287 



Description of a Hitherto Undescribed Species 

 of shark from investigator strait. 



By A. ZiETz, F.L.S., C.M.Z.S., etc. 



[Read September 8, 1908.] 



Scyllium vincenti, sp. nov. 



This species belongs to the group which has the nasal 

 valves not confluent and without cirrus. The interspace be- 

 tween the nasal valves is about as wide as the flaps, which 

 are turned up at their posterior margin. A short labial 

 fold round the angle of the mouth, each about one-fifth of 

 the length of the jaw. Teeth small, with a long median cusp 

 and a small cusp on each side. Gill openings narrow, the 

 first the largest, the following smaller, the last one only half 

 the length of the first ; the last two are situated above the 

 base of the pectorals. The first dorsal has its origin behind 

 the middle of the total length. Both dorsals are of about 

 equal length. The origin of the anal is a little behind the 

 first dorsal and terminates about the middle of the second 

 dorsal. The lower caudal lobe originates about opposite the 

 termination of the second dorsal. The base of the ventrals 

 at their posterior margin is opposite the origin of the first 

 dorsal. The ventrals terminate in a point. The caudal has 

 a notch at three-quarters of its length and terminates in a 

 rounded flap. The skin is very finely chagreened and 

 glossy ; the dermal denticles are three cuspid and very finely 

 grooved. The colour is a reddish-brown above and on the 

 sides, with indistinct darker crossbars, which are widest on 

 the back. The head is uniformly dark-brown above. The 

 rest of the trunk carries scattered, small, and indistinct whit- 

 ish spots. The fins are darkest in the centre, but their mar- 

 gin is whitish. Under side, dirty white. The largest speci-. 

 men is about 18 in. long. The first specimen I obtained from 

 a fisherman, who caught it near the northern shore of Kan- 

 garoo Island while fishing for schnapper. 



