498 DEEP-SEA FISHES OF THE ATLANTIC BASIN. 



ONCHOCEPHALUS, (Fischer), Gill. 



Ogcorei'hnhtK, FisciiEU, Zoojiimsiu, 1)^13, 78. 

 Onchoetpkulm, Gill, M.S. 



Matthc, CuviEU, Kogne Animal, Ist eel., 1817, ii, 311. — Guntiier, Cat. Fish Brit. Mus., in, 200. — Jokd.\n and 

 Gilbert, Bull, xvi, U. S. N. M., 8.50. 



Maltlieicls with head very large, much depressed, subtriaugnlar; cranial portions ele- 

 vated, with orbits lateral. Mouth protractile, siibrostral, horizontal; jaws convex; villiform 

 teeth on jaws, vomer, and palatines. Branchiae 2^, the anterior arch without lamelhe. Soft 

 dorsal fin very low. Pectorals large, placed horizontally. Ectoderm armed with osseous 

 tubercles. Air bladder and pyloric cieca wanting. Habitat: Western Atlantic from Brazil 

 to Cape Cod and eastward to IJermudas. 



This genus includes two species; one, M. r<i<li<it(i, occuring in deep waters oft' the coast 

 of North America; the other, the polymorphic M. vespertilio, from Brazil to Cape Cod, 

 and perhaps still farther northward. It has been found at 95 fathoms. 



ONCHOCEPHALUS RADIATUS,( Mitchill), Goode ami Be.\n. 



Lophitis radiafns, Mitchill, Amor. Monthly Majjazinc, ii. 1818, 326. (Specimen from tlie Straits of Bahama) 



Mcdthe radiala, .loKDAN, Prue. U. S. Nat. Mus., \-ii. 14-1. (Eel grass .about Key West). 



Malthe cubifroiii, Richardson, Fauna Boreali-Amerieana, Fishes, 103, pi. 96. — Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. 



Mus., Ill, 203.— GooDK, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., ii, 109 (St. Augustine?). 

 Malthea nastita, Auctokum. 



This species, first described by Mitchill from the straits of Bahama, was also described 

 by Eichardson from a specimen presented to him by Audubon, jirofessedly from Labrador, 

 but more probably belonging to the South Carolina collection transmitted at the same time. 

 Eichardson's type, now in the British Museum, was carefully studied by Dr. Bean, whose 

 measurements are appended. 



Jordan is of the opinion that this species is a form of M. vespertilio, a conclusion which 

 does not seem untenable when we consider the immense variation of individuals which has 

 forced even the conservative Giiuther to bring together as identical the forms described by 

 Ouvier and Valenciennes as Malthea longirostris, M. nasuta, M, notata, M. angusta, and 31. 

 truncata. 



Giinther was doubtless influenced by the supposed difference of locality to leave M, 

 radiata in a separate species. 



Appended are measurements of the typical example and of an individual of nearly 

 equal size from Pensacola, Florida. The species is not uncommon on the east coast of Flor- 

 ida, but has only once been recorded from Labrador. The type wa.s presented to Sir John 

 Eichard son by Audubon, who may have been misinformed as to its origin. 



In the Pensacola example, No. 31908, the dorsal surface of the body is dark gray, with 

 numerous small, roundish black spots having a whitish origin. The under surface is light 

 gray. The largest body .spots are one-fourth as long as the eye. The upijer side of the 

 pectorals have spots similar to those of the body, but more elongate and irregular. The 

 cheeks are spotted like the sides of the body. The tubercles are largest and most numerous 

 along the dorsal surface of the body. The caudal peduncle is thick and heavy. The nasal 

 tentacle is trilobate at the tip. The posterior nostril is more than twice as large as the 

 anterior, which has a rudimentary tube. The teeth are in villiform bands on the vomer, 

 palatines, and in the jaws. The vent is behind the middle of tlie length to caudal base. 



Upon examination of the measurement table it will be apparent that the actual ditter- 

 enccs between the two examples are so slight as to remove all doubt concerning their 

 specific identity. 



