OCR Text |
Show 584 MR. G. A. BOULENGER ON A NEW BLENNIOID FISH. [Nov. 15, Gill-membranes broadly connected, but free from isthmus ; branchio-stegals four. Dorsal fin very long, extending from the nape to the caudal, with which it is subcontinuous ; a few of the posterior rays are stiff spines, the rest being soft, though not articulate ; anal fin extending from the anus, which is a little nearer the anterior than the posterior extremity, to the caudal, formed exclusively of soft rays; caudal distinct, rounded. Pectorals well developed, with 21 rays. No ventrals. No lateral line. No prominent anal papillae. Pyloric appendages present. As tbe name I have chosen for this genus indicates, this is one of those numerous forms which might almost equally well be referred to the Blenniidee or to the Ophidiidce. The presence of pyloric appendages and the absence of prominent anal papillae might induce us to include it among the Gadoids, as defined by Giinther, whilst Blenniophidium petropauli. the presence of spines in the dorsal fin, together with the unmistakable affinity it bears to Cebedichthys, indicate its correct place to be among the Blenniidee. BLENNIOPHIDIUM PETROPAULI, sp. n. Depth of body 6| times in total length (without caudal); length of head same as depth of body. Diameter of eye equal to length of snout, | length of head, and a little more than interorbital width ; maxillary extending to below anterior fourth of eye ; some wide pores on the head; cheeks, opercles, and occiput closely scaled ; strips of small scales on the branchiostegal membrane, between the rays. Dorsal 41 XI, continuous and subequal in depth, about i; as deep as the body. Anal 37. Pectoral | length of head, about as long as caudal. Anus twice as far from caudal as from base of pectoral. Yellowish brown, with ill-defined darker marblings ; a crescentic black line on the top of the head, from eye to eye ; a black line, obliquely directed forwards, below the eye, and another, in opposite direction, from the eye to the opercle; two dark brown streaks across the nape, the second crossing the origin of the dorsal fin and extending to the base of the pectoral; dorsal and caudal fins greyish olive, lighter at the base, the dorsal with five large black spots at regular intervals ; pectorals and anal colourless. Total length 140 millim. The single specimen, which is represented above, two thirds |