348 



DISCOVERY REPORTS 



Order PERCOMORPHI 

 Family CHILODIPTERIDAE 

 Genus Rhectogramma, gen. nov. 



Body somewhat elevated, covered with firm ctenoid scales of moderate size; head 

 scaled. Mouth oblique; jaws equal anteriorly; maxillary exposed, its hinder end rather 

 broad. A single series of minute villiform teeth in each jaw; no canines; vomer and 

 palatines apparently toothless. Posterior margin of praeoperculum feebly serrated, with 

 one or two stronger spines at the angle ; operculum with a group of spines at its upper 

 angle and one or two acute spines near its junction with the suboperculum, which is 

 armed with a similar but shorter spine. Gill-rakers numerous, long, slender, close-set. 

 Pseudobranchiae present. First dorsal with 8 spines, well separated from second dorsal, 

 which has g rays. Anal with 3 spines and 7 rays; originating below anterior part of 

 dorsal. Dorsal and anal scaleless, with some fine flexible rods resembling rudimentary 

 rays between the principal rays.^ Caudal forked. Vent immediately in front of anal 

 fin. Lateral line interrupted; the pores simple. 



Genotype. Rhectogramma sherborni, n.sp. 



This genus appears to be related to Parasphyraenops, Bean, and Parahynnodus , 

 Barnard. It differs from the former in the form of the maxillary and operculum, and 

 in the separate dorsal fins, and from the latter chiefly in the form of the maxillary and 

 operculum, scaly head, dentition, and interrupted lateral line. 



Fig. 39. Rhectogramma sherborni. Holotype. (x i.) 



Rhectogramma sherborni, n.sp. 



St. loi. 15. X. 26. 33° 50' to 34° 13' S, 16° 04' to 15° 49' E. 4! m. net, horizontal, 850-950 m. : 

 I specimen, 80 mm. Holotype. 



Depth of body 3^ in the length, length of head 2|. Snout much shorter than eye, 

 diameter of which is greater than interorbital width and 2\ in length of head. Maxillary 



^ These structures, which have the appearance of slender rays, extend nearly to the margin in the 

 anterior part of the fin but become much shorter posteriorly. 



