[SCIENTIFIC RESULTS OF THE PHILIPPINE CRXHSE OF THE FISHERIES STEAMER 

 "ALBATROSS," 1907-1910.— No. 29.] 



DESCRIPTION OF A NEW CARCHARIOID SHARK FROM 

 THE SULU ARCHIPELAGO. 



By Hugh M. Smith, 



United States Commissioner of Fisheries 

 and Director of the Albatross Philippine Expedition. 



Among the deep-water sharks collected by the United States 

 Bureau of Fisheries steamer Albatross on the Philippine cruise is a 

 small, undescribed species representing a new genus of Carchariidse, 

 obtained off the island of Jolo (Sulu). 



ERIDACNIS, new genus (Carchariidae). 



Small, deep-water, viviparous sharks with nictitating membrane; 

 weU-developed spiracle behind eye; wide, angular mouth, without 

 labial grooves; small, erect, pluricuspid teeth of somewhat variable 

 shape but similar in two jaws; rather narrow gill openings of which 

 the last 2 or 3 are above pectoral base ; subequal dorsal fins, the first 

 entirely anterior to ventrals ; anal fin opposite second dorsal and much 

 smaller; elongate, nearly straight caudal, with notch near tip of basal 

 lobe ; no pit at root of taU ; no caudal keel ; closely imbricated shield- 

 shaped dermal denticles which are finely reticulate on base and sides. 



Type of genus. — Eridacnis radcliffei, new species. 



This genus is related to Triakis Mtiller and Henle, but differs in 

 shape of mouth, absence of labial grooves, shape of teeth, form of 

 dermal denticles, etc. 



ERIDACNIS RADCLIFFEI, new species. 



Plate 47. 



Form elongate, rather slender, body compressed, depth at origin 

 of first dorsal about 0.5 length of head (to posterior gill opening); 

 head broad, depressed, its width equal to distance from pupil to pos- 

 terior gill opening, its length contained 5.2 times in total length of 

 fish; eye equal to snout, its anterior margin in line with middle of 



Proceedings U. S. National Museum, Vol. 45— No. 2003. 



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