Alepocephalus Agassizii, Agassizii, 1883

Goode, G. B. & Bean, T. H., 1883, Reports on the results of dredging under the supervision of Alexander Agassiz, on the east coast of the United States, during the summer of 1880, by the U. S. coast survey steamer “ Blake, ” Commander J. R. Bartlett, U. S. N., commanding., Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard College 10 (5), pp. 183-226 : 218-219

36. Alepocephalus Agassizii , new species.

A single specimen of Alepocephalus was obtained at Station 338, in 922 fathoms , Lat. 38° 18' 40" N., Long. 73° 18' 10" W.

This is the fourth species of the genus which has, to date, come up for description : the first, A. rostratus , having been described by Risso from the Mediterranean in 1820; the second, A. niger , from north of Australia, at a depth of 1,400 fathoms, obtained by H. M. S. " Challenger, ’’ and described by Gunther in 1878 ; the third, A. Bairdii , from the Grand Banks of Newfoundland , at a depth of 200 fathoms, described by us in 1879. The former American species having been named in honor of the Director of the U. S. National Museum, we propose to dedicate the one now under consideration to the Curator of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, under the name Alepocephalus Agassizii.

Diagnosis. - Body slightly less elongate than in A. Bairdii , its height being contained very slightly more than five times in its length to origin of middle caudal rays, somewhat compressed, its width being about half its height. The least height of the tail is contained twelve times in the length of the l*odv. O O % • Scales apparently ovate-lanceolate, parchment-like, smaller than in A. Bairdii : the specimen is almost denuded of scales, and their arrangement in the drawing has been in part made out from their impressions upon the skin. There are ninety scales in the lateral line, ten between lateral line and origin of dorsal, eleven between same and origin of anal. The base of the dorsal is squamose, the anal slightly so, but probably less than in A. Bairdii .

Head somewhat compressed, snout conically elongate, the lower jaw slightly produced. Its length is contained three times in the length of the body (in A. Bairdii , 4-J-), slightly exceeding twice the length of the lower jaw, and four times the least height of the tail (in A. Bairdii , less than three). Width of head .slightly less than length of operculum, and times in length of body (12 in A. Bairdii ).

Length of snout half that of mandible, which is one sixth of total length (i in A. Bairdii ). Diameter of orbit in total length of body 10£ times (18 in A. Bairdii ), 3i in head (about 4\ in A. Bairdii ).

The insertion of the dorsal is immediately above the vent; the distance of its origin from the base of middle caudal rays equal to one third of distance from same to anterior margin of orbit, and at a distance from the snout much greater than two thirds the total length of body (about equal in A. Bairdii ). The length of its base is equal to one eighth of total length.

The origin of the anal is under the second ray of the dorsal ; its length of base is slightly more than one seventh of the body length, and is equal to the height of the body at the vent. o %j

The ends of the dorsal, anal, and caudal rays are broken off in the specimen before us.

Distance of pectoral from snout, equal to J of the body length (slightly more than \ in A. Bairdii ) and 4-^ times least height of tail (3 in A. Bairdii ). Its length equal to the diameter of orbit and contained 10^ times in total length (10 in A. Bairdii ). The origin of the pectoral is close behind the end of the opercular flap, while in A. Bairdii it is separated therefrom by four rows of scales.

Distance of ventral from snout considerably less than twice the length of the head. Its length, probably, about one sixth that of the head.

Radial formula: D. 15 ; A. 17; C. 19 ; P. 11 ; V. 1, 5 I

L. lat. 90.

Dentition as in A. Bairdii .

Color dark, head and fins nearly black.