OCR Text |
Show 672 PROF. R. COLLETT ON A NEW AGONOID PISH. [Nov. 20, The dorsal keel (coalescing with the keel on the other side at the 15th plate in front of the caudal fiu) is consequently composed of 38 to 39 plates ; the lower lateral keel, extending from lower base of the caudal to base of the 10th pectoral ray, contains 35 plates. Abdominal plates numbering :- Plates. From ventrals to anal (Pair) 11 The anal extending over ,, 10 From anal to caudal (Single) 17 The abdominal keel (coalescing at the 17th plate in front of the caudal) is formed by a series of 38 plates. Lateral line distinct; 38 pores. Fins.-In the 10 specimens, at present preserved in the museum at Christiania, the fin-rays are the following :- 1 D. 8 2 D. 8 A. 10 P. 17-17 8 9 10 ? 16 8 9 10 16-16 8 8 10 15-16 8 8 10 17-17 8 8 10 17-17 8 8 10 16-17 8(+l) 8 11 16-17 8 8 10 15-16 8 9 10 17-17 First dorsal begins behind the fourth dorsal plate and has 8 rays (one specimen has an additional slender ray in the space between the two dorsals). Its height equals its distance from the head. It extends over 8 scales; the first two rays in the space between the fourth and fifth plate. The dorsal fins are separated by 3, sometimes by 4 plates. Second dorsal has 8, sometimes 9, rays, and extends over 8 plates ; behind the last ray is one pair of plates, before the unpaired series begins. Anal has commonly 10 rays (in one specimen 11); its height equals that of the 2nd dorsal, and is rather less than that of the 1st dorsal. It commences between the 11th and 12th pairs of scales in the abdominal series. Ventrals short in the female, shorter than the vertical diameter of the eye ; longer in the male, equalling the length of the snout. Each has one short spine and three articulated rays, two of which are divided to their base. They are received in a longitudinal common groove ("Podothecus"). Pectoral has 16-17, rarely 15 rays, some of which are sometimes branched in their upper half, but not always. The first ray is short, about equal to half the second ray; the lowermost rays a little thicker than the rest. Its form is a little emarginate, the 5th lower ray being a trifle longer than the 6th and 7th. The tip extends to a distance from the anal of 2 or 3 plates. |