1 1 1 



closely related to Ncphropsix Sfci^'ar/i, but at once distinguished from this and other species 

 l)y the ])rominent sjjine at the base of the tclson, occurs on the west coast of Mexico. 



Besides Xephropsis atlantica^ five species are found in the Indopacihc. XepJiropsls 

 Steioarti W.-Mas. and Xephropsis c7isirostris Alcock occur in tlie Arabian Sea, the Bay of 

 Bengal and the Andaman Sea: both forms have been taken by the "Siboga", the former oft" 

 the Kei-islands, the latter in the Bali Sea. Xcphi-opsis Carpenteri \V -Mas. is closely allied, 

 inhabits the Bay of Bengal, l)ut is also recorded from Jodomi, Japan. XcpJiropsis Siihmi Sp. Bate 

 occurs at the Aru Islands, but also in the Arabian Sea and a young female was taken by the 

 "Siboga" in the Sti'ait of Makassar. Xephropsis inalhaensis Borr., finally, closely related to 

 Xephropsis atlajitica, was dredged off Saja de Malha in the Indian Ocean. 



The species of XepJiropsis are all inhabitants of deep water, not exceeding, however, 

 looo fathoms, except Xephropsis Suhiiii which was taken by the "Siboga" at the great depth 

 of 202t; m., i.e. about iioo fathoms, the greatest depth on record of the species of this genus. 

 Xephropsis Siihiiii is therefore a truly abyssal species; it was captured by the "Challenger" 

 at a depth of 800 fathoms, while, according to Dr. Ai.njCK, it is found in the Arabian Sea 

 in water of 865 to 947 fathoms. Xephropsis atlautica and Xephropsis ensirostris occur in the 

 Arabian Sea respectively at 636 — 740 and 636 fathoms, but the three other Indian species are 

 found in shallower water, at depths varying between 180 and 465 fathoms. Xephropsis oeci- 

 denialis was dredged between 660 and 676 fathoms, XepJiropsis rosea at 690 fathoms, but 

 Xephropsis Agassizii which was captured on the coast of b'lorida in water of 830 fathoms, 

 was also dredged by the U. S. Fish Commission, on the South Coast of New England, at 

 100, 120 and 126 fathoms. 



Key to the indoijacific species of the genus Xephropsis W.-Mas.^). 



a^ The exopodite of the tail-fui is transversely fissured. 



b^ Rostrum with lateral s|)inc;s: no distinct spines behind the cervical 



groove. 



fj Abdominal terga without an\- trace of a median carina ; no .second 



pair of small spines behind the rostrum. 



d^ Body covered with a close short fur ; no two rows of granules 



converging from just before thct median gastric tubercle towards 



the spines at the base of the rostrum Sfei<.<arii W'.-Mas. 



(tj No fur on the bod) ; two rows of granules start just before 



the median gastric tubercle on each side and converge towards 



the spines at the base of the rostrinn »ia/haensis Borr. 



(L. A. BuRR.VDAIi.E, Trans. Linncan Soc. London, 2dJ .Scr. Zoology, Vol. XIII, 

 Part 2, 1910, p. 262). 



fjj Abdominal terga faiiill)- carinaled in the middle line. 



l) This key is p.iitly taken from that which was given by Dr. .Alcock in his work of 1 901 



