i.YConiN.i-:. o. 



Distribution. A single specimen (J) was taken by the Ingolf Expedition of [895 iSt. 27 in 

 Davis Straits off the coast between the colonies Godthaab and Snkkertoppen (64 54' N.E. 55 co'W.L.), 

 where the depth was 393 fathoms and bottom-temperature 38 C. 



Relation to allied species. Of these, L.mtircena Coll. is the one which is most remote from 

 the present species. L.mtiraena is namely a still more elongated form, the height over the anus being 

 4,1—5% of the total length, and it has a more compressed tail; further, its underjaw readies ahnosl 

 to the tip of the upper, its dorsal fin begins further forward (the distance from the snout is 17,(1 [8,2 

 of the total length), and it has fewer rays in the pectorals, namely 13 — 15. 



L. sarsii Coll. is distinctly nearer to the present species, but its head is somewhat longer Ithe 

 length in the two females at my disposal being 13,7 — 14,2% of the total length), and flatter, and the 

 lower jaw reaches almost as far forward as the upper (see Fig. 21 6c 22 in text). In addition, it has 

 fewer rays in the pectorals, namely 15- 16. 



On the other hand, there might be some doubt, whether the present species is not identical 

 with the L. paxi litis Goode & Bean') taken on the east coast of North America In deep water (263 

 — 904 fathoms). As I am not myself acquainted with L. paxi/lus, I shall only indicate that this 

 species appears to be less elongated, the height going 16 times in the total length (whereas in /.. 

 ingolfianns it is almost 20 times); further, L. paxillus seems to have only 16 rays in the pectorals, 1 is 

 in the dorsal and no in the anal fin; lastly, the ,'ateral line is given as being single (mediolateral). 



Lycodonus Goode cc Bean. 

 Lycodonus Goode 6c Beau, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., X, No. 5, 1883, p. 208 (mirabilis). 



The bod>- very elongated (an gu ill i form), the height over the anus going ca. 

 21 — 30 times in the length. Teeth on the intermaxillary, mandible, vomer and 

 palatines. Bower jaw without barbules. Scales small. Lateral line mediolateral or 

 both mediolateral and ventral. Along the bases of the dorsal and anal fins a row of 

 small bony plates (lateral out-growths of the upper e 11 d s o f the interspin o us rays), on 

 which the rays are superimposed. Bran chioste gal rays 5. 



This genus, which in relation to the other anguilliform Lycodince is specially characterized by 

 the structure of the interspinous bones and by only having 5 branchiostegal ra\s, consists now oi 3 

 species from deep water: Lycodonus mirabilis Goode 6c Bean, off the east coast of the United States 

 (35 : 45' 23"— 41 53' N.L. 65" 21' 50" — 74° 34' 45" W.L.), 721 — 1309 fathoms; L. ophidium Jensen, North 

 Atlantic Ocean S. from Iceland, 1089 fathoms; L. flagellicauda Jensen, the polar depths from Spitz- 

 bergen down towards Iceland and the Fceroes, 459 — 1003 fathoms. 



The American species lacks fin-rays 011 the anterior (9— 11) plates on the back, whereas all 

 the plates bear fin-rays in the European species. The two last species can he distinguished from one 

 another by the following characters: 



') Lycodes pa.xillus Goode & Bean, Proc. U. S. Nat Mus. [879, |>. 1 i- /.. paxilloides Goode & Bean, Bull. Mus. Comp. 

 Zool., X, (883, p. 207. Lyii-inlic/vs paxillit.s Goode & Bean, Oceanic Ichthyology, 1895, p. 311, Fig. 179 Si 282; fordan \ 1 

 mann, Fishes of North America, III, rS t) s, p. 2471. 



