OCR Text |
Show 1871.] IN THE BRITISH MUSEUM. 669 Two specimens, 5 inches long, formed part of a collection from Port Elizabeth (Port Natal). Purchased. PSEUDOPHYCIS PEREGRINUS. . D. 7|62(ca.). A. 66 (ca.). V. 3. The height of the body is less than the length of the head, which is two ninths of the total (without caudal). Vent at only a short distance behind the base of the pectoral; tail tapering into a very narrow band, the extremity of which is surrounded by the caudal fin; however, the vertical fins remain separate from one another. Head rather broader than deep, its greatest width being two thirds of its length. Interorbital space concave, its width being less than the diameter of the eye, which is one fourth of the length of the head, and equals that of the snout. Snout broad, obtuse, rounded, with the upper jaw overlapping the lower; the maxillary extends to below the middle of the eye. Barbel shorter than the eye. Vertical fins of moderate depth, with very fine fin-rays; the first dorsal commences opposite to the base of the pectoral. Pectoral as long as the head without snout. The ventral filament is jugular, extending beyond the origin of the anal, and composed of one longer and two shorter rays. Scales minute and deciduous. Reddish olive (in spirits), abdomen black. Dr. A. B. Meyer has sent several examples from Manado ; but they were so soft and decomposed that only one could be saved for description and preservation. It is 5 inches long. These fishes live evidently at great depths, which accounts also for the bad state in which they arrived, as it is most difficult to preserve deep-sea fishes after they have been removed from the condition of atmospheric pressure to which they were exposed. Also the stomach is protruding into the mouth, a common occurrence in fishes taken from great depths, and provided with an air-bladder. The discovery of this fish is of the greatest interest, inasmuch as it is the first instance of a true Gadoid being found in the East- Indian archipelago, Bregmaceros being a much less typical form of this family. The distribution of ichthyic types at great depths is very different from that on the surface of the oceans; and in elucidating the facts of the geographical distribution of marine fishes, it is as important to distinguish between the vertical faunae as between the horizontal. The two other species of Pseudophycis known inhabit the coasts of N e w Zealand and South Australia. NANN-ETHIOPS (g. n. TETRAGONOPTERIN.). Dorsal fin placed in the middle of the length of the body, above the ventrals; anal short. Adipose fin small. Body of moderate depth, covered with scales of moderate size. Belly rounded. Lateral line present. Cleft of the mouth narrow; teeth small, in a single series in both jaws, with a simple notch. Maxillary and palate toothless. |