MARINE SILVER HATCHETFISHES — SCHULTZ 647 



Philippines and Japan, the differences observed do not appear great 

 enough to consider them as more than somewhat distinct populations. 

 This problem needs more material before a detailed study can be 

 undertaken. 



Distinctive characters: This species lacks the group of supra- 

 anal photophores; the posttemporal spine is long and slender and 

 has 1 or 2 curved smaller basal spines; the dorsally located spine is 

 always longer than diameter of the pupil; the anal photophores 

 total 13 to 17, rarely 13; and the caudal vertebrae usually total 24. 



Description: Detailed measurements were made on 10 of the 

 cotypes of P. trhient'titr, kindly sent for my examination by the 

 Australian Museum. The minimum and maximum range of these 

 data are expressed in thousandths of the standard length. Standard 

 lengths range from 40.3 to 73 mm.; greatest depth 592 to 682; least 

 depth caudal peduncle S9 to 104; length of caudal peduncle between 

 vortical lines through rear of anal base and base of midcaudal fin 

 rays 159 to 191; length of postorbital spine 80 to 174 (this spine 

 proportionately longer in small specimens than in larger ones); 

 length of preopercular spine 46 to 84; length of head 318 to 302; 

 diameter of eye 161 to 183; length from snout tip to rear of maxillary 

 236 to 268; width of bony interorbital 70 to 83; snout tip to dorsal 

 origin 550 to 600; occiput to dorsal origin 277 to 320; length of dorsal 

 fin base 164 to 239; length of anal fin base 233 to 283; distance 

 between anal and caudal groups of photophores 4 to 10; width of 

 group of caudal photophores. 



Counts made are given in table 1, p. 591, and table 6, p. 636. 



Range: This species has been recorded from the Great Australian 

 Bight, Moluccas, Andaman Sea. Celebes Sea, Philippines. China 

 Sea. Japan and off Cape Morgan and Natal, and South Africa at 

 depths of from 37 to 450 fathoms; however, it has been taken most 

 frequently at depths of from about 100 to 300 fathoms. 



Polyipnus spinosus spinosus Giinther 

 Figures 24, 266 



Polyipnus spinosus Giinther, Report of the scientific results of the voyage of 

 B.M.S. Challenger during 1873-76, vol. 22, p. 170, pi. 51B, 1SS7 [type 

 locality, between Philippine Islands and Borneo, station 200, depth 250 

 fathoms). — Alcock, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. ser. 6, vol. 4, p. 39S, 1SS9 [Bay 

 of Bengal, on Giinther). — Wood-Mason and Alcock, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist, 

 ser. 6, vol. 8, p. 126, 1891 (Bay of Bengal).— Alcock, Journ. Asiatic Soc. Bengal 

 vol. 65, pt. 2, p. 331, 1896 (off Andaman Islands); A descriptive catalogue 

 of the Indian deep-sea fishes in the Indian Museum . . . , Calcutta, p. 

 13S, 1889 (on Giinther). — Weber, Die Fische der Siboga-Expedition, Lieden, 

 vol. 57, p. 21, 1913 (East Indies). — Weber and Beaufort, The fishes of 

 the Indo-Australian archipelago, vol. 2, p. 130, fig. 47, 1913 (East Indies'. 



