ALBERT R. MANN
LIBRARY

New York STATE COLLEGES
OF
AGRICULTURE AND HOME ECONOMICS

 

AT

CoRNELL UNIVERSITY

 

 

 

 
Cornell ee Library
QL 638.C66S92

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University Zoologi

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LEPTOCEPHALIDS

IN THE

UNIVERSITY ZOOLOGICAL MUSEUM

AT UPSALA

BEING A DISSERTATION
FOR THE ATTAINING OF THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR

PRESENTED BY PERMISSION
OF THE

MATHEMATICAL AND NATURAL SCIENCE SECTION
OF THE PHILOSOPHICAL FACULTY OF THE
UNIVERSITY AT UPSALA

FOR PUBLIC DISCUSSION
IN THE ZOOLOGICAL LECTURE-HALL

on
WEDNESDAY MAY 27th 1896
AT

10 O'CLOCK A. M.

BY

PEHR HUGO STROMMAN

LICENCIATE OF PHILOSOPHY

a

UPPSALA 4896
PRINTED BY ALMQVIST & WIKSELL.
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RC3324
Professor TycHo TuLLBerc, Director of the Univer-
sity Zoological Museum in Upsala, requested me in the
year 1890 to examine and treat the Leptocephalids to
be found in that Museum.

At that time the collection embraced, firstly, a
number of specimens from the Straits of Messina, col-
lected by Professor Hs. Toten and Dr. A. AppELLor
during their stay at Messina in 1888, and secondly,
specimens from extraeuropean waters, obtained by
the late Captain G. von ScH#ELE on his extensive
travels in tropical seas, especially in the Malayan
Archipelago.

In the meantime Dr. C. Bovatuius has enriched
the museum with a number of specimens obtained in
1891 by him in Italy’; and the late Captain A. Fors-
strém has presented the Museum with some Lepto-
cephalids from the Atlantic. But it is to the late Cap-
tain G. C. Ecxman that the collection is especially in-
debted for additions. He handed over to the Museum
a large number of specimens, which he had procu-
red in the Central Atlantic.

At present the Museum contains 29 species of
Leptocephalids, of which there are in all 541 repre-
sentatives. ;
IV

Fifteen of these twenty-nine species have been de-

scribed before; thirteen belong to the genus Leptoce-,
phalus and two to that of Tilurus. ,

These are:

Leptocephalus Morrisii Guru.
is Kollikeri Kavp.
5) Kaupit Face.
*s sicamus Face.
A Yarrellii Kaur.

i” Heeckelit. Kaur.

* Bibront Kaur.

5 Gegenbauri Kaur.
: brevirostris Kaur.
‘ Maurolict Face.

ij inequalis Face,
* Bleekeri Facc.
is Kefersteinii Kaur.
Tilurus trichiurus (Cocco) Kauvp.
»  Aydlinus Face.

The remaining fourteen species,

”

1
8
4
5
6
8
9

9
11
11
12
14
15

45

46

below)

é

all belonging to

the genus Leptocephalus and all extraeuropean, are new

and hitherto not described.

They are as follows:

Leptocephalus LEckmani n. sp.

*y immaculatus ,  ,
3 Schéelet a.
6s Forsstromi iy
‘5 undulatus neh
i humilis eo ¥%
A javanicus ro

20

21

24
27
29
30

. 16> below)

Wee was i / S
Vv

Leptocephalus crenatus n. sp. (see p. 82: below)
” f uliginosus » 7 ( noon 34 nn)
i subinornatus , , (y » 86 4, )
Fe lanceolatus , , -(y » 37 4 )
” hyoproroides no” ( ne) 39 ” )
; curvirostris 4» 4» (yy » 41 4 )
3 tiluroides oop Gop go 48 = 3

