14 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM vol. lie 



and dorsal profile. Dorsal line terminating slightly more than half 

 way back along body. Second line of about 37-45 small papillae 

 originating in midline close to level of posterior tip of pectoral fin, 

 not making pronounced dip at level of vent but extending straight 

 back to tail with, at most, a slight irregularity near its origin. 



Dentition: Dentaries with irregular row of sharply pointed teeth 

 along inner margin of bone. Tooth-bearing area of bone broadens 

 on anterior K to % of lower jaw. In specimens of less than about 

 100 mm., area exterior to large teeth occupied by granular teeth. In 

 larger specimens these show gradual transition to second row of 

 larger conical teeth that parallels inner row. Also 2 types of dentition 

 on preraaxillary. Specimens from 34 mm. to 81 mm. with uniform 

 band of granular teeth, while those measuring 81 mm. and larger 

 bearing row of large conical teeth along outer edge of band of granular 

 teeth. Smaller specimens with only small granular teeth in broadly 

 V-shaped patch on head of vomer. Larger specimens with larger 

 conical teeth as well. Dentition in this species does not appear to 

 be influenced by sex. 



Sex: Two types of external sex organs, one consisting of stiff hood 

 projecting posteriorly from vent and folding over genital area, the other 

 consisting of only a low, fleshy ridge in place of prominent hood. In 

 either type a delicate white papilla of varying length may be evident. 

 Neither the two types of external genitalia nor the occurrence of the 

 papilla appears to be correlated with sex as determined by gross 

 observation of the gonads. In addition, at least one specimen (SIO 

 61-272-61B, Espiritu Santo) and possibly others appear hermaphro- 

 ditic. What I have interpreted as testicular tissue produces sper- 

 matophore-like objects rather than free-running sperm suspensions. 

 If my observations are correct, then sex in this species is a complex 

 problem that requires detailed study. 



Head spines: Blunt, fiat spine deeply buried in flesh of opercle in 

 most specimens, but exposed in paratype. Ventrally directed maxil- 

 lary spine prominent in most specimens. 



Vertebrae and ribs: Neural spines 5-14 short and broad but be- 

 coming progressively more elongate and narrower, their tips truncate; 

 neural spines on subsequent centra needle-like. Centra 7-11 with 

 ribs at ends of parapophyses (although in some, ribs appear to ar- 

 ticulate with centrum no. 7) ; subsequent centra lacking pleural ribs. 

 Centra 4-9 with epipleurals attached to pleural ribs; 10, 13, 14, or 15 

 with epipleurals associated with parapophyses or haemal spines. 



Color: Brown in preservative. In life: "Dark brown, head pur- 

 plish-brown; fins blackish" (Heller and Snodgrass,1903). 



Distribution, — Previously known only from the Galapagos at 



