S II.ArFIS[Il';S (HKTKROSOMATA) 



Type.— British Museum (Nut. Hist). Keg. No. 102^.3.2 

 Distribution. — Natal coast : 30 to 223 fathoms. 

 Specimens Examini d : 

 :: (I7,i. iSj mm.), rypcs.i \,ital, 70-:::^ i fms. 



Subfamily 3. PARALICHTHODIN^. 



Dorsal fin cxteiuUng lorwaril on the snout above the nasal organ of the blind 

 side ; pelvic fins short-based, subequal, that of ocular side median and somewhat 

 advanced, the fins supported by the pelvic bones liehind the cleithra; pectoral radials 

 present ; hypocoracoids narrowed forward below. Last five pra>caudal vertebra" 

 with parapophy.ses, of which the last pair are connected by a bridge. Olfactory 

 lamina" arranged transverselj' to or radiating from a central rachis. I-ateral line 

 equally developeii on both sides of body. 



A single genus 



Cemis 31 PAK.ALICHTHODES. 



l-aiahihlhocic-.. Cilihrist, looj. Mar. hivrst S .\U.. ii, p. ui.S [Parahihlhodcs ahomsh. Gilchrist]; 

 Kcg.in, itiJo, Aim. Durban Mus., u, p. ji i. 



Body rather elongate, compressed Eyes on the right side, separated by a flat 

 space of moderate width. Mouth rather large, the length of the maxillary nearly 

 i that of head ; jaws and dentition about equally developed on both .sides ; teeth 

 small, pointed, in 2 or 3 series in both jaws ; vomer toothless. Gill-membranes 

 separate ; gill-rakers of moderate length, rather close-set, not numerous : lower 

 pharyngeals very narrow and slender, not approximated, each with 3 or 4 rows of 

 pointed teeth. Dorsal fin commencing in front of nostrils of blind side and well 

 in advance of eye ; most of the rays forked distally, scaled at their bases. Anal 

 similar to dorsal ; tip of first interha-raal spine not projecting in front of fin. Pectoral 

 fins unequal, that of ocular side larger ; middle rays branched. Pelvic fins with 

 6 rays. Caudal peduncle very short. Scales small, adherent, imbricated : all cycloid. 

 Lateral line with a distinct curve above the pectoral fin : a supratemporal branch. 

 Vertebrae 31 (10 -f 21). Vent on blind side, above first ray of anal fin ; intestine 

 with 2 or 3 coils ', 2 -\- 2 pyloric appendages of moderate length. 



-\ single species from South .Vfnca 



I. PARALICHTHODES ALGOENSIS, Gilchrist. 



I'arahchthodes algoensis, Gilchrist, 100:;, Mar. Invest. S. Afr., 11, p. 108, pi. viii ; Gilchrist and 

 Thompson, 1909, Ann. S. Afr. Mas., vi, p. 262 ; Gilchrist and riiompson, 1917. .*\nii. Durban 

 Mus., i, p. 397; Regan, 19:0, Ann. Durban Mus., ii, p. ::i4 ; Barnard, vw,. Ann. S. Afr. Mus., 

 x.\i,p. 398. 



Depth of body about 2| in the length, length of head 4 to 4I. Snout about as 

 long as eye, diameter of which is 4! to nearly 5 in length of head and more than twice 

 the interorbital width ; anterior margins of eyes about level or upper a little in advance 

 of lower. Maxillary extending to below middle or posterior part of eye, length nearly 

 \ that of head ; lower jaw projecting. 19 to 21 gill-rakers on lower part of anterior 

 arch, no to 125 scales in lateral line. Dorsal (67) 72-74; anterior rays much 

 branched and more or less free from membrane. Anal (47) 51-54. Pectoral of ocular 

 side with 12 rays (c) or 10 branched), length i§ to if in that of head. Caudal with 

 16 rays (12 branched), rounded or obtusely pointed. Brownish or greyish, with sin, ill 

 dark spots on head and anterior part of body. 



' The larger specimen, a male, is sclecled ,is the holutype. 



