302 



DISCOVERY REPORTS 



Argyropelecus gigas, n.sp. 



St.Si. 18.vi.26. 32° 45' 00" S, 8° 47' 00" W. 4! m. net, horizontal, 650 (-o)m.: I specimen, 44 mm. 



St. 287. 19. viii. 27. 2° 49' 30" S, 9° 25' 30" W. Young-fish trawl, 800-1000 (-o) m. : i specimen, 

 87 mm. Holotype. 



II. ii. 25. 6° 5s' N, 15° 54' W. 2 m. tow-net, horizontal, 800 (-0) m. : i specimen, 82 mm. 



Related to A. affinis. Depth of body if to nearly twice in the length, length of head 

 3^ to 3f . Praeoperculum with a strong, straight or slightly curved, downwardly directed 

 spine at the angle, above which is a much smaller spine directed outwards. No very 



■^^ 



Fig. 9. Argyropelecus affinis. (x i|.) 



Fig. ID. Argyropelecus gigas. Holotype. (x i.) 



long teeth in the lower jaw; palatines toothless or with a few feeble teeth anteriorly. 

 Eleven gill-rakers on lower part of anterior arch. Praedorsal ridge rather high, length of 

 exposed portion of last spine if to if in base of dorsal fin. Arrangement of photophores 

 similar to that of A. affinis. Dorsal 9. Anal 13. 



Described from 3 specimens, 44 to 87 mm. in length, of which the largest is selected 

 as the holotype. 



Hab. Atlantic. 



In addition to the characters mentioned in the synopsis above, this species may be 

 readily distinguished from A. affinis by the form of the spine at the angle of the prae- 

 operculum. 



