Zoology.-] NATURAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA. [Fishes, 



Plate 87. 

 MUSTELUS ANTARCTICUS (Gram). 



The Australian Smooth-Hound. 



[Genus MUSTELUS (Cuv.). (Sub-kingd. Vertebrata. Class Pisces. Order Plagio- 

 stomata. Sub-order Selachoidea. Fam. Carcharidse. Sub-fam. Mustelinse.) 



Gen. Char. — Form tapering, moderately compressed. Five small gill-slits, the three 

 anterior in front of pectoral. Two dorsals without spines, and moderate ventral and anal fins : 

 caudal moderate, extremity of body scarcely elevated, a notch in distal lobe ; basal lobes 

 moderate. Nostrils with a very long narrow triangular lobe from anterior edge, and a small 

 lobe from posterior margin. Mouth moderately arched, with strong prominent cartilages and a 

 deep fold about each angle. Teeth very numerous, small, rhomboidal, flat, like a tiled pave- 

 ment, of many alternate rows ; the posterior rows in some species with a slight short median 

 point, and one still smaller at one side. Spiracles moderate, a little behind and below the 

 posterior corner of eye ; eye elongate. A nictitating membrane. No pit in front of caudal. 

 Scales very small, triangular, tricarinate. Cosmopolitan.] 



Description. — Head semi-oval, flattened, pre-oral portion about equal to the 

 width of mouth. Eyes approximate, lengthened with a thick fold below, forming' 

 the nictitating lid, their anterior edges about as far from tip of snout as from each 

 other. Spiracle a little behind the eye. First dorsal small, entirely behind the 

 inner posterior lobe of pectoral, or very slightly in front of it, a little nearer to 

 snout than to the second dorsal j anterior and posterior bases of anal a little behind 

 the corresponding parts of second dorsal ; space between dorsals two and a half in 

 length of the base of second dorsal. Tail very slightly elevated ; notch in distal 

 lobe of caudal fin deep and narrow. Color; Back and sides ashy-grey, with a 

 slight pinkish-brown tinge on side of head and body ; with, from nape to second 

 dorsal, very small lighter spots on back and sides above lateral line ; lower lip, lower 

 third of sides, whole under surface of body, and under side of pectorals and ventrals, 

 milk-white ; hind edge of dorsals and tip of caudal blackish ; iris mottled green and 

 brown bronze, darker above and below. Teeth in about seven rows, the inner angle 

 slightly prominent as a very obtuse cusp on the inner rows. 



Measurements. Small Female. 



Ft. ins. lines. Ft. ins. lines. 



Total length to end of upper lobe of caudal 

 Length from snout to origin of 1st dorsal 



„ of base of 1st dorsal ... 

 Height of 1st dorsal 

 Length of posterior lobe of 1st dorsal ... 



„ from snout to anterior base of 2nd dorsal 



„ of base of 2nd dorsal... 

 Height of anterior part of 2nd dorsal... 

 Length of posterior lobe of 2nd dorsal 



„ from anterior origin of base of caudal fin to tip of 

 upper lobe 



„ from anterior base of 2nd dorsal to commence- 

 ment of caudal 



„ of anterior edge of lower lobe of caudal 



„ from snout to anterior base of pectoral ... 



„ of base of pectoral ... 



„ of anterior margin of pectoral 



[23] 



'3 5 ... 1 11 



1 1 ... 7 1 

 3 9 ... 2 6 

 4 ... 2 9 

 1 7 ... 1 1 



2 3 ... 1 2 

 3 ... 2 

 3 3 ... 2 2 

 1 2 ... 10 



6 4 ... 4 6 



7 5 ... 4 9 



2 10 ... 2 



8 9 ... 4 9 



2 ... 1 5 



5 ... 3 2 



