211 



Addenda [to Family SToMiATin.f,]. 



AsTRONESTHES, Ricbavdson. 



Astronesthes, Richardson, Ichth. Voy. Siilph., p, 97 : Giinther, Cat. Pislios \'.. p. -I2i : fjoode und Brum. Orpanic 

 Ichthyology, p. 105 : Jordan and Evermann, Fishes N. Amer., p. 586. 

 Phcenodon, Lowe, Proc. Zool. Soc, 1850. p. 2.50. 



"Body rather elongate and compressed, scaleless, with tlie vent situated at no great distance 

 from tlie caudal fin. Head rather compressed, with the snout .short and with the cleft of the 

 mouth wide. Teeth pointed, unequal in size, two pairs in the upper jaw and one in the lower 

 being long curved canine teeth : maxillary finely and subequally denticulated : vomer with a pair 

 of small fangs: palatines with a single series of small pointed teeth, similar to those of the 

 tongue. Eye of moderate size. A fleshy barbel is suspended from the centre of the hyoid region. 

 Dorsal fin rather long, opposite the interspace between the ventrals and the anal : caudal forked : 

 pectoral and ventral fins well developed. Series of luminous dots run along the lower side of the 

 head body and tail. Gill-opening very wide, the outer branchial arch with minute gill-rakers : 

 pseudobranchiffi none : air-bladder none. Stomach caecal " (Giinther). 



Distribution : Atlantic : Indo-Pacific. 



122 a. Astronesthes sp. 



Illustrations of the Zoology of the Investigator, pl. XXXV. fig. 3. 



A very small but perfect specimen of Astronesthes was taken, off the Travancore coast, in 

 224-284 fathoms. 



It does not agree with any of the described species, but is nearest related to A, niger, from 

 which indeed it seems to diiHer only in having (1) the ventrals placed further back, (2) the anal 

 fin shorter — consisting of only 12 rays, and (3) the barbel very much thicker, and of nearly equal 

 thickness throughout. 



As it is obviously immature I do not describe it: possibly it is a young Astronesthes niger. 



Synopsis of the Indian genera of Stomiatidce. 



[To be substituted for the Synopsis on p. 146.] 



1. Hyoid barbel tree : pectorals well developed : teeth on the palatines and 

 vomer : — 



1. Body elongate: skin mapped into hexagonal areolaa : dorsal and 



anal fins oppo.site to one another and situated close to the caudal ... Stomias. 



2. Body of moderate length : skin perfectly smooth and scaleless : 



dorsal tin above the space between the ventrals and the anal ... Astronesthes. 



II. Hyoid barbel attached to the mandibular symphysis: skin smooth and 

 scaleless : — 



1. Pectoral rays reduced in number : no teeth on the palate ... Malacostkos. 



2. Pectorals absent : teeth on the palatines ... ... ... Phoiostoiiias. 



