SYSTEMATIC AND BIOLOGICAL ACCOUNT 131 



'Discovery II ' records from the west Indian Ocean are: Station 1581, TYF B, one bract of eudoxid 

 (1750-500 m.); 1589, TYF B, one anterior nectophore (600-0 m.); 1589, N 70 B, three anterior 

 nectophores (600-0 m.). The species was not present in any of the catches made on the 32 S. line 

 of Stations. 



Chuniphyinae subfamily nov. 

 Chuniphyes Lens & van Riemsdijk, 1908 



For many years I suspected that I had been dealing with more than one species. A review of all 

 the material after the chance finding of a well-preserved specimen from 'Discovery II' Station 1639 

 revealed that there are two quite distinct species, the well-known multidentata Moser, and a new 

 species described below. 



The interesting eudoxid stage (Eudoxia problematica Moser) of one or other species was first related 

 to the polygastric stage by Leloup (19340). It can now be said to be well known. 



Lens & van Riemsdijk had for study only one very poorly preserved anterior and posterior necto- 

 phore. Very often specimens of these mid-water species arrive at the surface in a damaged condition, 

 since the somatocyst frequently bursts into the subumbral cavity of the nectosac. Their description 

 and figures leave very little doubt as to which species Lens & van Riemsdijk found and named 

 multidentata. Moser (1925) appears to have had both species under examination since she says that 

 the somatocyst may have either a cylindrical or a butterfly-shaped base. She figured (1925, pi. 23, 

 fig. 1) the anterior nectophore of the new species under the old name. 



Chuniphyes multidentata Lens & van Riemsdijk, 1908. 



There are two characteristics of the anterior nectophore figured by Lens & van Riemsdijk which 

 indicate that they had before them the species with the butterfly-shaped somatocyst-base, namely 

 the location of the junction of the two lateral ridges at some distance from the apex, and the position 

 of the rounded protuberance for the attachment of the posterior nectophore. This protuberance is 

 nearer to the ostium of the nectosac than in the second species. I give a new figure of a well-preserved 

 specimen (Text-fig. 66 B). 



Chuniphyes moserae sp.n. (Text-fig. 66 A.) 



The anterior nectophore of this species, which was figured quite characteristically by Moser (1925, 

 pi. 23, fig. 1), shows the sub-apical junction of the lateral ridges and the location of the protuberance 

 for the attachment of the posterior nectophore above the mid-level of the nectosac. Moser, however, 

 regarded all specimens as belonging to one species, multidentata Lens & van Riemsdijk. 



I will not attempt to give an expanded description of the new species here nor show how it differs 

 from the already known one. My figures of the anterior nectophores of the two species will make this 

 clear. That there are differences between the posterior nectophores as well is probable, since there 

 appear to be posterior nectophores of Chuniphyes of at least two kinds. One has markedly asymmetrical 

 ventro-basal teeth and thick mesogloea separating the hydroecium from the nectosac, and is the kind 

 generally associated with Ch. multidentata. The other has sub-equal ventro-basal teeth and a thinner 

 sheet of mesogloea between the hydroecium and the nectosac. It is this kind that I think will prove to 

 belong to Ch. moseri. No doubt the matter will be cleared up one day when we are lucky enough 

 to find well-preserved, complete specimens. 



The holotype (anterior nectophore) was taken by R.R.S. 'Discovery II' at Station 1639 in lat. 

 58 35' S.,long. 92 06-2' E. between depths of 2400 and 1150 m. and bears the Brit. Mus. (Nat. Hist.) 

 Register No. 195 1. 3. 24. 1. Twenty-seven anterior and twenty-three posterior nectophores were 

 taken by Beebe in 1929 and 1930 off Bermuda in thirty-three open tow-nets that had been fished for 



