j6 PAPERS FROM TORTUGAS LABORATORY vol. xxxiv 



375 fathoms. D. 14; A. 15; P. 8. Body very delicate, translucent, covered with 

 dusky chromatophores, larger on sides than on back or belly. Nine phosphores- 

 cent organs on branchiostegal membrane, just within mandibular margin; a row 

 of 32 on each side of mid-line, from throat to base of caudal; several before 

 pectoral small and closer together; another row of 8, extending from pectoral 

 region almost to vertical from anal. 



Body much compressed; ventrals abdominal, reach origin of anal; caudal 

 forked. 



Widely distributed in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Antarctic oceans. S. F. H. 



Family STERNOPTICHIDAE 



Sternoptix diaphana Hermann 



The Tortugas collection contains a single specimen, 40 mm. long, which is 

 without data. It probably was taken in one of the deep-water hauls made south 

 of Tortugas. Although a few specimens have been taken at the surface, it is 

 essentially a deep-water fish, having been reported from depths as great as 2500 

 fathoms. The specimen from Tortugas agrees well with the description and 

 figures of Goode and Bean (Ocean. Ichthyol., 1895, p. 124, figs. 146, 146^). 



Gulf Stream, from New England southward. S. F. H. 



Argyropelecus amabilis (Ogilby) 1 



The Tortugas collection contains 2 specimens, 44 and 58 mm. long to base of 

 caudal, which are in rather poor condition and are without a locality label. I have 

 found no reference in Dr. Longley's notes identifiable with these specimens. It 

 may be assumed, however, that they were taken in deep water south of Tortugas. 



Widely distributed, occurring in the Atlantic and Indian oceans and else- 

 where. S. F. H. 



Family SYNAPHOBRANCHIDAE 



Synaphobranchus kaupii Johnson 



This common deep-water eel is represented in the Tortugas collection by 2 

 specimens, 350 and 455 mm. long, both without specific data, though undoubt- 

 edly taken in deep water south of Tortugas. The condition of the larger speci- 

 men indicates that it may have been recovered from the stomach of another fish. 



Body compressed throughout; head and trunk proportionately short, about 4 

 in total length; snout long, pointed, ending in a fleshy tip; eye moderate, lateral, 

 about half as long as snout; mouth very large, horizontal, gape reaching an eye's 

 diameter beyond eye; teeth in jaws in bands, upper jaw anteriorly with small 

 recurved canines; vomer with a single series of teeth; gill slits ventrally placed, 

 just in advance of base of pectorals; origin of dorsal far behind vent, distance 



1 This identification is by L. P. Schultz, of the U. S. National Museum, who has made 

 a special study of the genus. For the synonymy and a key to the species of this genus, see his 

 paper, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., vol. 86, 1938, pp. 145-147, 150. — S. F. H. 



