92 
PACIFIC SCIENCE, Vol. XXI, January 1967 
(unnumbered, D’Arros Island, Amirantes Is- 
lands), T. n.sp. (81062-42, Bahia Banderas, 
Mexico), and Ariosoma gilberti (Ogilby) 
(SI062-77, Sinaloa, Mexico). 
OSTEOLOGY 
neurocranium (Fig. l): The skull is 
truncated posteriorly, except where the exoc- 
cipital flanges break the outline. The pre- 
maxillaries, ethmoid, and vomer are fused, with 
no suggestion of articulations, such as were 
reported by Bohlke (1957) for Nystactichthys 
halts. The anterior, triangular tooth-patch may 
represent the premaxillary dentition. The dorsal 
or ethmoid portion of the complex is very thin, 
and is reduced medially to a septum, so that 
it is shaped much like an I-beam in cross section. 
Laterally the ethmoid portion is expanded, and 
gives rise to two heavy, forward-curving pro- 
cesses. These are very similar to the "lateral 
ethmoid processes" reported by Asano (1962) 
for Anago and Alloconger. Below this are two 
small projections from the lateral face of the 
vomer. These vomerine processes are difficult 
to distinguish from the base of the lateral 
ethmoid process. They are more evident in 
Taenioconger and, judging from Bohlke’s 
figures 3B and 3C, are developed in Nystactich- 
thys as well. Posteriorly on the under side of the 
cranium, parts of the prootic and basioccipital 
are expanded to form a prominent auditory 
bulla, which contains a large otolith (presum- 
ably the sagitta). The foramen magnum is 
surrounded by exoccipital flanges, which grasp 
the first vertebra. The supraoccipital is well 
developed, but does not completely separate the 
epiotics, which are in contact posteriorly. The 
parietals are sutured in the specimen figured, 
(Klausewitz and Eibl-Eibesfeldt, 1959). The sole 
distinction of the genus Xarifania was the supposed 
lack of caudal rays. The tail-tip of X. has si is fleshy 
but flexible and clearly contains well-developed caudal 
rays. These are visible under direct light and are ob- 
vious when transmitted light is used. In addition to 
the Amirantes specimen, I have examined a paratype 
of X. has si (ansp 94706) through the courtesy of 
J. Bohlke. I can find no other important differences, 
either in external morphology or osteology, between 
X. has si and the species of Taenioconger examined. 
The nominal genus Xarifania is considered, therefore, 
to be a synonym of Taenioconger. 
Fig. 1 . Head skeleton of Gorgasia punctata. A, 
Lateral view, including pectoral girdle; B, neurocran- 
ium, lateral view; C, neurocranium, top view; D, 
neurocranium, bottom view. A A, Articular angular; 
BO, basioccipital; BR, branchiostegal ray; CL, cleith- 
rum; CO, circumorbital ; D, dentary; EO, exoccipital; 
EP, epiotic; FR, frontal; HMD, hyomandibular ; 
HOC, hypocoracoid; HRC, hypercoracoid; IOP, in- 
teropercle; LEP, lateral ethmoid process; MX, maxil- 
lary; N, nasal; OBS, orbitosphenoid ; OP, opercle; 
PAR, parietal; PAS, parasphenoid ; PEV, premaxil- 
lary ethmovomerine block; POP, preopercle; PP, 
palatopterygoid ; PR, pectoral ray; PRO, prootic; 
PT, pterygiophore; PTO, pterotic; PTS, pterosphen- 
oid; QU, quadrate; SCL, supracleithrum;. SO, supra- 
occipital; SOP, subopercle; SPO, sphenotic. 
but in another they are fused for the anterior 
one-quarter of their lengths. The frontals are 
completely fused, with no sign of a suture or 
median ridge. There are well-developed canals 
along the lateral margins of the pterotics and 
frontals, with two large foramina anteriorly, 
but there is no transverse canal across the 
frontals. 
SUSPENSORIUM AND JAWS (Fig. 1): As 
