166 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
Genus 94. POLYMIXIA Lowe. Barbudo. 
Characters of the genus included above. The species are fully described in Section II. 
Polymixia Lowe, Trans. Cambr. Phil. Soc. 1838, 198 ( nobilis ). 
Nemobrama Valenciennes, Berher-Webb & Berthelot, Ich. lies Canar., 40, 1844 (webbii). 
Dinemus Poev, Memorias, II, 160, 1800 ( venustus ). 
Suborder SELENICHTH YES. 
This group is especially characterized by the presence of 14 to 17 rays in the ventral tins. The 
long dorsal is made of soft rays only, and the hypocoracoid bone is greatly dilated. It is probably 
allied to the group of Scombroidei. 
One family, the Lampridx. 
Family LI. LAMPRID/E. — The Mariposas. 
Body ovate, comoressed and elevated, covered with minute, cycloid scales; head small, rather 
pointed; mouth small, terminal, without teeth in the adult, its angle with slits in the skin to permit 
motion of jaws, as in the tunnies; premaxillaries protractile; opercular bones entire; dorsal tin single, 
very long, elevated, and falcate in front, without distinct spines; anal long and low, not at all falcate; 
both tins depressible in a groove; ventral fins thoracic, but behind the pectorals, attached to a very 
long pubic bone, composed of 14 to 17 soft rays; pectoral fins large, falcate, their bases horizontal; 
caudal fin moderately forked, its peduncle short and slender, without keel; a pit at, base of caudal, 
above and below, as in certain sharks; lateral line present, much arched in front; branchiostegals 6; 
gill-membranes free from isthmus; esophagus not armed with spinous teeth; air-bladder .arge, bifur- 
cate behind; pyloric appendages very numerous; vertebrae 45; hypocoracoid very much dilated, as in 
Brarna, the entire shoulder-girdle very heavy; the pubic bone much longer than in Brama. Fishes of 
large size and gorgeous coloration, inhabiting the open seas, the flesh firm and rich. A single genus 
with probably but one species. It resembles the tunnies in the character of the flesh, but the form is 
very different, and the character of the anal fin separates it widely from all mackerel-like fishes. 
Genus 95. LAMPRIS Retzius. Mariposas. 
Characters of the genus included above. The single species is cosmopolitan, most beautifully 
colored, and unsurpassed as food, the flesh rich, firm, and delicate. 
Lampris Retzius, K. Vet. Ac. Nya Handlingar, XX, 1799, 97 ( guttatus ). 
Chrysotosus LaccSpede, Hist. Nat. Poiss., IV, 586, 1802 (luna=guttatus). > 
121. Lampris regius (Bonnaterre). 
Head 3.25 in length; depth 1.75; D. 53 to 55; A. 38 to 41; Y. 14 to 17; vertebrae .23-)- 22=45. 
Body short and very deep, sides much compressed; mouth toothless; longest dorsal ray shorter 
than pectorals, which are nearly as long as head; anal very low in front, a little higher behind. 
Color a rich brocade of silver and lilac, rosy on belly; everywhere with round silvery spots; head, 
opercles, and back with ultramarine tints; jaws and fins vermilion; flesh red, of varying shades. 
Skeleton strong and firm. Length 3 to 6 feet. Open waters of the Atlantic and Pacific; frequently 
taken off the coasts of Europe; not rare off Madeira; occasionally taken off Newfoundland, Maine, and 
Cuba; also at Monterey and other places in California, and in Japan. Mr. Berndt sends a photograph 
of a specimen of this species, weighing 176 pounds, taken off Honolulu. One of the choicest of fishes, 
the flesh rich, firm, and of delicate flavor. 
Zeus regius Bonnaterre, Encycl. Ichth., 72, pi. 39, 1788, Torbay, England; after Opah of Pennent. 
Zeus guttatus Briinnich, Danske Selskr., Ill, 398, 1788, Elsinore, Denmark. 
Zeus luna Gmelin, Syst. Nat., Ill, 1225, 1789, Normandy; after Poisson du Lune, Du Hamel, Des Peches, III, 74. 
Lampris luna, Gunther, Cat., II, 416, 1860; Day, Fish. Great Britain, 118. 
Lampris regius, Goode & Bean, Oceanic Ichth., 223, 1896. 
