202 
PACIFIC SCIENCE, Vol. VI, July, 1952 
pectoral rays 14, according to the original 
description) and longer ventrals (3.8 to 3.9 
in head in the type). Probably each of these 
differences will be found to be included 
within the range of fluctuation when a larger 
number of specimens has been examined. 
Gempylus Cuvier 
Gempylus Cuvier (1829: 200 — type G. serpens 
Cuvier) . 
As one of the characteristics of the mono- 
typic genus Gempylus, earlier authors (Jordan 
and Evermann, 1896: 884; Barnard, 1927: 
789; Fowler, 1936: 636; Smith, 1949: 310) 
have mentioned "lateral line single." In his 
description of Gempylus serpens, however, 
Fowler (1936: 637) wrote: "Lateral line 
double, begins opposite base of first dorsal 
spine; upper branch extends high along back 
to a point opposite anterior elongated dorsal 
rays, where it suddenly becomes incomplete; 
lower branch complete to caudal base." In 
our single specimen referable to this species 
the lateral line is also double, but the upper 
branch ends at the base of the last dorsal 
spine. 
In their definitions of the genus, Jordan 
and Evermann (1896: 884) and Fowler 
(1936: 636) mentioned the ventrals as having 
a spine and five soft rays. In our single speci- 
men, however, the ventrals are composed of 
a spine and four soft rays, as described by 
Fowler (1936: 636) for the species. Cuvier 
(1829: 200), Goode and Bean (1895: 202), 
Barnard (1927: 789), and Longley and Hilde- 
brand (1941: 73) indicated that the ventral is 
reduced to a single spine, but it seems very 
probable that they overlooked the soft rays, 
which are so minute that they can hardly be 
seen without the aid of a lens (Fig. 6B). 
Gempylus differs from the other genera of 
this family in the form of the gill raker at the 
angle of the arch: it is very small and tri- 
angular and only its tip is exposed, instead 
of being T-shaped and moderately or greatly 
exposed (Fig. 2D). The maxillary (Fig. 6A) 
is largely hidden under the infraorbital mem- 
brane, as in the trichiurids. 
The sharply pointed snout terminates in a 
large conical cartilaginous process, which 
projects far beyond the premaxillaries (Fig. 
5B). 
The present genus seems to us to be a 
highly specilized offshoot of a line of genera 
which is represented in Japanese waters by 
Neoepinnula, Epinnula, and Mimasea. 
Gempylus serpens Cuvier 
Fig. 2D, 5B, 6 
Gempylus serpens Cuvier, 1829: 200 — based on 
Serpens marinus Sloane, 1707, "Voy. Ja- 
maica," 1: 26, pi. 1, fig. 2; Cuvier, in 
Cuvier and Valenciennes (1831: 207); 
Gunther, I860: 352; 1873-75: 106, pi. 68, 
fig. B; Goode and Bean, 1895: 202, fig.; 
Jordan and Evermann, 1896: 884; Jordan, 
Tanaka, and Snyder, 1913: 122; Jordan and 
Jordan, 1922: 305; Barnard, 1927: 789; 
Fowler, 1928: 135; 1936: 636; 1938: 277; 
Howell Rivero, 1938: 185; Kamohara, 
1940: 98, fig. 46; Longley and Hildebrand, 
1941: 72; Fowler, 1944: 75, 295, 422, 463, 
499, pi. 2, upper fig.; Smith, 1949: 311, 
fig. 864. 
Lemnisoma thyrsitoides Lesson, 1830: 160; Jor- 
dan and Evermann, 1905: 179; Jordan and 
Seale, 1906: 228. 
Gempylus thyrsitoides Fowler, 1938: 253. 
Gempylus coluber Cuvier, in Cuvier and Valen- 
ciennes, 1831: 211, pi. 221; Gunther, I860: 
353; Franz, 1910: 57. 
MATERIAL DESCRIBED: No. 57, 488 mm. 
(552.5 mm.), Tokyo market, from Sagami 
Bay. 
The only previous definite record of this 
rare fish from Japan is that of Franz. 
D. XXVIII, I, 12+6; A. II, I, 11 + 6; P. 
14; V. I, 4; Br. 7. Head 5.10 in body length; 
depth 15.75. Snout 2.20 in head; eye 5.64; 
interorbital 8.00 (bony width 8.80); upper 
jaw 1.92; depth of caudal peduncle 7.66; 
pectoral 2.00; ventral 22.80; longest (5th) 
dorsal spine 3.57; longest (2nd) soft dorsal 
