differing from Myrophis in the absence of vomerine 

 teeth. It is exceedingly difficult to be certain of the presence of vomerine teeth in 

 some of the specimens at hand, especially the juveniles. Apparently no useful 

 purpose would be served by basing genera on such an uncertain character. 



S. F. H. 



Myrophis egmontis Jordan 



The data that follow were extracted from Dr. Longley's notes : One specimen, 

 382 mm. long, was taken in 10 to 12 fathoms, at the entrance of the southwest 

 channel; 2 more were caught during night fishing under a light, drifting up 

 channel next to Loggerhead Key; and 2 more near the Laboratory, one in about 

 20 fathoms and the other in about 15 fathoms. At another time during night 

 fishing over "Middle Hole" a "number of myrids, 60 to 65 mm. long" were 

 taken. These juveniles seemed transparent when caught, but on preservation 

 they were finely punctulate with dark dots on the dorsal surface. 



Four of the small specimens mentioned were preserved and examined by me. 

 They are more slender (wormlike) than larger ones, the greatest depth being 

 only about 2 mm. in a specimen 60 mm. long, and the pectoral fin, though broad, 

 seems proportionately shorter than in larger specimens. It seems probable, never- 

 theless, that these specimens belong to this species. 



Three larger specimens, respectively 215, 255, and 270 mm. long, are included 

 in the Tortugas collection. Pectoral fin short and broad, about as long as snout 

 and broader than gill slit, inserted immediately behind the gill opening; origin 

 of dorsal a little behind that of anal, which begins immediately behind vent; 

 these fins very low and confluent with caudal. The following proportions are 

 based on the 3 specimens mentioned: Distance from snout to dorsal 2.1 to 2.5 in 



