20G0 BuUdiu //, United States National Mitsenm. 



Affonus gilberti, Collett, Proc. Zool. Soo. London 1894, 670, pi. 45, Kamchatka. (Coll. 

 Henry Lund. Types, Mus. Christiania; cotype, 2783, L. S. Jr. Univ. Mus.) 



2412. PODOTHECCS THOMPSONI, Jordan & Gilbert, new species. 



D. VIII or IX-6; A. 6; P. 16. Head rather broadly triangular, its great- 

 est width across preopercular ridges greater than distance from anterior 

 end of preopercular ridge to tip of snout. Lateral I'idge on head continu- 

 ous from tip of snout along suborbital bones to base of preopercular crest, 

 the lateral spines usual in this genus, being represented by triangular 

 processes borne on the ridge; preopercular ridge produced posteriorly 

 beyoud gill opening, but not .spine like; snout terminating anteriorly in 

 2 rounded proc-esses, each bearing on its upper surface a vertical crest, and 

 finely serrate along its margins; no terminal pair of strong spines as in 

 other species; under side of snout with an acute median spine directed 

 downward and backward; a pair of strong spines on upper side of snout 

 behind terminal nostral ridge; a pair of coalesced spines behind the nos- 

 tral groove; a semicircular series of spinelets below the eye; two small 

 tufts of filaments on under side of snout, one on middle of maxillary, 

 and one at its tip. A narrow baud of sharp teeth in each jaw; vomer 

 and palatines toothless. Gill membranes united to isthmus without evi- 

 dent free fold. Orbital rim much elevated; interorbital space narrow, 

 deeply concave, its width -j^n diameter of orbit; occipital ridges strong, 

 elevated posteriorly, ending in a backwardly directed spine which is much 

 larger than those of the body plates; occijiital area narrow, deeply con- 

 cave, its central portion sunk somewhat below level of interorbital space, 

 from which it is separated by a shallow transverse groove; a similar 

 groove behind occipital spines; area between occipital and temporal 

 ridges also deeply concave ; a strong opercular ridge. All the plates with 

 strong spines, including those of the ventral series ; the weakest spines are 

 on the anterior plates of the lateral series; plates on breast with central 

 spine and radiating ridges ; dorsal series with fewer plates than in other 



before the unpaired series begins. Anal has commonly 10 rays (in 1 specimen 11) ; its 

 height equals that of the .second dorsal, and is rather less than that of the first dorsal. It 

 commences between tlic cIcMiith and twelfth pairs of scales in the iilidoniiiial series. 

 Ventrals short in tlie Irni.ilrs. shorter than the vertical diameter of the eye: longer in the 

 male, equalling the 1. iiL;tl, cil the snout. Each has 1 slmrl spine ami ',<. articulated rays, 2 

 of which are divided at tlieir liase. They are received in a hnigitudiiial common groove 

 C J'odothecus"). I'ei loral lias 16 or 17, rarely 15 rays, some <if which are sometimes 

 branched in their ii|i|Mr liall, but not always. The first ray is sliort, about equal to J the 

 second ray; the lowei most i a vs a little thicker than the rest. Its form is a little emargi- 

 uate, the tilth lower ray being a trifle longer than the si.\th and seventh. The tip extends 

 to a distance from the' anal of 2 or 3 plates. Color: grayish brown, with dark spots and 

 shortish bands ; belly whitish. On the upper part of the head the spots form longitudinal 

 bands, 1 of these (siiigle) running down in the median line of front, between the eyes. A 

 second (and more distinct) band extends on each side of the snout from the tip to the 

 anterior margin of the eye, hence running under the orbital rim ; in some specimens it is 

 continued as a narrow ring round the eye, but commonly this is broken and indistinct. 

 On the opercles and the sides of the snout the spots are roundish and well marked. On 

 the body also the spots are roundish, barely oblong, their size (([ualling that of the pupil. 

 They are darkest and most distinct on the back, Iningscineiimes almo.st obliterated on the 

 sides. Thecolor of thefius is rather indistinct in tlie liadly pi-eserved specimens before 

 me. The pectorals have a dark oblong spot at their l)a.ses (from about sixth to eleventh 

 ray) ; the dorsals have 2 dark bars separated by whitish, and with the tip in first dorsal 

 also blackish (in second whitish). The caudal has a dark cross bar a little behind the 

 base, and a dark margin. The anal is apparently whitish to the margin in the female; in 

 the .single male specimen at least the outer half is blackish. Kamchatka (type speci- 

 mens in the Christiania Museum) . (Collett.) 



