2480 Bulletin ^7, United States A^ational Museum. 



of type 4i inclios. Coast of southeru Alaska. Three other specimens are at 

 haud from Albatross Station 3126 (lat. 36- 49' 20" N., long. 122'^ 12' 30" W.; 

 depth 456 fathoms). In the smallest, 2A inches long, the head and ahdoraen 

 are jet-hlack, but the rest of the body is only slightly dusky. (Gilbert.) 

 {Ttai, all; jusX-ai, black.) 



Melanostigma jinmmelas, Gu^bert, Kept. U. S. Fish Coram. 1893 (1896), 472, pi. :!.'">, coast 

 of southern Alaska, at Albatross Station 3202, lat. 36° 46' 10" N., long. 121° 58' 45" 

 ■W., in 382 fatlioms. 



Family CCYII. r)p:REPODICHTHYID^. 



Deep-sea fishes of slender body, scaleless, and without lateral line, 

 somewhat resembling the Zortrc(d()',but with each ventral fin reduced to a 

 slender, unbranched filament, the two very closely approximate, and spring- 

 ino- from a common projecting base located far forward, below the eye. 

 Gill opening a narrow, vertical slit. Character otherwise given below. 

 A single species known; apparently intermediate between the Zoarcidce 

 and the Ophidiida'. 



945. DEREPODICHTHYS, Gilbert. 



Derejiodichthys, Gilbert, Kept, F. S. Fish Coram. 1893 (1886), 456 (alepidotus) . 



Body slender; no scales; no lateral line; ventral fins reduced each to a 

 slender, unbranched filament, thetwo very closely approximate, and spring- 

 ing from a common projecting base, which is located far forward below 

 the eye, as Ophidion. Gill opening a narrow, vertical slit, little wider than 

 liase of pectorals. Teeth cardiforni, curved, few in number, in narrow 

 bauds or irregular single series on jaws, vomer, and palatines. {Sep?;, 

 throat; tcov?, foot; /^Ot'S, fish.) 



2845. DEREPODICHTHYS ALEPIDOTUS, Gilbert. 



Head 8i in total length; depth of head and body 2^ in head; width of 

 head 29 in head ; distance from tip of snout to base of ventrals 2Jr in length of 

 head. Distance from tip of snout to front of dorsalS i in total length, from 

 tip of snout to vent 8| in total. Head and body very long and slender, the 

 former resembling a Lyvodcs in appearance, being moderately compressed, 

 with a flattish occiput and a gentle rounded decurved rostral profile. 

 Mouth slightly obli(iue, quite atlower side of snout; the lower jaw shorter, 

 fitting withiu the upper; maxillary and premaxillary entirely concealed 

 within the thick skin of the upper lip, which is directly continuous with 

 that of the forehead, the upper jaw being therefore nonprotractile ; 

 angle of mouth under front of pupil, its distance from tip of snout 21 in 

 head. Teeth cardiform, curved, few in number, in narrow bands or irreg- 

 ular single series on jaws, vomer, and palatines. Eye small, not filling 

 the elongate orbit, the diameter of exposed portion of eyeball slightly 

 less than f length of snout, the latter 3f in head. A series of large 

 mucous pores on snout and lower part of cheeks; a second series on mandi- 

 ble; no pores on bouy. Gill slit vertical, not continued forward, its lower 

 end slightly above base of lower pectoral rays ; length of slit i length of 



