Jordan and JEvermann. Pishes of North America. 549 



Gills 3. Pseudobranclmu absent. (Goode & Bean.) Deep-sea fishes of 

 uncertain relationship, bearing a singular resemblance to diminutive 

 whales. Two species known. (Cetomimidw, Goode <fe Bean, Proc. U. S. 

 Nat. Mus., 1894 (1895), 451; and in Oceanic Ichthyology, 68, 1895.) 



256. CETOMIMUS, Goode & Bean. 



<'-t,>nilinui>, GOODE & BEAN, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 1894 (1895), 452, (gillii); and in Oceanic 

 Ichthyology, 68, 1895. 



Body oblong, compressed, scaleless; similar in its vertical outline and 

 proportions to that of the right whales (Balcvnidw), a resemblance which 

 is greatly enhauced by the shape of the enormous mouth, and in the 

 lower jaw, which is strongly curved, projecting slightly beyond the 

 snout. Teeth in granular bands, covering all the bones of the mouth, 

 tongue, and throat. Mucous pores sometimes present on the back. Nos- 

 trils far forward, open slits without flap. Eyes very small and placed 

 far below the dorsal profile. Gill membranes deeply cleft, not attached 

 to the isthmus ; gill rakers absent, replaced by a granular tooth-like 

 surface upon the arch ; gills 3, no slit behind the third. Branchioste- 

 gals 9. Opercular apparatus incomplete, bones thin and membranous. 

 Dorsal short, high, inserted very far back, directly opposite the anal, 

 which it resembles in shape and size. Caudal peduncle short and slen- 

 der. Ventrals absent ; pectorals broad and short, placed low ; caudal 

 small, weak, probably emarginate or truncate. Lateral line broad, con- 

 sisting of two furrows, connected vertically by numerous short cross 

 grooves, (K^/TOC, whale; /ui/ueopai, to mimic.) 



a. Dorsal rays 16. GILLII, 826. 



aa. Dorsal rays 19. STORERI, 827. 



826. CETOMIMUS GILLII, Goode & Bean. 



Head about 3 ; depth a little more than 4 ; B. 9 j D. 16 ; A. 16 ; P. 16. 

 Eye minute, about 23 in head, and about 8 in snout, inserted midway 

 between margin of jaw and dorsal profile, distant from the former a space 

 contained about 2| times in length of snout. The maxillary reaches very 

 far back, extending to a point behind orbit equal to 1| times length of 

 snout. Origin of dorsal directly above that of anal, which is inserted a 

 short distance behind vent ; distance from snout equal to more than 4 

 times length of its own base, and distance of its termination from root 

 of upper rays of caudal equal to its own greatest height ; anal similar 

 in shape and extent to dorsal, but the thirteenth to the fifteenth rays 

 the longest, while the eighth to eleventh are the longest in dorsal ; length 

 of these longest rays about equal in the two fins, and contained slightly 

 less than 3 times in head; pectoral inserted somewhat below middle of 

 body, close to extremity of opercular flap ; broadly lanceolate, about 3 

 times in head; ventrals lacking. Lateral line sweeping in a bold 

 curve from a point above the upper angle of the gill opening to a point 

 in middle of body between origin of dorsal and anal fins, and thence in a 

 straight median line to base of caudal. Color blue-black. 



A single specimen of this curious species, 5 inches in length, was taken 

 by the Albatross, August 20, 1884, at station 2206, in 39 35' N. latitude, 



