230 DEEP-SEA FISHES OF THE ATLANTIC BASIN. 



TETRAGONURUS, Risso. 



Telrngonnrus, IJisso, Ichth. Nice, 1810, 347; Hist. Nat., ill, 381. — Guntiier, loc. d(.— Moreau, Hist. Nat. 

 I'ois.s. France, III, 178. 



I>()(ly .subc.vliudrical, elougate. Snout obtuse. Veutrals abdominal, placed below 

 middle ol' pectoral. 



TETRAGONURUS CUVIERI, Risso. (Figure 417.) 



Corvus niJoticiis, Aldrovandi, De Piscibus, v, cap. 25, 28. 



Tctragoniirns Ciirieri, Kisso, Ichth. Nice, 1810,347; Hist. Nat. Eur. Merid., 1829, lii, 381. 



Tetragoiiurus allaniiciis, Lowe, Fishes Madeira, 129, pi. xix. 



Spinous dorsal low, receivable in groove. Scales each with 5 to G keels, each termi- 

 nating in a spine. Color, brown, with violet and yellow reflections. 



Kadial formula: U. xv-xxr, i, 11-13; A. 10-12; L. lat. 118/20. 



This form was originally described from Nice. Eisso says that it lives at great depths, 

 approaching the coast only in August at the time of spawning, and that its uatati(m is 

 slow and feeble. It has since been found off Toulon and Marseilles, and by Lowe near 

 Madeira, where it was taken swimming at the surface. Lowe is also of the opinion that it 

 occiu's at very great dejiths. Its flesh when eaten is a violent poison, as was demonstrated 

 by the personal experience of Risso himself. A single specimen was obtained by the U. S. 

 Fish Commission at Wood's HoU, Massachusetts, November 10, 1890 (Cat .No. ■14436, U. S. 

 N. M.). 



Family CHILODIPTERIDvE. 



Chilodipieroidei, Bleeker, Tentamen, 1859, xx. 

 Ckilodij)tcrid(F, Gill, Arrangcmeut, Families of Fishes, 1872. 

 Apoyonina, Gl'NTIIER, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., i, 1859, 57, 222. 

 Apogonida:, Jordan & Gilbert, Bull, xvi, U. S. Nat. Mus., 1883, 563. 



Percoidea, with body oblong, more or less elevated, covered with large deciduous scales 

 (striated and ctenoid, or sometimes cycloid); cheeks scaly; cleft of mouth wide, oblique. 

 Villiform teeth on jaws and vomer, and sometimes on palatines (teeth absent in Brei)lio- 

 stoma); canines sometimes present; preoperculum commonly with a double ridge; its edge 

 entire or slightly serrated; lower pharyngeals separate, with sharp teeth; pseudobranchiae 

 present; branchiostegals 7, or less; dorsal fins well separated, the first with 6 to 9 rather 

 strong spines; aual fin short, with 1 to 3 (usually with 2) spines; ventral fins thoracic, i, 5. 



KEY TO THE DEEP-SEA GENERA OF CHILODIPTERID/E. 



(ProvinionaJ — including some genera of doubtful relatiouslti2).) 



I. Canine teeth at the outer side of the villiform bands in the jaws. 



A. Preoperculum with a double serrated edge; anal with two spines. 



1. Dorsal with six spines; operculum unarmed (Chilodipteucs) 



2. Dorsal with nine spines ; operculum with two weak spines Parascombrops 



II. Teeth all villiform; no canines. 



A. Lateral line normal. 



1. Palatiues with teeth. 



a. Anal with two spines. 



Preoperculum with double serrated ridge ( Apogon) 



Preoi>erculum with double entire ridge. 



Scales large, 20-26 in lateral line ( Apogonichth Ys) 



Scales small, 40 or more in lateral line Glossa.mia 



6. Anal with three spines; bones of head cavernous. 



Preoperculum denticulated; operculum with two feeble points. 



Scales .small, 45 in lateral line Malacichthys 



2. Palatines toothless. 



o. Preoperculum with striated angle. Teeth moderate. B. vil EPIGONIS 



b. Preoperculum with one spine. Teeth rudimentary on jaws. "B. iv" 1'o.matomichtiiys 



B. Lateral line beginning under origin of second dorsal. 



I. Anal with two spiues Microicuthys 



