ATLANT. DEEP-SEA EXPED. 1910. VOL. III]. 



MURAENOID LARVAE. 



21 



Fig. 15 on page 20 representing the head of this 

 larva, shows that the snout is rather obtuse at the front, 

 and that there are a few pores on the head. The latter 

 feature is discernible in larva no. 11 in the table. 



This larva was taken at Stat. 58, close to the Azores, 

 where the depth is about 1700 metres. If it really is the 

 larva of Conger tnystax, this occurrence will extend its 

 known range of distribution. A photograph of the larva 

 is reproduced in fig. 2, pi. III. 



7. Leptocephalus Congri balearici. 



In Grassi's paper regarding the connection between 

 adult eels and Leptocephali among other things he states 

 that the Leptocephali described under the names of Lepto- 

 cephalus taenia, inornatus and diaphanus are larvae of 

 Conger balearicus, but he does not explain why, neither 

 does he indicate the number of segments and vertebrae 

 in the larvae or the adult animals. Schmidt has been 

 studying the question, and has published his results in 

 a recent paper (29). 



The material from the cruise of the "Michael Sars" 

 contains many specimens (83 in all) of the larva which 

 according to Schmidt's investigations is the larva of Conger 

 (Congromuraena) balearicus. Schmidt informs us that this 



species is identical with Leptocephalus Eckmani described 

 by Stromman, (33), and is closely related to L. diaphanus 

 and L. inornatus reported from the Mediterranean. This 

 species has been frequently described, and it is therefore 

 unnecessary for me to enter into details, beyond indicating 

 the number of myomeres and the length of each specimen. 



According to the table below the individuals vary 

 in length between 76 and 101 mm. Schmidt (29) states 

 that the full-grown larva of this species is about 200 mm 

 in length, therefore the individuals in our material are 

 not yet full-grown. In all the individuals the fin-rays are 

 not developed; only in the caudal fin and the posterior 

 portion of the vertical fins can the first traces of some 

 rays be seen. On the other hand, we find some indications 

 of interspinous elements in the vertical fins; in the anal 

 fin faint traces are to be discovered directly behind the 

 anus, and in the dorsal fin at about the height of the anus. 



Except in one individual the nostrils are separated, 

 but they are placed very near to each other. 



The teeth in each half of the upper jaw number 10 

 to 13, in each half of the lower jaw 9 to 12. 



The muscle-segments number on an average 133, 

 varying between 129 and 137, excluding one individual 

 (no. 28 in the table) with only 123 segments. This 

 individual, however, corresponds otherwise in every cha- 



No. 



Station 



Length 

 mm 



Segments 



No. 



Station 



Length 

 mm 





Segmen 



ts 



pre-anal 



post-anal 



total 



pre-anal 



post-anal 



total 



1 



52 



76 



120 



11 



131 



22 



51 



86 



126 



9 



135 



2 



„ 



79 



121 



10 



131 



23 



„ 



„ 



122 



10 



132 



3 



„ 



80 



122 



10 



132 



24 



„ 



„ 



125 



10 



135 



4 



„ 



„ 



? 



? 



134 



25 



„ 



„ 



123 



9 



132 



5 



„ 



„ 



121 



10 



134 



26 



„ 



„ 



123 



10 



133 



6 



„. 



„ 



122 



10 



132 



27 



52 



„ 



125 



9 



134 



7 



„ 



81 



124 



10 



134 



28 



51 



87 



113 



10 



123 



8 



„ 



„ 



123 



9 



132 



29 



„ 



„ 



124 



11 



135 



9 



51 



82 



121 



10 



131 



30 



„ 



„ 



? 



? 



134 



10 



52 



„ 



121 



10 



131 



31 



„ 



„ 



123 



10 



133 



11 



51 



83 



120 



11 



131 



32 



52 



„ 



120 • 



10 



130 



12 



„ 



„ 



? 



? 



133 



33 



„ 



„ 



120 



10 



130 



13 



„ 



„ 



127 



9 



136 



34 



51 



88 



? 



? 



132 



14 



„ 



„ 



127 



9 



136 



35 



H 



„ 



125 



9 



134 



15 



52 



■ 



125 



10 



135 



36 



„ 



„ 



123 



10 



133 



16 



51 



„ 



122 



10 



132 



37 



„ 



„ 



? 



? 



132 



17 



„ 



84 



121 



12 



133 



38 



„ 



„ 



123 



11 



134 



18 



„ 



„ 



123 



10 



133 



39 



52 



„ 



128 



8 



136 



19 



„ 



„ 



119 



11 



130 



40 



„ 



„ 



124 



9 



133 



20 



„ 



85 



123 



10 



133 



41 



„ 



„ 



122 



9 



131 



21 



„ 



» 



? 



? 



132 



42 



51 



89 



125 



9 



134 



