BEAN ] HISTORY OF THE WHALE SHARK 
lieve that this fish is a new species of the Genus 
Rhinodon, as it differs from these species in the form 
of teeth and the labial fold. Hence I propose the 
name of Rhinodon pentalineatus for this species. 
“Tokyo, 22 July, 1901.” 
(Zoologischer Anzeiger, Leipzig, 25 November 1901, 
pp. 694-695, figs. 2.) 
The recorded range of this shark was much 
enlarged by the stranding of an 18 ft. spec- 
imen on the beach 3 miles north of Ormond, 
Florida, January 25, 1902, this being the first 
record of the occurrence of the genus on the 
Atlantic coast of America. The National Mu- 
seum was fortunate in obtaining a good skin of 
this animal; a notice of its capture was pub- 
lished in Science, February 28, 1902. 
Dr. Max Weber, in his account of the Siboga 
Expedition, 1899 to 1900, published in January, 
1902, refers on page 88 to the presence of what 
he believed to be examples of FR. typicus between 
the islands of Buton and Muna, Celebes. Un- 
successful efforts were made to capture one of 
these sharks, much to the regret of the scientists 
aboard. 
The following measurements were obtained 
by the writer from the skin of the animal 
stranded on the Florida coast: Total length, 18 
it. engin to root-ef caudal’: 14 ft.,-6. 1m; 
Length of maxilla, 21 in. Mandible, 20 in. 
Width between nostrils, 21 in. Eye, 2 in. 
Spiracle, 14 in. (doubtful measurement). Gill 
slits measure in inches as follows: 18, 20, 19, 16 
and 13. The distance from the first to the fifth 
gill opening is about 15 in. The third gill open- 
ing is slightly in advance of the pectoral, the 
fourth and fifth slits being over the anterior 
portion of the pectoral. Width of base of pec- 
toral, -184—- ine . Length of, péeforal,’ 37. in: 
Length of first dorsal base, 17 in. The second 
dorsal fin measures as follows: Base 7 in.; 
height of front margin II in.; top margin 84 
in.; hind margin 7 in. The ventral base 94 in.; 
145 
Fic. 20.—Dental plate of upper jaw of Florida specimen. 
