PHILIPPINE MACROUROTD FISHES- — GILBERT AND HUBBS. 



547 



In both its geographical and its bathymetric distribution, V. 

 nigrodorsalis agrees with the following species, V. divergens. 



Fin-rays— first dorsal, II, 10 (9 to 11) ; pectorals, 20 (17 to 23) ; 

 ventrals, 8 (8 or 9). - 



The body is deeper than in V. divergens, the ventral contour being- 

 more strongly arched; the depth below the elevated origin of the 

 first dorsal fin is contained 1.1 times in the head, being more than 

 twice the greatest width of the body. The general appearance of 

 this species in other respects strongly resembles that of divergens. 

 The horizontal projection of the snout beyond the premaxillaries is 

 equal to the length of the pupil : preocular length of snout, 3.7 : pre- 





wm 



HH 



■S/S 



$$^N 





Fig. 36. — Vextrifossa nigrodousalis. Type. 



oral length, 2.6 in postorbital. The orbit is almost round, 3.4 in 

 head, 1.6 in postorbital. The interorbital is rather narrow, as in 

 divergens as contrasted with garmani; its least width is contained 

 1.25 times in the orbit, 2.0 times in the postorbital. The oblique pre- 

 opercular ridge is not produced backward at its angle. The subor- 

 bital width is nearly equal to the diameter of the pupil. The mouth 

 is little oblique and large, the maxillary extending backward almost 

 to the vertical from the posterior margin of the pupil; length of 

 upper jaw, 2.6 in head. The teeth are apparently finer than in 

 divergens; the outer premaxillary series is little enlarged. The bar- 

 bel is well developed but comparatively short, being: constantly 

 shorter than in divergens; its length is about two-thirds that of the 

 snout. The branchial aperture extends forward to below the hind 

 margin of the orbit; seven brnnchiostecaJs. 



