2 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 9I 



Parasphenanthias, Loxopseudochromis ^^ and psi pseud ochromis " 

 form a closely interrelated group of deep-water fishes that is apparently 

 rather close to the Opisthognathidae but not to the Pseudochromidae. 

 Superficially, all the known forms are recognizable by the hidden black 

 spot on the membrane connecting the maxillary and premaxillary. All 

 the species appear to be red in life. 



After the removal of Ozvstonia, the Opisthognathidae seem to form 

 a natural family. Another supposed opisthognathid, Gnathypops 

 samoensis Fowler and Silvester," from Samoa, must also be removed 

 from the family. It is a synonym of the Indo-Pacific pseudochromid 

 Pseudograimna polyacanihus (Bleeker)." The tropical American 

 genera Rhegnia Gilbert " and Carihrhegma Breder " are both syno- 

 nyms of Pseudograimna. I have examined the holotypes of Pseudo- 

 gramma thaumasia (Gilbert) in the Stanford Museum and of Pseudo- 

 gramma gzegoryi (Breder) in the Bingham Oceanographic Collection 

 and compared examples of each with the East Indian species. 



The known genera of Opisthognathidae may be distinguished by 

 the following synopsis, taken in part from Ogilby : 



SYNOPSIS OF THE GENERA OF OPISTHOGNATHIDAE 



la. Dorsal spines pungent ; cheeks and opercles with scales. 



2a. Scales moderate in size, about 40 in a longitudinal series 

 from upper part of gill opening to caudal base; gill 

 rakers moderate in number, 38 on first gill arch; anal 

 with 2 spines ; dorsal and anal with about 12 soft rays 

 each Lanchisthtm , n. gen. 



2b. Scales small, over 55 in a longitudinal series ; gill rakers 

 exceedingly fine and numerous, 64 on first arch ; anal 

 with 3 spines ; dorsal and anal with 16 to 18 soft 

 rays Lonchopisthus Gill 



^^ Loxopseudochromis and Opsipseudochromis were described by Fowler (Proc. 

 Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, vol. 85, pp. 354-357. I934) as pseudochromids. In 

 the same paper it may be noted that Elaptcrostomias philippinus, described as a 

 stomiatid, is an astronesthid, apparently identical with Borostomias schmidti 

 Regan and Trewavas ; that Brachypleurops axillaris is identical with Citharoides 

 macrolepis (Gilchrist) ; that Macrurocyttus is not a zeid but is referable to a 

 new family (Macrurocyttidae) and perhaps a new suborder; and that Brachy- 

 glaiicosoma, if a recognizable subgenus, equals Rcganichthys Ogilby. 



"Carnegie Inst. Washington Publ. 312, p. 118, fig. i, 1922. 



'" See Weber and de Beaufort, Fishes of the Indo-Australian Archipelago, vol. 6, 

 p. 119, fig. 21, 1931 ; also Fowler, U. S. Nat. Mus., Bull. 100, vol. 11, p. 3, 1931. 



" See Gilbert and Starks, Mem. California Acad. Sci., vol. 4, p. 99, pi. 15, fig. 31, 

 1904 (Panama Bay). 



" Bull. Bingham Oceanogr. Coll., vol. i, art. i, p. 44, fig. 22, 1927 (Glover Reef, 

 off British Honduras). 



