Laemonema barbatula

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 : 204-206

18. Laemonema barbatula , new specics.

Head contained in body (without caudal) 4?- times ; height of body 4.\ times. Diameter of orbit in length of head three times, upper jaw a little more than twice. Barbel half as loner as the diameter of the eve. Vent situated under

O * the sixth or seventh rav of second dorsal. Distance of first dorsal from snout equal to one fourth standard length of body. The base of the first dorsal is half as long as the middle caudal rays ; that of the second, slightly more than three times the length of the head. The first dorsal is composed of live rays, the first of which is elongate, three times as long as the middle caudal rays : it extends to the base of the twenty-fourth ray of the second dorsal. Anal fin inserted at a distance from the tip of the snout equal to twice the length of the head, its distance from the insertion of the ventrals being equal to the length of the head. The length of the ventrals is equal to that of the pectorals, their tips not extending to the vent.

Scales small, very thin, deciduous, crowded anteriorly. Lateral line not well defined on the posterior part of the body.

Radial formula : 13. VII ; D. 5-63 ; A. 59 ; F. 19 ; V. 2.

Scales 13-140-31.

Color similar to that of the various species of Phycis ; the dorsal and anal fins have narrow black margins.

The length of the first dorsal ray is very variable in individuals, being shorter in younger specimens.

This species differs from L. Yctrrellii by its much smaller scales, and from L. robustum by the greater number of rays in the dorsal and anal fins, and its much shorter ventrals.

Specimens of this species were obtained at the following stations of the steamer " Blake."

Station. 321 315 316 N. Lat. 32° 43' 25" 32° 18' 20" 32° 7' vr. Long. 77° 20' 30" 78° 43' 78° 37' 30" Faihoms. Specimens. 233 1 and part of I aJ - '/ 229 2 3

A single specimen was also obtained by the Fish Commission steamer " Fish Ilawk" in Lat. 38° 35' N., Long. 73° 13' W., at a depth of 312 fathoms, Oct. 10, 1881 (U. S. Nat. Mus., No. 29*046).

MEASUREMENTS.

Extreme length ..... Length to base of middle caudal rays Body. Greatest height Greatest width . Height at ventrals Least height of tail . Head. Greatest length Greatest width . Width of interorbital area . Length of snout . Length of upper jaw . Length of mandible Millimeters. . 178 160 . 36 18 . 32 4 . 33 20 7 hr 7 , 15 17 20 C