The long and keenly debated question, “what is
the real nature of Leptocephalids?“ has been, quite
recently, finally answered, as all are aware, by the
studies Grasst and CaLanpRuccio have published upon
these animal-forms. They found them to be normal
larva-stages of fishes that belong to the group Mu-
renids. It may perhaps seem, from this fact, that
to continue to treat the Leptocephalids as though
they formed one independent and systematic group is
unjustifiable. Such treatment may however possibly
be defended on the score of the intimate connection
between Leptocephalid forms and Mureenids respecti-
vely having only in a few cases been proved with
any certainty. A further justification for the same
lies in the fact that it will certainly be long before
the intimate connection above mentioned has been fully
exemplified for all forms. It is however evident that
in reference to Leptocephalids the terms “genus” and
“species must not be accepted in the ordinary sense,
but rather looked upon as a sort of temporary no-
menclature.

Considering the limited knowledge at present pos-
sessed relative to these animal-forms it would be ven-
vi

turesome, if indeed possible at all, to attempt to ar-
rive at any natural grouping of them.

In this account of the collection of Leptocephal-
ids in the Zoological Museum at Upsala I have not
therefore considered it wise to do so in any degree;
it seemed better first to treat those forms that are
already known and then to take up the new ones
that I have succeeded in discovering in the collection.
Within, however, the bounds of these two categories,
I have tried to arrange thé species in such a way,
that those which in habit most closely correspond and
are in all probability nearly related to each other have
been placed together. I have not deemed it necess-
ary to give descriptions of the first category, since
the species here have already been described in detail.

There is an agreable duty that yet remains for
me to discharge. I desire namely in this place to
give expression to my heartfelt gratitude to my ho-
noured teacher, Professor TycHo TuLtpere, for the
kind interest he has shown in my zoological studies,
for the valuable advice and explanations he has con-
stantly therein afforded me, and for the goodwill I have
ever been the recipient of at his hands.
Genus LEPTOCEPHALUS Garonowus.

Zoophyl. Gronov. 1763. Fasc. I, N:o 410. p. 185.

Subgenus Helmichthys.

Helmictis RAFINESQUE. Ind. ittiol. sic. 1810. p. 62.

The body is not compressed or but slightly so,
and is cylindrical or subcylindrical in shape. Of the
forms referred to this subgenus the following are found
represented in the “collection:

L. Morrisii Gue.., L. Kollikeri Kaup and L. Kau-
pti Face.

1. L. Morrisii Gme.in.
C. a. Linng, Syst. Nat. 1785. T. I. p. 1150.

In determining this species I have given it the
same extent as Dr. FaccionA in his work: “Rivista
delle specie di Leptocephalidi del mar di Messina“;
it includes therefore Helmichthys (Helmictis) punctatus
RarF., too.

There are three examples of the species in the
collection. Two of them are typical L. Morrisii; one
was obtained by Professor TamerLAN THoRELL off Nice,
the other by Dr. Aporr AppgtLér off Messina; the third
specimen, procured off Scilla in Calabria, in the Straits
2

of Messina by Dr. Cart Bovatiius, gives, on the other
hapd, evidence of possessing characters considered to
be distinctive of Helm. punctatus Rar.

a) Nice. T. Tuoretu. 1 specimen. No date given.

Teeth Of BOOP ya ok wae oe Sw SS 108 mm.
Greatest height of body. .......... tC x
‘Distance from extremity of snout to origin

Of dorsal fy. ie ek we Go Ge wee a a 2o ,
Distance from extremity of snout to vent 45 ,
Length of head .. 1... 1. ew eee eee 9 y
Distance from extremity of snout to eye’s

BUCOMIOY TWA VEMA 6) ieee acts oe a Sw a ws 2. oF
Hye's MaMehenS S/o a 28.9 6 babe ee x OP

b) Messina. A. ApprELLoF. 1 specimen. 1888.

