132 Records of ihe Indian Museum. [Vol. X, 



Malthopsis lutcus, Wood-Mason & Alcock. 

 (Plate viii, fig. i.) 



Malthopsis liiteus, Wood-Mason and Alcock, 1891, p. 26, pi. viii, figs. 



2, 2a. 

 Malthopsis liiteus, Goode and Bean, 1895, p. 53, fig. 411. 

 Malthopsis liitea, Alcock, 1899, p. 64. 

 Malthopsis liiteus, A. Brauer, 1908, p. 326. 

 Malthopsis (in part), Lloyd, 1909-10, p. 171, pis. xlviii, xlix, 1. 

 Malthopsis (in part), Lloyd, 1912, pp. 140-148, fig. 7. 

 Malthopsis lutea, 111. Zool. Invest., Fishes, pi. xix, fig. 4. 



In this form ^'the body is covered with hard, granular, 

 adherent plates, each with a large radially striated conical tubercle 

 in its centre. On the dorsal surface of the disc they are of 

 moderate size, in contact along the middle line, but distant and 

 slightly sunken laterally. On the ventral surface of the cephalic 

 disc they are small, distant and sunken " (Alcock). " The space 

 between the pelvic fins and vent is covered with about thirty 

 minute plates which are widely separated from one another by 

 naked skin " (Lloyd). lyloyd described this state of affairs by the 

 term *' dermal disorder." 



''The subopercular spine is relatively small and irregular" 

 (Ivloyd). 



In this form the nasal spine takes its origin from the anterior 

 end of the snout, in line with the middle of the eye, and projects 

 forwards and, in some cases, slightly upwards. Immediately 

 behind the spine the dorsal profile rises upwards, to a point above 

 the centre of the eye, and then slopes graduall}^ downwards and 

 backwards. 



Below the spine is the tentacular pit, the floor of which also 

 slopes downwards and backwards, so that in a ventral view the 

 pit is easily visible. 



The interorbital region narrows considerably about the middle 

 of its length. 



In the Indian Museum collection are six specimens obtained 

 at the following " Investigator" stations: — 



Station 115: 11° 31' 40" N. , 92° 46' 40" E. 188-220 fathoms. 

 Station 222: 13° 27' 00" N., 93° 14' 30" B. 405 fathoms. 

 Station 233: 13° 17' 15" N., 93° 10' 25" E. 185 fathoms. 



Malthopsis triangularis, Lloyd. 

 (PI. viii, fig 2.) 



Malthopsis triangularis, Lloyd, 1909-10, p. 169, pi. xlv, figs, i, in. 

 Malthopsis (in part), Lloyd, 1909-10, p. 171, pis. xlviii, xlix, I. 

 Malthopsis (in part), Lloyd, 1912, pp. 140-148, fig. 7. 



In this species the dermal plates are arranged according to a 

 very definite pattern, a condition that Lloyd terms " dermal 

 order." 



'' On the dorsal surface is a median row of four or five large 

 plates. On either side of the median row is an area of naked skin, 



