CHONDROPTERYGII. SqUALlDJE. 



TAB. XIV. 



PRISTIURUS MELANOSTOMUS, Buonap. 



Leitao do Mar. 



The Black-mouthed Dog-fish. 



Char. Gen. 



Rostrum productum, elongatum. Pinna caudalis simplex, elongata ; margine superiore cum 



dorso continua, bifariam squamoso-serrata. Pinnae dorsales duae, subposticae ; prima pinnis ven- 



tralibus, secunda pinna anali subposteriore. Denies in utraque maxilla conformes, laniarii, tenues, 



basi utrinque denticulis aucti. Narium lobi simplices, parvi, triangulares. Fissurae branchiales 



■ posteriores supra basin pinnanim pectoralium. Spiracula post oculos distincta. 



Obs. — Omnia Scylii, praster rostrum angustius, magis elongatum, caudaeque marginem superiorem 

 serratam. Species unica, cum Scyliis veris diu confusa, minor, extra-tropica, subocellatim maculata, 

 maculis seriatis s. catenatis. Narium lobi ab ore et inter sese distinct!. Pinna caudalis apice sub- 

 deflexa. ' , 



P. melanostomus (Buonap.), Ml'iller et Henle, Plag. p. 15. 



" Scylliimi meIu7iostomu7)i, Buonap. Faun. Ital. ; Scylliorhinus melastomus et DelarocJiianus, Blainv. 

 Faun. Franc. ; Sq. (Sq/llium) anmdatus, Nilss. Prodr. ; Sq. prionurus. Otto, Consp. ; Galeus mela- 

 stomus, Raf. Caratt. ; Sq. caiulus, Gunn. Dronth." — Miill. et Hen. 1. c. 



Sajllmm Artedi, Risso, Hist. iii. 117. f. 5 ; Cuv. R. Anim. ii. 386, note. 



The Black-mouthed Dog-fish, Yarr. ii, 375. 



Longit. r^ 2 — 2^ pedes. 

 Tempus, primo vere (Febr. Mart.) 

 Locus, in mediis profundis: rara. 



The genus Sci/lium, of wliicli Pristiurus is a late dismemberment, 

 is remarkable amongst the Sharks for the spots or markings of the spe- 

 cies; most of these fishes being altogether plain or uniform in colour. 

 From Carcharias and Lamna, the only genera with which, from the 

 want of spiracles, it is in danger of confusion, it may be summarily dis- 

 tinguished by the simple instead of forked tail. 



Two species of this genus, besides the proper subject of this chapter, 

 have been long well-known, though ill-defined by European ichthyologists ; 

 and inhabit both the Mediterranean and British seas. Of these, the Small- 

 spotted Dog-fish (Sc. canicula, Cuv.), Yarrell, ii. 867, is, Mr. Yan-ell 

 says, " one of the most common species on our shores, particularly along 

 the southern coast." The ventral fins in this are pointed behind, or " cut 



VOL. I. 



