Sharks of the Family Squalidse. 43 



4. Spinax. 



Spinax, Cuv. Regne Anini. p. 129 (1817). 

 Acanthidium, Lowe, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1839, p. 91. 



ISeven species. 



Synopsis of the Species. 



I. Dermal denticles close-set, irregularly arranged. 



A. Pelvic fins much nearer to caudal than to base of pectoral. 



1. Each dermal denticle with one or more slender spines. 

 Length of head to pectoral fin nearly twice its greatest 



breadth 1. niger. 



Length of head to pectoral fin 1^ its greatest breadth . . 2. pcessleri. 



2. Each dermal denticle with a small tubercle . . 3. pusillus. 



B. Pelvic tius scarcely nearer to caudal than to base of pectoral. 



4. hillianus. 



II. Dermal denticles arranged in longitudinal series, at least on the 



tail. 



A. Length of base of first dorsal (without the spine) not less than 



± of the distance from the second. 



Each dermal denticle with a rather stout spine 5. princeps. 



Each dermal denticle with a rather slender spine 6. granulosus. 



B. Length of base of first dorsal (without the spine) not more than 



y of the distance from the second ; dermal denticles forming- 

 undulating longitudinal series, except on the abdomen. 



7. lucifer. 



1. Spinax niger. 



Squalus spinax, Linn. Syst. Nat. ed. 10, p. 233 (1758), and ed. 12, 



p. 398 (1766). 

 ? Etmopterus aculeatus, Rafin. Caratt. p. 14 (1810) *. 

 Spinax niger, Bonap. Faun. Ital., Pesc. (1835) ; Mull. & Henle, Plagiost. 



p. 86 (1841) ; Dumeril, Elasmobr. p. 441 (1865) ; Giinth. Cat. Eish. 



viii. p. 424 (1870) ; Moreau, Poiss. de France, i. p. 348, fig. 59 (1881). 

 Etmopterus sprinax, Carlos de Braganca, Res. Inv. 'Amelia,' ii. p. 61, 



pi. ii. fig. 1 (1904). 



Hah. Atlantic coasts of Europe ; Mediterranean. 

 In the British Museum eighteen specimens, 170 to 430 mm. 

 in total length, from depths ranging down to o65 fathoms. 



2. Spinax pcessleri. 



"h 

 1. 



Ilab. Magellan. 



Mmopterus passleri, LSnnberg, Hamburg. Magelhsens. Sammelreis,, 

 Fische, p. 5, fig. 1. 



* Ratinesque's description and figure of Etmopterus aculeatus are 

 evidently very inaccurate, but perhaps agree better with Spinax niger 

 than with any other shark known from the Mediterranean ; however, this 

 is scarcely sufficient reason for using Etmopterus instead of Spinax.. 



