Barathrodemus manatinus, Goode, G. B. & Bean, T. H., 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 : 200-201

12. Barathrodemus manatinus , new species.

Two specimens of this species of Barathrodemus , six and a quarter inches in length, were obtained at Station 325, lat. 33° 35' 20", long. 76°, at a depth of 647 fathoms.

Description. - Body much compressed. Dorsal and anal outline approaching at an equal angle the horizontal axis. The height of the body is contained 7^ times in its total length without caudal, and times with caudal included. Scales small; about 175 rows between the branchial opening and the tail; and about 34 rows, counting upward and forward obliquely from the origin of the anal to the dorsal line. Lateral line apparently absent.

Head considerably compressed, with rounded upper surface, its length contained about six times in total body length ; its width contained 2£ times in its length ; its greatest height equal to two thirds its length. Snout slightly longer than the horizontal diameter of the eye, and projecting beyond the tip of the upper jaw a distance equal to the vertical diameter of the eye ; much dilated and swollen, the anterior pair of nostrils being situated at the most salient angles ; the snout in general form resembling that of a manatee, whence the specific name.

Mouth moderate ; its cleft extending to the vertical from the centre of the orbit. Length of the upper jaw equal to twice the horizontal diameter ol the eye, and contained times in the length of the head. The posterior portion of the maxilla is considerably expanded. The maxilla is largely included within a skinny sheath. When the mouth is closed, the lower jaw is entirely included within the upper. Maxilla toothless. Vomer and palatine bands of teeth more than twice as broad as the bands in the intermaxillaries and 011 the mandible.

Eye elliptical in form. Its vertical diameter two thirds of its horizontal, the latter being equal to the distance from the tip of the snout to the posterior nostril, and contained times in the length of the head. The distance of the eye from the dorsal outline is equal to half its horizontal diameter, and to one fifth of the height of the head in a perpendicular through the centre of the eye. Interorbital space rounded : its width equal to the horizontal diameter of the eye.

Dorsal fin inserted in the vertical above the insertion of the pectoral, at a distance from the end of the snout equal to that of the insertion of the pectoral.

Anal inserted under the 21st to 23(1 dorsal ray, and at a distance from the snout about equal to one third the body length. The height of the dorsal and anal fins is about equal to half the height of the body at the insertion of the anal. Their bases extend almost to the insertion of the caudal.

The caudal is composed of nine rays, the five medial ones almost equal in length, though the tip of the tail is slightly rounded, about equal to the height ol the body midway between the branchial opening and the base of the tail. r l he ventrals are inserted almost under the middle of the operculum; in length about equal to half the length of the head.

The pectorals are inserted under the origin of the dorsal, and at a distance behind the branchial opening equal to two thirds the vertical diameter of the eye. Their length is equal to the greatest height of the body.

Color, grayish brown. Abdominal region black.

Radial formula : D. 106 ; A. 86 ; C. 2 + 5 -f 2 ; P. 18-20 ; V.

L. lat., ca. 175.