Length of body .... 0... ee ees 92 mm.
Greatest height of body........... 6 x
Distance from extremity of snout to dor-

SANS oe Sy Ww ee Oe OE Sw BN 25,
Distance from extremity of snout to vent 389 ,
hergth Of Wad «ax ea pe a he do St as
Distance from extremity of snout to eye’s

anterior margin. ..... eeeceere aC is
Hye's MiaMmeter yo ox we ew we ee SSeS a ow

C) Calabria, Scilla. C. Bovauurus. 1 specimen.
Feb. 11. 1891.

Length of body . 2% esc. aee4 e444 104 mm.
Greatest height of body. .......... ts
Distance from extremity of snout to dor-

Sa Ue he eet Lote Ge A RR 28

Distance from extremity of snout to vent 42
Lenebh oF head» yeuce4 a ee ae aoe a eS 8 mm
Distance from extremity of ba to eye’s

SMLCILOF ANAPEIN, of giyouia « Ge la ee A 2 »
Mye’s Giameler< say 4s ee ols ee ae KS 2

2. L. Kollikeri Kaur.
Cat. Apod. Fish. Brit. Mus. 1856.-p. 148. pl. XVII, fig. 10.

The museum possesses two specimens of this spe-
cies, procured near Messina by Professor Hs. Tuten
and Dr. ApprnLor, Feb. 1888.

a) Messina. Hs. Tuten and A. AppEeLLér. 1 speci-
men, Feb. 1888.

Length of body ....... STA Bind ee 92 mm.
Greatest height of body .......... 6 ,
Distance from extremity of snout to dor-

sal fn. .... Pama ener Sa eaten Vite 13
Distance from extremity of snout to vent.: 36 ,
Lengih- of head pin eat ea ee ee ae a TO
Distance from extremity of snout to eye’s

anterior margin... .......+... 3 5
Eye’s diameter... .........200. 2° %

b) [see a) above.]
bensth of body <1 « say sw eee oe x 58 4
‘Greatest height of body .......... G4
Distance from extremity of snout to dor-

Sal fin. 2 ee Le os
Distance from-extremity of snout to vent. 39. ,,
Length of head . 2... eee eee eae 9 4
Distance from extremity of snout to eye’s
anterior margin... 0 6 eee ee ees Ss 4

Bye’s diameter... . 2... ee eee eee oa
3. L. Kaupii Facciora.
Rivista sp. Leptoc, Atti R. Accad, Pelorit, 1883. Anno IV.
p. 185, t. £. 38.

This species, which resembles L. Kéllikeri very
closely, is represented in the collection by seven in-
dividuals, all from Messina, Six of them were col-
lected by Professor Tuten and Dr. AppELiér in Feb.
1888, while Dr. Bovauiius obtained the seventh on
the 24" of Jan. 1891.

a—f) Messina. Hs. Toten and A. AppELLor. 6
specimens. Feb. 1888.

These six specimens have the following dimensions:

a) 0b) oc ad e) f)

mum mm mm mm mm. mm.

Length of body... .. 99 99 90 85 82 77
Greatest height of body 6 6 6 6 6 6
Distance from extremity

of snout to dorsal fn 28 283 22 18 21 18
Distance from extremity

of snout to vent... 40 88 88 83 84 81
Length of head. .... 9 9 8 8 8
Distance from extremity

of snout to eye’s an-

terior margin. .... 8 2 3 2 2 2
Eye’s diameter... .. a 2 2 2.2 2

g) Messina; harbour, on the surface, at night,

C. Bovauirus. 1 specimen. Jan. 24. 1891,
Hemet Of DOO yc kon a ed a a ke a wow 88 mm.
Greatest height of body. .........., 6
Distance from extremity of snout to dorsal fin 18
Distance from extremity of snout to vent. 36
Length of Dead . 456 4G a Bx de ae x 8
Distance from extremity of snout to eye’s
anterior margin. ............., 2,5 mm.
Eye’s diameter .. 1... 2... cece 2

Subgenus Euleptocephalus n. subg.

The body is strongly compressed and more or
less band- or leaf-shaped.

