410 DKEP-SEA FISHES OF THE ATLANTIC BASIN. 



TRACHONT'RTTS STILCATTIS, Goode and Bean. (Figure 343.) 



Coryphwnoides sitlcatiin, (iuoDio and Bean, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., viii, 1885, 596; Oceanic Ichthyology, 403. 

 Macrurus ( Malacoccphalm) siilcalus, GiJNTHER, Challenger Report, xxii, 1887, 169. 



The type of this species, Cat. No. 37335, is an individual 238 millimeters long, taken at 

 Alhatrosn station 3304, in 420 fathoms, with a large specimen (about 350 millimeters) badly 

 mutilated, from Blalce station Lxxiii, off Martinique, 472 fathoms, as a collateral type. 



Body is elongate, rapidly contracted behind the abdomen, the tail long and whip-like; 

 greatest height of body (25 millimeters) 9i times in total length. 



Scales moderate, strongly armed, each with 8-10 spinelets, irregularly placed, the 

 spinelets less numerous in the young, which feel bristly to the touch, separated by wide, 

 deep furrows (hence the specific name); more than 175 in the lateral line. Between origin 

 of dorsal fin and lateral line 7; counting from the origin of the lateral line the luimber of 

 scales in a distance equal to length of head is 33. Between the anal and vent 21-22 

 (counting forward from vent, 10 counting backward). 



Armature of head similar to that of body, but the scales upon the snout, cheeks, and 

 chin have very feeble spines. 



Length of head (32 millimeters) 7i times in total length. 



Interorbital area nearly tlat, its length (10 millimeters) equal to diameter of eye, and a 

 little less than one-third length of head. Postorbital jwrtion of head (15 millimeters) IJ 

 times as long as diameter of eye. Eye circular, in larger individual its diameter less than 

 width of interorbital space, 3| times in length of head. Snout short, obtuse, scarcely over- 

 hanging the mouth, its length (7 millimeters) 4^ times in that of head; in the larger indi- 

 vidual it is 4;\ times in lengtli of head. 



Nostrils somewhat above level of middle of eye, the anterior one nearly upon the 

 dorsal outline. 



Teeth, two series in upper jaw in villiform bands, in the outer series slightly enlarged; 

 in lower jaw in a single series. 



The end of the maxilla reaches to the vertical through the hind margin of pupil in the 

 large .-specimen, to that through the front margin of the same in the type. Length of upper 

 jaw, including maxilla (11 millimeters), about 3 times in length of head. Length of man- 

 dible (13 millimeters) equal to one-half the height of the body. Barbel (4 millimeters) 2J 

 times in diameter of eye; in the large specimen it is half as long as the eye. 



Gill-rakers very small, tubercular, almost rudimentary, about 10 below angle of first 

 arch; the attachment of the membrane to the first arch is very extensive, but the mem- 

 branes are free from the isthmus. Pseudobranchia' absent. 



First dorsal comparatively low, composed of 2 spines, the first rudimentary, the second 

 elongate and smooth, and 8-9 rays. Its insertion is immediately over that of the pectoral; 

 its distance from the snout (30 millimeters) equals IJ times the length of the head; its lengtli 

 of base (7 millimeters) equal to length of snout. Its longest spine, when laid backward 

 reaches beyond origin of second dorsal, its length (15 millimeters) one-half to twothii'ds 

 that of the head. 



Second dorsal very low; its distance from first dorsal equal to one- third length of 

 head ; in the type about one-fourth. 



Anal much higher than second dorsal, yet very low, its longest ray equal in length to 

 diameter of eye; its distance from snout (51 millimeters) 4§ times in total length, its origin 

 being nearly under that of the second dorsal. 



Pectoral inserted under origin of first dorsal, its length about .4 that of head. 



Ventral inserted behind the vertical from the end of the base of the first dorsal in the 

 tyi)e. In the mutilated larger specimen it appears to be under the posterior ray of the first 

 dorsal. The ventral extends to the origin of the anal, its length (10 millimeters) equaling 

 diameter of eye; in large specimen 1^ diameter of eye. Vent about midway between origin 

 of ventrals and anal. 



Radial fonnula: D. II, 8-9; A. 120; V. 7; P. 13, 



