40J FLATFISHES (HETEROSOMATA) 



side longer. Pelvics with 6 rays, Camlal with n) rays (15 branched), rounded. 

 Brownish, with a darker brown band below base of dorsal and above that of anal ; 

 bUnd side paler. 



Type. — Amsterdam Museum. 



Distribution. — Near Kei Islands, Arafura Sea : 175 fathoms 



Specimen Ex.\mined : 



The holotype, 122 mm. in total length (.-Xmsterdani Mus.). 



Genus 34. SAMARIS. 



Samaris, Gr.iv, 1831, Zool. Misccll. (Gray), (i), p. 4 [Samarzs cnstalus. Gray], 



Body elliptical, compressed. Eyes on the right side, nearly contiguous or separated 

 by a very narrow, scaled ridge ; snout, jaws and upper parts ol eye-balls not scaled ; 

 nasal organ of blind side above first ray of dorsal fin. Mouth small, the length of 

 the maxillary not much more than J that of head ; jaws and dentition about equally 

 developed on both sides ; teeth small, villiform, in narrow bands ; teeth not enlarged 

 anteriorly ; vomer toothless. Gill membranes broadly united below the throat ; 

 gill-rakers rudimentary. Dorsal fin commencing on blind side, in front of eye ; 

 anterior rays greatly prolonged and filamentous ; all the rays simple, not .scaled ; 

 no sheath covering basal part of fin. Anal similar to dorsal : tip of first interha-mal 

 spine not projecting in front of fin. Only the pectoral fin of ocular side developed : 

 all the rays simple. Pelvic fins with 5 rays, bases rather elongate ; that of ocular 

 side placed a little farther forward that that of blind side, and with the rays prolonged. 

 Caudal fin with the rays all simple ; caudal peduncle very short. Scales rather 

 small, adherent, imbricated, strongly ctenoid on ocular side, cycloid or moderately 

 ctenoid on blind side ; more than 50 scales in lateral line. Lateral line nearly straight, 

 bifurcated behind upper eye ; no supratemporal branch. Vent nearly median. 

 .\bout five species from the Indo-Pacific. 



Synopsis of the Species. 

 I. 63 or more scales in lateral line ; dorsal with more than 73 rays, 

 13 of which are prolonged ; anal 50-59. 



A. Dorsal (73) 77-80 (81), anal 50-54 (57) ; 68 to 76 scales in lateral line 



B. Dorsal 8b, anal 57 ; 80 scales in lateral line .... 

 c. Dorsal 78, anal 55 ; 94 scales in lateral line .... 

 D. Dorsal 86, anal 59 ; 63 scales in lateral line .... 



[1 55 scales in lateral line ; dorsal with 60 rays, of which 8 only 



at least 



I ci-islaliis. 



2. oruatiis. 



3, delagoensii. 



4- i'lHlltua-. 



re prolonged : 



5, macrolepis. 



