﻿270 



Distribution: Bathypelagic (90 — 2200 M,). Tropical and 

 warm seas; in northern hemisphere northerly to North Caro- 

 lina and Japan. 



I. Venefica Jordan & Davis. 

 (Jordan & Davis, Rep. U.S. fish Comm. (1888) 1891, p. 651). 



Very elongate, compressed. Anus far behind gillopenings in 

 the anterior half of the body. Origin of dorsal above or some- 

 what before the gillopenings. Dorsal, anal and caudal confluent. 

 Pectorals wanting. Head moderate, conical, somewhat depressed. 

 Snout prolonged into a slender fleshy flap. Eyes covered by 



Fig. 118. Venefica procera (Goode & Bean). 

 (After Goode & Bean). Origin of dorsal above the gillopenings 



XV2 



skin, without free orbital margin. Posterior nostrils wide openings 

 at the upper part of the frontborder of the eye, anterior 

 nostrils in tubes at the top of the snout, behind the base of 

 the flap. No lips. Tongue not free. Bands of cardiform teeth 



Fig. 119. Venefica proccra (Goode & Bean), n n nostrils. X ^/4- Specimen of 

 the indo-australian archipelago, with the origin of the dorsal liefore gillopenings. 



in jaws and vomer. Lateral line well developed with numerous 

 pores in a single row. Pores in the course of the sensory 

 canals of the head well developed. Gillopenings small, sub- 

 inferior, separated by a rather broad interspace. 



