— 109 — JOBS. SCHMIDT 



16. Ranheps raninus (Linné), Lesser Fork- beard (Chart VIII) 



^ 1 . Remarks on the identification 



The postlarval stages of the lesser fork- beard are easily distinguished even in the 

 earliest stage by the short, plump form from the Onos genus, which is the only one of 

 the hitherto known species it might be confused with. From the other genera with elon- 

 gated ventral fins in the postlarval stages [Molva, Brosmius, Merluccius) it is at once dis- 

 tinguished by the lack of distinct postanal pigment bars, and for the rest, its low number 

 of vertebrae, ca. 11 only, is very characteristic. For further information, reference may be 

 made to my earlier description and figures of this species {"Molva elongata and Baniceps 

 raninus". 1907). 



§ 2. General features of the occurrence 



On Chart VIll, on which the torsk and hake are also represented, only the pelagic 

 fry of this peculiar species are included ; curiously enough this does not seem to be a 

 common fish anywhere within our region, in spite of the fact that it is not known to 

 occur outside this region. 



Our investigations also have only brought to light a few specimens (at 4 stations in 

 all), so that no very certain conclusions can be drawn, though something may be said. 



In the first place, what might have been expected from previous observations on the 

 mode of life of this species, spawning appears to take place in shallow water 

 in the neighbourhood of the coasts, and in the second place the spawning only occurs 

 late in the year in summer and autumn. 



Thus , I have not taken the pelagic fry of this species before the end of August 

 (St. 165, 170, 1906) and even then they were still small, 5—12 mm. long. Further, the 

 statements of other authors regarding the discovery of the pelagic fry of Baniceps (see my 

 earlier paper : Baniceps raninus and Molva elongata. p. 4) show that this species spawns 

 very late, the small fry being found partly at the end of July, partly at the end of October. 



§ 3. The geographical distribution 



1. Iceland; 2. Faeroes 

 Neither the fry nor the older stages of this species have been found by us in these 

 regions, nor by any others. 



3. British Isles 

 The lesser fork-beard probably spawns on all the coasts of the British Isles, as we 

 found the pelagic fry in the north of Scotland (Moray Firth) and the south-west parts of 

 Ireland. As at other places it seems here to be rather rare, but nothing very definite can 

 be said on the basis of the available material. 



4. North Sea 



Baniceps probably spawns everywhere on the North Sea coasts in shallow water, as 

 its pelagic fry have been taken on the east coast of Scotland (by Mc Intosh^ and also at 



' See my earlier paper on "Baniceps raninus and Molva elongata", pp. 4 and 7. 



