1«t> MEMOIRS OF THE QUEENSLAND MLSEUM. 



A single row of fixed, spaced, and compressed teeth along the outer edge of 

 each i)reiiiaxiHai-y hone Is covered by the lips; directly inside this row is another 

 of longer, more numerous, and depressible teeth which are exposed when the 

 mouth is closed. Mandibular teeth similar, in three rows, the outer row smallest 

 and fixed, the other two depressible and the innermost largest. The symphyses 

 of both jaws are toothless, but there are one or two larger teeth on each side of 

 that of the mandible. A long ])and of depressible teeth on each palatine bone, 

 arranged in fcur rows; the innermost teeth are largest, and they increase in 

 size forwards, and are enlarged anteriorly. Tongue covered with large 

 depressible teeth anteriorly, and a band of smaller ones posteriorly. 



Body covered with cycloid .scales, which have broad membranaceous borders. 

 There are about sixteen rows between the occiput and the dorsal fin. Lateral 

 line straight from the shoulder to the caudal peduncle; its scales are not raised, 

 and are scarcely differentiated from the others. Five or six rows of scales on 

 the cheeks, and a few on the U])per portion of the operculum. Some rather 

 elongate scales are present both above and below the base of the pectoral and 

 above that of the ventral ; an enlarged pinnate scale on the base of each caudal 

 lobe. 



Origin of dorsal fin slightly nearer the adipose dorsal than the tip of the 

 snout: the third and longest ray just reaches the base of the last when adpressed; 

 the two anterior rays are simple, and the last is double. Adipose dorsal finlet 

 inserted above the middle of the anal. All the anal rays are simple, and the 

 last is double. Pectoral fin short, not nearly reaching the vertical of the first 

 ilorsal ray. Ventrals inserted about midway between the verticals of the pectoral 

 and dorsal origins ; the inner and outer rays are simple and the others are bifid ; 

 the sixth ray is longest, and reaches about half its distance from the anal origin, 

 and to the vertical of the last dorsal ray. Caudal forked. 



(Joloiir-markiugs. — Greyish on the back, the sides and lower surfaces white. 

 Some very ill-defined cross-bars on the back, the most prominent of which is at 

 the base of the tail, and some darker markings above the lateral line. Upper 

 surface of the head with vermiculating grey lines which extend onto the lips 

 near the end of the snout. Fins without markings. 



Described and figured from the holotype, 203 mm. long from the snout to 

 the end of the middle caudal rays. 



Locality. — Near the Capricorn Group, Queensland, 25-30 fathoms. 



This species differs from aS'. similis in having a much smaller eye, 4i instead 

 of 3^ supralateral scales, and small instead of large nostrils. It also lacks the 

 dark marking on the upper portion of the gill-membranes. It is nearer 

 *S. japonicus Houttuyn, but has a much smaller eye and less rugose cranium, 

 and the characteristic dark body markings and spots on the fins of that species 

 are wanting in aS'. houlti. 



