Dr. A. Giinther on two neio Fishes from Tasmania. 183 



XXVI. — Description of two new Fishes from Tasmania. 

 By Dr. A. Gunthee. 



In a collection of Tasmanian fishes presented by Morton 

 Allport, Esq., to tlie British Museum, two fishes were con- 

 tained which appear to have hitherto escaped observation. 



Lanioperca, g. n. 



This genus would appear to be allied to the Percoid group 

 of Aj)ogonina^ and more especially to Scombrops^ as far as we 

 are able to judge from external characters. 



Body compressed, rather elongate, covered with thin deci- 

 duous scales of moderate size. Head with the snout produced 

 and pointed, entirely covered with small scales. Cleft of the 

 mouth wide, with the lower jaw projecting. Jaws, vomer, 

 and palatine bones with narrow bands of villiform teeth, and 

 with an outer series of stronger teeth. A pair of very strong 

 canine teeth in the upper jaw. Tongue smooth. Eye of 

 moderate size. Branchiostegals seven ; pseudobranchise. Two 

 dorsal fins, the first composed of a few feeble spines ; the soft 

 dorsal and anal with rather numerous rays ; the latter with 

 two spines. No denticulations on the cranial bones, the oper- 

 cular margins being very thin and membranaceous. 



Lanio^erca mordax. 

 D.Sl^j. A.|. L.lat. 66. 



The height of the body is contained five times in the total 

 length (without caudal) ; the length of the head thrice and one 

 fourth. The eye is nearer to the end of the opercle than to that 

 of the snout, its diameter being two elevenths of the length of 

 the head, and equal to the width of the interorbital space. The 

 maxillary does not quite reach the vertical from the front margin 

 of the eye, which is immediately below the upper profile. The 

 teeth of the outer series in the upper jaw are subequal in size, and 

 much smaller than those in the lower, the four or five posterior 

 of which are enlarged, distant, and canine-like. Posterior 

 margin of the prseoperculum deeply emarginate. Pectoral 

 fin not quite half as long as the head, the upper rays the 

 longest; root of the ventral fins at a very short distance 

 behind that of the pectorals. Dorsal spines very feeble. 

 Caudal forked. Coloration uniform. 



One specimen has been sent, 11 inches long. Mr. M. All- 

 port says that it is of medium size and called " Pike " or 

 " Jack " by the colonists. 



