PHILIPPINE MACROUROID FISHES GILBERT AND HUBBS. 561 



Fin-rays — first dorsal II, 11 (both specimens) ; pectoral, 18 (22) ; 

 ventral, 10 (both sides of both specimens). 



This species belongs to that peculiarly formed group typi- 

 fied by L. pumiliceps, the last species. The depth of the body, 

 greatest below the highly elevated origin of the first dorsal fin, is 

 one orbital length longer than the head. In the type the ventral 

 contour behind the anus is markedly concave, but is quite straight 

 in the paratype; this variation is paralleled in pumiliceps. The 

 head is short and blunt, vertical between the tip of the snout and 

 the mouth. Length of snout in head, 3.6 (3.4) ; oblique length of 

 orbit, 2.65 (2.7) ; least interorbital width in postorbital, 1.4 (1.3) ; least 

 suborbital width less than half the orbital length: barbel much less 



Fig. 40. — Lionurus decimalis. Type. 



than half as long as the orbit. The small mouth stands at an angle 

 of about 45° with the horizontal, paralleling the sharp suborbital 

 ridge. The vertical preopercular ridge, separated above by the 

 diameter of the pupil from the eye, is only slightly produced back- 

 ward at its rounded angle. There are 7 rudimentary gill-rakers on the 

 lower limb of the first arch ; branchiostegals, 7. The gill-membranes 

 are free forward to below the orbit. 



The anus lies a little in advance of the origin of the anal fin, 

 which is almost directly below the origin of the first dorsal. The 

 scaleless peritroct is as wide as the pupil. 



Eight rows of scales separate the lateral line series from the origin 

 of the second dorsal fin. Each scale of the body is artned with five 

 to seven parallel rows of spinules. The scales are reduced in size 

 on the cheeks, the under surface of the head and in a strip extend- 

 ing forward from the first dorsal fin and including the top of the 

 head: those along the suborbital ridge are strengthened and angu- 



