FISHES FROM NORTHEASTERN PACIFIC — CHAPMAN 533 



Order XENOBERYCES 



Family MELAMPHAIDAE 



Genus MELAMPHAES Giinther, 1864 



MELAMPHAES CAVEKNOSUS, new species 



Figure 68 



Types.— Rolotj-pe, a specimen 70 mm in length without caudal, 

 from station 824C, taken June 8, 1932, latitude 56°06' N., longitude 

 152°09' W., U.S.N.M. no. 108147, and 3 paratypes, ranging in length 

 from 56 to 70 mm from station 429D, U.S.N.M. no. 108157, and 

 station 1119C. 



Description. — (In the following description, the proportions and 

 counts of the holotype are given, followed by range of the specimens 

 in parentheses.) Dorsal rays III-16 (15 to 16); anal rays 1-8 (8 to 

 9); caudal rays IV-19-III (III to V-19-III); pectoral rays 16 (15 

 to 16); pelvic rays 1-7 (1-7); scales in a lateral series 29 (29 to 31); 

 gill rakers on lower part of anterior arch 15 (15 to 16). Proportions 

 of the length without caudal: Length of the head 2.7 (2.7 to 2.8); 

 snout to dorsal 2.3 (2.3 to 2.4); snout to pelvic insertion 2.3 (2.3 to 

 2.4); snout to anal 1.5 (1.5); greatest depth 3.2 (3.2 to 3.4); length of 

 pectoral fins 3.2 (3.2 to 3.3); length of pelvics 4.7 (4.3 to 5.4); length 

 of caudal peduncle 3.7 (3.7 to 3.9); base of dorsal 3.9 (3.3 to 4.0). 

 Proportions of the length of the head: Diameter of eye 6.2 (6.2 to 7.1); 

 length of snout 3.7 (3.6 to 4.3); length of upper jaw 2.4 (2.1 to 2.5); 

 length of pectoral fins 1.2 (1.1 to 1.2); length of pelvics 1.7 (1.5 to 

 1.9); depth of head 1.2 (1.2 to 1.3); depth at pectoral insertion 1.2 

 (1.1 to 1.2); depth of caudal peduncle 3.2 (3.1 to 3.3); interorbital 

 space 2.0 (2.0 to 2.4); base of dorsal 1.4 (1.2 to 1.4); base of anal 

 4.3 (3.6 to 4.3). Depth of caudal peduncle divided into the length 

 of caudal peduncle 2.6 (2.3 to 2.6). 



The cavernous head does not bear prominent ridges or spines. 

 The mouth is distinctly oblique. The maxillaiy ends under the middle 

 of the eye. No rostral spine is present. There are teeth in bands 

 on both jaws. The preopercle is armed with two weakly developed 

 spines at its lower angle. The opercle is scaled. Pseudobranchiae 

 are present. The pelvic fins are inserted slightly ahead of the pec- 

 torals. The anal fin originates under the last or next to last dorsal 

 ray. 



Remarks.— Tliis species is closely related to Melamphaes macro- 

 cephalus, M. microps, and M. lugubris. From M. macrocephalus ' it 

 is differentiated by the lack of a rostral spine; by the smaller head 

 (2.7 to 2.8 m length without caudal in M. cavernosus, 2.0 to 2.3 in 



I Measurements taken from Parr, 1031 