4. L. sicanus Facciova.
Descr. n. sp. Leptoc. str. Messina. Atti Soc. Tose. Sc. Nat. Pisa.
1883. Vol. VI. Fasc. I. p. 5. t. 4. £ 3.

It is probable that this form is quite distinct
from L. Yarellii Kaur. The museum possesses three
examples of it. One of them is from Capo di Faro
in the Straits of Messina, the only locality, so far as
I am aware, hitherto recorded for this species. The
other two specimens were found by the late Captain
G. von Scutere in 85°40’ South Lat. and 18° 45’
East Long., that is, off the Cape of Good Hope. They
agree completely in every respect with the descrip-
tion and drawing Dr. FacctonA gives of L. sicanus;
hence they can without hesitation be referred to this
form — thus giving a new illustration of the extensive
distribution some of these fishes would seem to have.
(In the same glass there was also a specimen of ZL.
Yarellii Kaup., likewise agreeing in all particulars with
specimens from Messina, which for this species too
is the only- recorded locality).

a) Messina. Capo di Faro. C. Bovauiius. 1 spe-
cimen. 1891. April 8.

Length of DOdys oa be 2 a wor a ee 106 mm.
Greatest height of body .......... i ee
6

Distance from extremity of snout to dor-

Os cs ae eee ee ae >a 78 tom,
Distance from extremity of snout to vent. 94 ,
Length of head... 1... 2... . 1 wae ic
Distance from extremity of snout to eye’s

anterior Margin .........0.04 2,5 y
Eye’s diameter ...........2.0084 2

n

b, c)' Lat. 35° 40' S. Long. 18° 45’ E. = G. vow
ScHEELE. 2 specimens. 1885.

b) c)

mm, mm.
Length of body... ........... 122 87
Greatest height of body......... 14. «10
Distance from extremity of snout to dor-

Sal GN oy edge Sa ee eR a 86 64
Distance from extremity of snout to vent 108 78
Length of head. ......... aoe tok 7 5,5
Distance from extremity of snout to eye’s

anterior margin ...........0., 2,5 2.
Eye’s diameter. ............. 2 1,5

5. L. Yarrellii Kaup.
Cat. Apod. Fish. Brit. Mus. 1856 p. 149. pl. XVIIL. f. 13.

There are five individuals of this species in the
‘collection from Messina; three of them were pro-
cured | by Dr. Apprtnér in 1888, and two by Dr.
Bovattius 1891. Besides these there is the one
already spoken of (p. 5), an individual from 35° 40'S.
Lat. and 18° 45' E. Long., captured by Captain von
SCHEELE,

a—c) Messina, A. ApPELLOF. 3 specimens. 1888.
a) i) c)

mm, mm. nm,
Length of body.......... 121 119 109
Greatest height of body ..... 14 (12°) 117
Distance from extremity of snout

to dorsal fn ..... 0.0... - 70 79 ~=668
Distance from extremity of snout —

TO: “VOMU aie es ah ae ee ees 90 94 83
Length of head ........., 8 8 8
Distance from extremity of snout

to eye’s anterior margin. ... 2,5 25 25
Hy6's Ciamieter esa ae wwe ee a 2 Q 2

d) Messina; harbour, surface. C. Bovatiivs, 1
specimen. Jan. 24. 1891.

Length of body ..............0. 102 mm.
Greatest height of body .......... 12 yy
Distance from extremity of snout to dor-

SAL Ns oe he Bod Oe ese RN ees A 57
Distance from extremity of snout to vent 76 ,
Length Of bead. 2s. a ace os eee ate fee 8 ,
Distance from extremity of snout to eye’s

anterior margin. 6 uk ce ee 3 iy
Hives WIAMOLe? soe ea Se ee ae

e) Messina; straits, surface, daytime. C. BovaL-
-Lius.: 1 specimen. Feb. 12. 1891.

