Japanese Gempylidae — MatsubaRA AND IwAi 
201 
MATERIAL DESCRIBED: No. 4114, 280 mm. 
in standard length (322.5 mm. in total length), 
off Owase, Kumano-Nada, January, 1937. 
This rare species, the genotype of Mimasea, 
was based on three specimens taken near 
Kochi City. Later, two other specimens, since 
lost, were taken by him at the same locality. 
Our single specimen differs in some features 
from Kamohara’s rather brief description. 
D. XVIII, 16; A. I, 16; P. 13; V. I, 5; Br. 8. 
Head 3.83 in body length; depth 9.82. Snout 
2.09 in head; eye 6.96; interorbital 6.96 (bony 
width 7.86); upper jaw 2.15; depth of caudal 
peduncle 8.17; pectoral 2.70; ventral 3.32; 
longest (2nd) dorsal spine 2.61; longest (3rd) 
anal ray 3.95; caudal 1.74. 
Body greatly elongated and strongly com- 
pressed, at its middle about half as wide as 
deep. Snout (Fig. 5 A) rather sharply conical; 
lower jaw also sharply pointed, projecting 
beyond tip of snout a distance equal to half 
diameter of eye. Mouth large; maxillary not 
hidden under infraorbital membrane, extend- 
ing to below front edge of eye, the width at 
the extremity a little greater than the least 
infraorbital width. Three fangs on each side 
of upper jaw near tip of snout, second one on 
right side and first and third on left side de- 
pressible, the others immovable; a pair of 
canines near symphysis of lower jaw; lateral 
teeth on jaws conical, those on lower jaw 
much larger and more widely spaced than 
those on upper jaw; no teeth on vomer or 
palatines. Interorbital shallowly concave, its 
least width equal to diameter of eye. 
Lateral line inserted above angle of gill 
opening, bifurcating slightly behind vertical 
from base of fourth dorsal spine; lower branch 
abruptly curved backward and downward 
from bifurcation, to run along middle of body 
to base of middle caudal ray; upper branch 
coursing directly backward near dorsal to 
below a point slightly before penultimate 
dorsal spine, where it suddenly curves down- 
ward and ends immediately before reaching 
lower branch (Fig. IB). Posterior part of body 
covered with minute scales, which occupy an 
Fig. 5. Anterior portion of head of five species of 
Gempylidae, showing form of snout and extension of 
anterior extremity of premaxillary. A, Mimasea taenio- 
soma; B, Gempylus serpens; C, Neoepinnula orientalis; 
D, Rexea solandri; E, Promethichthys prometheus. Drawn 
by authors. 
area of rather indefinite extent, extending 
from base of caudal forward to slightly be- 
yond vertical from base of last dorsal spine. 
Dorsal inserted above upper angle of gill 
opening; dorsal spines becoming progres- 
sively shorter posteriorly; last spine separated 
from soft dorsal, which is about as large as 
anal. Anal inserted below base of fourth 
dorsal ray; preceded by a single spine. Pec- 
toral extending to below base of sixth dorsal 
spine. Ventral slightly shorter than pectoral; 
inserted somewhat behind base of pectoral. 
Caudal deeply forked, with subequal lobes. 
Gill rakers (Fig. 2C) small, largely hidden 
under the skin; each usually with 3 to 4 cusps 
and armed with several spines, except the one 
at the angle, which is also small and is T- 
shaped, with only the distal part exposed; 1 
or 2 small accessory rakers frequently inter- 
polated. 
Color in formalin dark brown, paler below; 
spinous dorsal blackish between first and 
fourth spines; other fins pale. 
remarks: Our single specimen, the basis of 
the description and figures, differs from 
Kamohara’s accounts of Mimasea taeniosoma 
in having somewhat fewer soft dorsal and 
pectoral rays (dorsal soft rays 17 to 18 and 
