586 



ANNUAL EEPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1908. 



one species is known, Caulophryne jordani, found in the Atlantic 

 near the American coast (lat. 30° 27' N., long. 71° 15' W.) at a 

 depth of 1,276 fathoms. 



THE GIGANTACTINIDS. 



The family of Gigantactinids is represented by a single known spe- 

 cies, evidently related to the Ceratiids and, like them, destitute of 

 ventrals, but with an elongated slender body. The dorsal, anal, and 

 caudal fins are like those of the Ceratiids. The chief distinctive 

 character is the union of the spine or illicium with the snout and its 

 extension forward as a long rigid rod with a terminal complex 

 lampas and esca. The mouth is cleft in a nearly horizontal direction. 

 The branchial apertures are infra-axillary, as in the Ceratiids. 



The only species of Gigantactis yet found is the G. vanhoe^eni of 

 A. Brauer. Tavo specimens were dredged, one in the Indian Ocean, 



c '- 



Fig. 25. — The type of the family Gigantactinids (Oigantactis vanhoeffeni). After Brauer. 



west of the Chagos Archipelago, from a depth of about 900 fathoms 

 (1,900 m.), and the other east of Zanzibar, from a depth of about 

 1,200 fathoms (2,500 m.). They were of small size, ranging in 

 length from an inch and a quarter (3 cm.) to an inch and a half 

 (3.5 cm), exclusive of the illicium; the latter in the largest specimen 

 was nearly as long as the rest of the fish ( 3.3 cm. ) . 



The habits of this species must be modified in accordance with its 

 form and the extension forward of its fishing apparatus. The slen- 

 der form, and especially the slender caudal peduncle and long deeply 

 emarginate caudal fin, indicate a swift fish and one less prone to 

 remain near the bottom of the ocean than the other Pediculates. 

 The fish doubtless swims freely in the depths with its illicium di- 

 rected forward, attracting the fishes and other organisms in the 

 water through which it courses. A fish thus attracted is liable to be 

 darted upon by a vigorous turn of the caudal fin -and seized by the 

 long prehensorial teeth of the angler. The entire conformation sug- 

 gests a swift-moving raptorial animal. 



