982 . 
Genus Maleeocephslus Gifnther 
Malacocephalus Gflnther, Cat. Fishes Brit. Mus., vol. 4, p. 396, 1862* 
— - .. 
(Type Macrurus laevis Lowe, monotypic.) 
; ' i- 
Body compressed, with short trunk and slender tapering tail. 
Head moderate. Snout short, obtuse, obliquely truncate. Mouth termi¬ 
nal, inferior, wide, upper jaw less than 1/3 of head. Upper teeth 
biserial, lower uniserial. Mandibular barbel present. No prominent 
ridges on head, muciferous cavities wide. Gill membranes broadly 
united, free from isthmus. Gills 4, slit behind fourth. Gill rakers 
tubercular, less than 15. No pseudobranchiae. Branchiostegals 7, 
Pyloric coeca very numerous, greatly branched. Scales small or minute, 
bristly or ctenoid, much deeper than long. Whole head scaly. Lateral 
line begins at upper angle of gill opening. First dorsal over pectoral 
origin, longest spine-like ray smooth. Dorsals usually widely separa¬ 
ted, Anal more developed than second dorsal. Pectoral short, high, 
opposite upper angle of gill opening. Vent well before anal fin, at 
end of naked oval which separated by narrow scaly stripe of skin from 
similar naked area below ventral fin bases, though both naked areas 
wanting in young. 
Species few, tropical or subtropical. 
