4r)8 DEEP-SEA FISHES OF THE ATLANTIC BASIN. 



iipou botli sides of the body; about 127 iu the lateral liue, 31 above aud 19 below. Dorsal 

 begiiiuing almost over tlie middle of the upper eye, aud extending almost to the base of 

 the caiulal rays. Caudal rounded, composed of about 1(5 rays. Pectoral very small, tili 

 form, with 1 to 3 rays. Ventrals with 4 rays, but slij;htly developed. 



Radial formula: D. 84; A. G9; V. 4. 



Color, reddish, i;'ray above; dorsal and anal fins black, exceptiuiE: the rays, which, 

 being covered with scales, are of the same color as the body. The black tint is esj)ccially 

 noticeable ou the blind side. Extremities of the rays milky white. 



.Specimens of this species were obtained by the French explorers at station xxyi, 370 

 meters; LXi, 1,290 meters — both ou the coast of Portugal; station xxxii, iu the Gulf of 

 Cadiz, 440 meters, and station Lxv, off the coast of Soudan, 250 meters. 



APHORISTIA, Kaup. 



Apliorhiia, Kaip, Wiegmann's Arcbiv, 1858, 106 (type, AckiruK ornatus, Lac^pfede). — Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. 

 Mus., IV, 490. — Jordan and Gilbert, Bull, xvi, U. S. Nat. Mns., 842. 



Sinistral pleuronectoids, haviug body elongate, lanceolate, rounded forward, tapering 

 behind, nmch compressed. Mouth small, twisted sinistrally. Teeth minute, dextral only. 

 Snout shoi't, with a hook. One nostril present, before lower eye, with slight barbel. Scales 

 ctenoid, moderate; no hiteral line. Vertical tins confluent; pectorals obsolete ; ventral only 

 on colored side. Gill openings narrow. 



This genus, hitherto known only from the western Atlantic, has been reported from 

 deep water in the Bay of Bengal, where Alcock recognizes three species: Aphoristia Wood- 

 Mamni, Alcock, 475-190 fathoms; A. Gilesit, Alcock, 193 fathoms; and A. septemstriata., 

 Alcock, 188-220 fathoms. 



Aphoristia fasciata, a shallow-water form, is illustrated in jd. CX. (fig. 374) for comparison 

 with the allied species. 



' KEY TO THE SPECIES OF APHORISTIA. 



I. Ventral connate with anal. 



^'entral ray.s 5. 



Scales moderate, 85-90 rows. D. 9.5 A. fasciata 



II. Ventral separated from anal. 



A. Ventral rays 5. 



Scales small. ISO/.TO rows, a single row between the eyes. Body elongate, height 45 ; Head 5|; 



D. 119 A. NEBULOSA 



B. Ventral rays 4. 



1. Scales moderate 80-90/34. None between eyes. Hudy elongate, height 4i ; HeadSi; D. 96-100. 



A. MAEGINATA 



2. Scales large, rough, 65/,S4. Body short, height 3i ; Head 4i ; D. 90 A. pigra 



3. Scales moderate, SO/S."!. Caudal 1/10 of total. Eye in the same vertical. Body 3i; head, 5f. 



A. DIOMEDEANA 



4. Scales moderate. 8,-i-90/38, I). 78; A. 70 A. PUSILLA 



APHORISTIA NEBULOSA, Gooi>e and I'.ka.n. (Figure 375.) 



Aphoristia nehiilosa, GooDE and Bean, Bull. Mus. Comj). ZoJil., x, 1883, 192. — GC'nther, Challenger Report, 

 XXII, 1887, 167. 



Body is rather slenderer than in other species of the genus; its greatest height (18 

 millimeters) is contained 4| times iu the extreme length. Scales small, rough, about 120 

 iu a longitudinal series; about .W in a transverse series. Jaws aud snout scalelcss. Length 

 of the head (15 niillinu'ters) contained 5§ times in total length. The lengtli of the snout (3 

 millimeters) is i that of the head. Eyes small and close together, being separated by only 

 a single row of scales; up])cr eye very slightly in advance of the lower. The tubular uos- 

 trilis directly in front of th(^ lower eye, and a little nearer to it than to the tipof the suout. 

 The length of the eye (2 millimeters) is contained 7i times in length of head. The angle of 

 the mouth is about in a vertical through the anterior margin of the lower ])upil. Teeth 

 feeble, very slender, aud rather closely placed, apparently ecpially developed on the two sides. 



