Systematic Catalogue 



Family BRANCHIOSTOMIDAE. Lancelets 



Branchiostoma caribaeum Sundevall 



Dr. Longley listed 3 specimens in his notes: one taken in a dredge in about 

 10 fathoms, another in about 20 fathoms, and a third taken in a trawl, all from 

 the channel southwest of Tortugas. 



Apparently previously recorded only from the West Indies. S. F. H. 



Family SCYLLIORHINIDAE. Cat Sharks 



Scylliorhinus retifer (Garman) 



Dr. Longley 's notes state that 10 or more small specimens were taken in one 

 dredge haul in 180 to 220 fathoms. 



The Tortugas collection contains one specimen, 175 mm. long, which agrees 

 fairly well with Goode and Bean's figure 6 (Ocean. Ichthyol., 1895, p. 16), based 

 on a 150-mm. specimen, except in color. Instead of having separate and varied 

 color markings, it has definite dark blotches, placed essentially like the reticula- 

 tions shown for a larger specimen in figure 14 of Goode and Bean. The small 

 shark in hand has even a somewhat longer and more sharply pointed caudal than 

 the one illustrated in figure 6 of Goode and Bean, with an uninterrupted fin 

 (subcaudal) underneath. 



In color the Tortugas specimen agrees with Miranda Ribeiro's figure of Catulus 

 haeckelii (Arch. Mus. nac. Rio de Janeiro, vol. 14, 1907, p. 163, pi. 8), except for 

 the black dots shown in that figure, which, however, also shows a shorter caudal, 

 with an interrupted fin, wherein it agrees with Goode and Bean's figure 14. 



Garman (Mem. Mus. Comp. Zool., vol. 36, 1913, p. 77) regarded Catulus 

 haec\elii Ribeiro as synonymous with Scylliorhinus boa Goode and Bean, which 

 he recognized as distinct from S. retijer, though Goode and Bean (see citation 

 above) in their final decision expressed doubt whether S. boa is even a color 

 variety. Further study of specimens seems necessary to determine the meaning 

 of the differences in the shape of the caudal and in the color. 



An inhabitant of deep water in the Gulf Stream, and possibly southward to 

 Brazil. S. F. H. 



Family GINGLYMOSTOMIDAE. Nurse Sharks 



Ginglymostoma cirratum (Gmelin) 



Dr. Longley stated in his field notes that nurse sharks were seen occasionally, 

 sometimes in schools of as many as 20 or more, and occasionally singly. For 

 further information the reader is referred to Gudger (Copeia, No. 98, 1921, 



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