Bd. V: 6) THE FISHES OF THE SWEDISH SOUTH POLAR EXPEDITION. 39 



Artedidraco " n. g. 



General appearance cottoid, head depressed as well as body entirely naked. 

 Muciferous or sensory canal system well developed with large open, more or less 

 tubular pores, on the head, and a series of such extending as an upper lateral line 

 in the pectoral region of the body (conf. figs. 14 & 14 a PL IV). Gill-membranes 

 broadly united to the isthmus, but gill-openings rather wide. A mental barbel. A 

 single tubular nostril. Radii branch iostegales five. First dorsal with three rather 

 long and flexible spines. Last ray of second dorsal connected by web with basal 

 and dorsal part of the caudal. Scapular fenestra pierced between scapula, coracoid 

 and clavicula (conf. fig. 14 b PL IV). Opercle transformed in a peculiar manner (conf 

 fig. 14 c PL IV), its posterior portion being curved inwards and then forwards forming 

 a strongly bent flattened hook, between which and the head the cutaneous upper 

 part of the gill-cover is expanded, thus closing the fenestra formed between this 

 hook and the occiput. Subopercle a narrow thin plate below the opercle, inter- 

 opercle small, wedged in between the former and praeopercle. The latter deeply 

 channelled for the muciferous system and then bridged over so that two round 

 openings are formed on the vertical and three on the horizontal limb. Teeth coni- 

 cal, small, in broad bands on both jaws; palate toothless. Rather fleshy lips and a 

 rather broad velum, above and below, inside the jaws. 



This generic diagnose is chiefly based on specimens of Artedidraco mirus from 

 South Georgia which is to be regarded as type species. 



Artedidraco appears to be most nearly allied to Harpagifer RICHARDSON ^ 

 from which it it easily distinguished through the presence of a barbel and the ab- 

 sence of spines on the opercle and subopercle. It is also allied to Draconetta JOR- 

 DAN and Fowler 3 which by C. Tate Regan * has been referred to Notot/ieniidcB. 

 With regard to the reduction of the opercle Artedidraco to a certain extent ap- 

 proaches Draconetta, the result has, however, become different, as in the latter genus 

 a strong spine is developed, but in Artedidraco only a flattened hook, which hardly 

 can be a weapon, especially in consequence of its direction. Draconetta differs also 

 by having a strong subopercular spine, no barbel, no lateral line. With regard to 

 ' the development of the sensory canal system Artedidraco and Harpagifer are rather 

 similar to each other. 



' Named after Peter Artedi, "'the father of Ichthyology", born in northern Sweden exactly 200 years 

 ago. Joàx(t)v the old greek name for Trachinus. 



" Ichthyology of the Voy. of H. M. S. Erebus & Terror. London 1844— 1S48. 



3 Proc. U. S. Mus. Vol. 25. Washington 1903. 



* Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. Ser. 7. Vol. XIV. Aug. 1904. London. 



