Jordaii and Evcrmann. — Fishes of North America. 2141 



ccphalus and P. menio, differing in its uniform coloration, its more inferi- 

 orly placed horizontal moutli, and the distinctly included lower jaw. 

 Length 4 inches. Bering Sea, north of Unalaska Island, in deep water; 

 only 2 specimens known. (Gilbert.) (0A05, entirely; //f'Aaj, black.) 



Paraliparis holomelas, Gilbert, Eept. IT. S. Fish Comm. 1893 (1896), 441, Bering Sea, north 

 of Unalaska Island, at Albatross Stations 3308 and 3332, in 406 and 1,625 fathoms. 

 (Type, No. 48637.) 



Subgenus AMITRICHTHYS, Jordan & Evermann. 



2473. PARALIPARIS OEPHALUS,* Gilbert. 



Head very large, high, and compressed, the upper profile descending in 

 a strong convex curve behind the occiput; body tapering posteriorly to a 

 very narrow thread-like tail. Sides of liead vertical or inclining inwards 

 below. Height of head twice height of body opposite origin of anal. 

 Interorlntal space transversely rounded, its width slightly less than 

 length of snout and eye. Eye of moderate size, 4 in head, without verti- 

 cal range. Mouth obli<]ue, the premaxillaries but little below lower 

 margin of eye; lower jaw longer than upper, the tip protruding; max- 

 illary reaching vertical from posterior margin of eye, slightly more than 

 length of head. Gill slits narrow, confined to a region above the base of 

 the pectorals; membrane connecting branchiostegal rays with shoulder 

 girdle very delicate and easily ruptured ; vent distant less than a diameter 

 of the orbit from this point, being below the front margin of the preo- 

 percle. Teeth in narrow bands in both jaws, the teeth of the bands 

 arranged in oblique series running outward and forward; palate tooth- 

 less. Head 4^ in length, greatest depth (at occiput) 4f. Pectoral small 

 with about 14 rays, the upper ones closest and forming a projecting lobe, 

 which extends backwards to beyond origin of anal, the .succeeding rays 

 shortened and wide set, and with the tips free from the membrane, the 

 fin somewhat mutilated, but apparently notched, not, however, to the 

 base, the median portion having wide-set rays; upper margin of pec- 

 torals on a level with tip of lower jaw; dorsal beginning slightly behind 

 head; first r,ay of anal under eighth of dorsal. Color light reddish, the 

 abdomen blue black; inside of mouth and gill opening white. In the 

 smallest specimens, 2 inches long, the color is dusky on head and body, 

 and on inside of mouth. Longest specimen 3^ inches. Tliis species dif- 

 fers from Paraliparis {Hilcjcndorfia) mcmhranaecns in the structure of the 

 pectoral fins and their much fewer rays, in the position of the vent (below 

 the posterior margin of the orbit in memhranaceus), the different outline of 

 head, and in the larger, more obli(iue month. In none of the specimens 

 of cephahis are there fin folds extending forward from front of dorsal and 

 anal, as described in nwvibranaceus. Alaska to California, in deep water; 



*Dr. Gilbert later records several more or less mutilated specimens afterwards taken 

 north of Unalaska Island, and near Point Reyes, California, in depths of 351 and 455 

 fathoms. In this species the pectoral is inserted very low, its upper edge entirely below 

 the eye. The lower jaw shuts within the upper, but'the symphysis protrudes. The dis- 

 proportion in size of head and body is more exaggerated in" the yonng than in adults. In 

 very small examples the head is almost spherical, diminishing abruptly to the very 

 slendertail. No pseudobranchiae. (Gilbert.) 



