Jordan and Evcrmann. Fishes of North America. 2593 



and inferior half of the infraorbital region naked. Second dorsal spine 

 slender, with the barbs in front very inconspicuous .and sometimes 

 entirely absent; distance between dorsal fins less than length of head; 

 outer ventral ray produced into a small filament. Distance between vent 

 and isthmus less than length of head. Head and trunk whitish, tail 

 brownish, lower part of head and gill openings black. (Giinther.) This 

 species is clearly one of those in this family which extends to the greatest 

 depths. The decrease in the size of the eye, the very soft bones, the com- 

 comitant want of firmness in the structure of the scales, and the tail, 

 which tapers into a very fine filament, indicate its abyssal abode. The 

 scales are nearly all gone in all the specimens obtained. The species 

 appears to be abundant in individuals, and has, like a true deep-sea fish, 

 a wide distribution. (Giinther.) Antarctic Ocean and deep seas off both 

 coasts of South America, (filum, thread; cauda, tail.) 



Coryphcenoides (Lionurus) filicauda, GiiNTHER, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., xx, 1878, 27, 



Deep seas on both sides of South America, in 1,375 to 2 65 fathoms. 

 Macrurus filicauda, GUNTHER, Challenger Report, Deep-Sea Eishes, 141, pi. 34, fig. B, 1887. 

 Lionurus filicauda, GOODE & BEAN, Oceanic Ichthyology, 409, fig. 342, 1896. 



2970. LIOXUBUS LIOLEPIS, Gilhert. 



Head 4f in length; depth 6g-; maxillary nearly reaching vertical from 

 posterior margin of orbit, 2 in head; eye 3f; interorbital space concave, 

 equaling snout, 4; barbel eye. D. II, 10. A. 120. Snout short and 

 high, with well-marked lateral ridge, the extreme tip flattened; the 

 median ethmoidal ridge is prominent, and the supraocular ridge is con- 

 tinued forward on the snout, meeting the lateral ridge in a projecting 

 point. Top of snout wholly naked mesially, a narrow band of scales 

 around each margin and in front. Lower side of head, including under 

 side of snout, mandibles, gill membranes, and most of interopercles, naked; 

 a very small patch of scales on posterior part of interopercle. Mouth 

 moderate, the snout overhanging the premaxillaries for a distance equal- 

 ing \ maxillary. Teeth in rather narrow cardiform bands in each jaw, not, 

 however, forming single series laterally; the outer series in upper jaw 

 only is enlarged ; angle of preopercle little produced, not concealing the 

 interopercle; infraorbital ridge not continued on to it. Gill membranes 

 forming posteriorly a rather wide free fold across isthmus; outer gill 

 arch joined to gill cover as usual in this genus. Scales small, everywhere 

 cycloid, very deciduous, lost in most specimens ; no spines developed, but 

 occasionally can be seen traces of a median ridge and a pair of lateral 

 ridges; about 6 or 7 series of scales between lateral line and base of first 

 dorsal. Origin of first dorsal over or in advance of base of .pectorals ; base 

 of first dorsal 1 to If in interval between dorsals ; second dorsal spine 

 usually smooth, occasionally with from 1 to 3 weak prickles near the mid- 

 dle; length of spine If in head. Origin of anal slightly behind first dor- 

 sal, the vent midway between base of ventrals and anal ; ventrals short, 

 the outer ray slightly produced, with from 10 to 12 rays ; pectorals with 

 20 or 21 rays. Color very dark brown; snout, opercles, lower side 

 of head, and abdominal region black or blue black ; mouth and gill cavity 



