SCIENTIFIC RESULTS OF EXPLORATIONS BY THE U. S. FISH 

 COMMISSION STEAMER ALBATROSS. 



No. XXL— DESCRIPTIONS OF APODAL FISHES FROM THE TROPICAL 



PACIFIC. 



BY 



Charles H. Gilbert, 



Professor of Zoology, Indiana University . 



The interesting assemblage of eels here reported upon was obtained, 

 with one exception, in 1888 during the investigations of the Albatross 

 in the region around Panama and the Galapagos Islands. Ophisoma 

 macrurum was obtained the following year in the Gulf of California, 

 and it is here included because of its close relationship to some of the 

 forms discussed. 



Chlopsis equatorialis, sp. uov. 



Body extremely slender, little compressed, tapering posteriorly to a 

 very narrow tail, which is, however, uot filamentous. Depth about one- 

 fortieth of the total length. 



Head long and slender, somewhat as in Nettastoma, the lower jaw 

 shorter than the upper, the eye nearly over the angle of mouth. 



Posterior nostril a long horizontal slit immediately in front of the 

 lower margin of eye. Anterior nostril minute, subtubular, near tip of 

 snout. Eye 3h in snout. 



Snout very soft. A series of slit-like mucous pores along margin of 

 upper jaw, and a series of round i)ores along lower jaw. A transverse 

 series on occiput connecting the lateral lines. 



Gape 2f in bead. Maxillaries slender, extending well forwards, abut- 

 ting against the vomer immediately behind its head. Both jaws and 

 vomer with wide bands of short sharp conical teeth, the inner series in 

 the jaws slightly longer than the others. Band on shaft of vomer reach- 

 ing back to front of posterior nostril. 



Branchiostegal rays long and much bowed, curving around behind 

 and above the opercles. 



Gill openings with their margins much curved, forming four-fifths of 

 a circle. Their vertical diameter nearly equals that of eye, and is more 

 than twice the length of the interspace separating them below. Tongue 

 apparently undeveloped. 



Proceedings Xational Museum, VoL XIV— No. 856. 



347 



