no. 1836. NEW FISHES FROM JAPAN— SNYDER. 527 



Described from the single specimen, type Cat. No. 68227, U.S.N.M., 

 from Tanegashima, Japan; length 123 mm. 



Family RUVETTID.E. 



JORDANIDIA, new genus. 



This genus is distinguished by the branched lateral line and the 

 wholly degenerate ventral fins. 



Body rather elongate and flat ; a patch of small scales on posterior 

 part of body; lateral line extending from upper edge of gill opening 

 to near end of base of soft dorsal, with a branch originating below 

 base of fifth dorsal spine, curving downward and backward and 

 then passing in a straight line along median part of bod}^ to base of 

 caudal fin; palatines with teeth; finlets 3, the anterior of which is 

 closely apposed to the preceding fin. 



Tpye of genus. — Jordanidia raptoria, new species.. 



The genus is named for Dr. David Starr Jordan. 



JORDANIDIA RAPTORIA, new species. 



Head 3.3 in length to base of caudal; depth 5 ; depth caudal peduncle 

 6.5 in head; diameter e}^e 4; width interorbital space 6.5; length snout 

 2.6; D. XVIII, 14; A. 12. 



The body is moderately elongate, deepest in the middle, the caudal 

 peduncle compressed; head pointed, interorbital area concave, lower 

 jaw projecting beyond the upper; maxillary extending slightly beyond 

 anterior edge of pupil; eye large and round, midway between tip of 

 snout and border of opercle. A single row of teeth on jaws and 

 palatines; teeth of jaws large, knife-like, widely spaced; a group of 

 three to five greatly enlarged fangs in anterior part of upper jaw; 

 two small teeth at symphysis which project upward and backward 

 beyond tip of snout. Pseudobranchia3 large. Gill-rakers numerous, 

 minute, unequally developed. 



Lateral line originating at upper edge of gill opening, bifurcating 

 beneath base of fifth dorsal spine, the upper branch passing directly 

 backward a short distance below base of dorsal and ending below 

 base of soft dorsal; lower branch abruptly curving downward and 

 extending along middle of body to base of caudal. Posterior part 

 of body with small, thin scales which occupy an area of rather indefi- 

 nite extent projecting from base of caudal forward as a wedge, the 

 tip of which lies on the lateral line; other parts of body and head 

 apparently smooth. 



Spinous dorsal inserted just a little behind upper edge of gill open- 

 ing and extending to a point opposite the vent; the longest spines 

 about equal in length to diameter of eye. First dorsal rays longest, 

 about three in head, the others successively shorter. Three finlets 



