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



MURAENOID LARVAE. 



33 



in the upper, as well as in the lower jaw is curved fol- 

 lowed by 5 or 6 straight teeth. The foremost of the 

 straight teeth in the upper jaw (though broken off in 

 both specimens) appear to have been larger than the rest. 



There are no separated nostrils, merely an oval 

 aperture in front of the eye. 



The following are some of the dimensions: — 



Total length 



Greatest height 



Length of head 



Distance from point of snout to foremost 



margin of eye 



Largest diameter of eye 



Specimen 



1 



27 mm 

 7 . 

 2-9 „ 



11 . 

 0-7 „ 



Specimen 

 2 



27 mm 1 ) 

 7 „ 

 3-3 . 



1-3 „ 



0-7 „ 



20. Leptocephalus canaricus n. sp. 



Four very small larvae of a species distinguished by 

 a large number of segments and characteristic pigmenta- 

 tion, were taken at a depth of 50 metres at Stat. 45, one 

 of which is shown in fig. 1 on pi. VI. The larvae are 

 rather curved and thus difficult to measure, but have 

 approximately the following dimensions: 





No. 1 



No. 2 



No. 3 



No. 4 



Total length 



25 mm 

 1-6 „ 



2 „ 



11 „ 



0-5 , 



210 



24 mm 

 1-9 » 



1-9 „ 

 1 



0-5 . 

 220 



19 mm 

 1-3 „ 

 1-6 „ 



0-8 „ 



0-4 . 



208 



15 mm 

 1-2 „ 

 1-5 „ 

 0-8 , 

 0-3 „ 

 200 



Greatest height 



Length of head 



Length of snout 



Diameter of eye 



Number of segments .... 



The feature giving this species a very characteristic 

 appearance, is the three large pigment spots situated on 

 the ventral part of the muscle-segments. 



The teeth are few, but relatively very large, thus 

 indicating that the larvae are very young. Only in the 

 largest larva have I been able to discover a groove in 

 front of the eye, indicating the development of nostrils. 



The alimentary canal in all the individuals is damaged, 

 so that the situation of the anus could not be made out. 

 As far as could be observed, there may be one or two 

 dilatations of the alimentary canal, similar to those in L. 

 Saurenchelydis cancrivorae and L. stylurus, which, along 

 with the large number of segments, seem to indicate that 

 these larvae may be closely allied to the forms named. 



All the fins are at a very embryonic stage. The 

 pectoral fin is present as a small undifferentiated flap, 

 and the vertical fins appear as clear zones. The tail 

 terminates in a point without indicating any development 

 of either rays or hypural elements. 



The muscle-segments of the anterior part of the body 

 have the usual appearance with three angles. The dorsal 

 and ventral angles are wanting near the tip of the tail. 



These four larvae prove by their whole development 

 to be very young, and they can hardly have been car- 

 ried far from the spawning place. 



21. Leptocephalus megacara n. sp. 



There are two specimens of this species taken at 

 Stat. 64 from 100 metres; one of them is represented on 

 pi. V, fig. 6. Both are quite small and undeveloped, 

 true rays wanting in all the fins, with only very slight 

 indications of interspinous elements in the hind-most 

 portions of the dorsal and anal fins. 



^ 



Fig. 34. Head of L. megacara. 



As shown in fig. 6, pi. V, they are quite high in 

 proportion to length, the myomeres forming a very obtuse 

 angle at the lateral line. 



The anus is placed far back, and the alimentary 

 canal is characteristic in being thin anteriorly but rather 

 thick posteriorly. 



The shape of the head is shown in fig. 34; the snout 

 is pointed, and the lower jaw projects in front of the 

 upper jaw. 



The teeth differ somewhat in form and number in 

 the two specimens. The smaller specimen is provided 

 with a thin but long tooth anteriorly in each half of the 

 upper jaw, then one large tooth and 7 small oblique 

 teeth. Anteriorly in the lower jaw we find a big curved 

 tooth, then 4 large straight teeth, the foremost of which 

 is directed more forwards than the rest, immediately fol- 

 lowed by 3 small straight ones. (Fig. 34). 



The larger specimen is provided with a curved tooth 

 anteriorly in each half of the upper jaw, next 3 big straight 

 teeth, and finally 6 small straight ones. The lower jaw 



') Tip of tail wanting. 



