36 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM vol. 85 



Family TRACHICHTHYIDAE 



Trachichthyinae, new subfamily 



Type genus, Trachichthys Shaw and Nodder. 

 Vent normally placed, at least behind ventrals. 

 Other genera are Hopolostethus Valenciennes, Gephyroheryx Bou- 

 lenger, Leiogaster Weber, and Korsogaster Parr, the last immature. 



Genus HOPLOSTETHUS Valenciennes 



Subgenus Hoplostethus Valenciennes 



Type. — Hoplostethus mediterraneiis Valenciennes. 



Body without silvery lateral tubelike striae on under surfaces. 



HOPLOSTETHUS MELANOPTERLS, new species 

 FiGUEB 9 



Depth 1% to 2 ; head 21/3 to 2i4, width 2 to 2i/io- Snout, S'/g to 4 in 

 head from snout tip; eye 3% to 41/8, slightly greater to subequal with 

 snout, 1% to 114 ill interorbital ; maxillary extends obliquely down 

 slightly behind eye, expansion 1% to I14 in eye, length I14 to IV2 

 in head from snout tip; interorbital 31/5 to 3^4, well elevated, con- 

 vex; nasalia minute, close set, directed downward anteriorly. Gill 

 rakers 7 + 16, lanceolate, li/4 in eye; gill filaments % gill rakers. 



Scales 65 close along and above lateral line to caudal base and 4 

 more on latter; pores 27 or 28 in lateral line to caudal base; 12 or 13 

 scales above lateral line, 27 below, 26 predorsal forward opposite hind 

 eye edge, 4 behind hind maxillary edge on cheek. Abdominal serrae 

 11 to 13. Scales with 15 to 18 parallel basal circuli; 9 to 18 wide set, 

 short, strong, apical denticles, 3 to 7 transversely and with age medial 

 largest. 



D. IV or V, 13, I or 14, i, last spine 3 to 3% in total head length, 

 third ray 214 to 21/3 ; A. Ill, 10, i, third spine 3% to 4i/8, second ray 

 21/2 ? to 2% • ; caudal li/io, ~^vell forked; least depth of caudal pedun- 

 cle 3% to 4 ; pectoral fi/g to ll^ ; ventral 1% to 2. 



Brown, with coppery sheen, especially over squamous areas. Iris 

 pale gray to coppery. Inside gill opening dusky. Vertical fins very 

 pale or light brown. Paired fins dark or blackish brown. 



rype.— U.S.N.M. no. 93329. D. 5373. Tayabas Light (outer), 

 N. 20°E., 15 miles (lat. 13°40' N., long. 121°31'10'' E.), Marinduque 

 Island and vicinity. In 338 fathoms. March 2, 1909. Length 170 

 mm. Also 46 paratypes. 



Known by its dark to blackish paired fins. 



(//eXds, black + 7rrep6i', fin.) 