Length ef G0dyyi4 as vy aie wie eos #4 103 mm.
Greatest height of body .......... 2
Distance from extremity of snout to dor-

Sal tie 24. eee Ae lie IS ode, ew aig (D2

Distance from extremity of snout to vent 74 ,
Length of head. 2... se tere eves S 4
8

Distance from extremity of snout to eye’s
anterior margin... . 6-6 ee ee eee 2,5 mm.
Hye’s diameter . gs va eee peewee ee 2 ‘
f) Lat. 35° 40' S. Long. °18° 45 E. G. von
Scu#eLe. 1 specimen. 1885.

Length of body... .... 2.56228 e 114 mm.
Greatest height of body .......... iA gy
Distance from extremity of snout to- dor-

Sal fit noe ee we ee ee LO” <e
Distance from extremity of snout to vent 87 ,
Length of Read's 644 eae een ne ee ey
Distance from extremity of snout to eye’s

anterior margin... ... 2.2.25 5- 2,5 y
Byes Mimieber ig ewe Sa ae ae is 2

6. L. Haeckelii Kavp.

Ann, a. Mag. nat. hist. 1860. 38. Ser. VI. p. 270. pl. 3. f. B.

The museum is possessed of two examples of this
species, which differs but slightly from L. Yarrellii
Kaur. They were obtained by Dr. Bovauiius in the
harbour of Messina on the 14 of March 1891.

a, 6) Messina; harbour, surface. OC. Bovatuius.
2 specimens. 1891. March 14.

a) ' Ob)

mm. mm,

Length of body .............. 116 108

Greatest height of body ......... 14 12
Distance from extremity of snout to dor-

Salsfines dara. 4 Sak we A ae ae 79 = 78

Distance from extremity of snout to vent 96 89
Length of head ............ nas. <8 7
Distance from extremity of snout to eye’s 9)
anterior margin. ............ 3 2,5
Bye's Gia mieten, «sas naw e aoe kas 2 2

7. Li. Bibroni Kaur.
Cat. Apod, Fish. Brit. Mus. 1856. p. 149. pl. XVIL fig. 12.
Of this species too there are two specimens in
the museum, procured by Dr. AppELLOF near Messina
1888.
a,b) Messina. A. AppELLOF. 2 specimens. 1888.

a) b)
mm, mm.
Lene: BC Node. 912 44 Shwe F 106 100
Greatest height of body ......... 11 11
Distance from extremity of snout to dor-
= eee a eae eae 42 50
Distance from extremity of snout to vent 58 65,
Length of head... . nea ame Oe . 8 8
Distance from extremity of snout to eye’s
anterior margin ........00.% 2. (Be. Bs
Eyés diameter ............0.. 2 2

8. L. Gegenbauri Kaup.
Cat. Apod. Fish. Brit. Mus. 1856. p. 149. pl. XVII. fig. 11.

There are four specimens in the possession of
the museum: one obtained by Dr.:APPELLéF near Mes-
sina in 1888 and three by Dr. Bovatiius also near
Messina in the months of February and March 1891.

a) Messina. <A. ApprLLor. 1 specimen, 1888.
Length of body ... 1... 2. 20s eae 98 “mm.
Greatest height of body .......... a
10

Distance from extremity of snout to dor-

Sal: fille os gee ns ee a ee 33 mm.
Distance from extremity of snout. to vent 45 ,
Length of Wéead, «4244 6 sae ee we aes Ss
Distance from extremity of snout to eye’s

anterior margin Sask aaa eh tee ———
Eye’s diameter... 0... 2.2. ee ee eee 2 y

b, c) Messina; straits, surface, daytime. C. Bo-
VALLIUS. 2 specimens. Feb. 12. 1891.
b) oe)
% mm. mm.
Length of body ..........206.4 96 86
Greatest height of body. ......... 10 8
Distance from extremity of snout to dor-

SOL MN ss oat 6, le ease Soe a as BA 32 25
Distance from extremity of snout to vent 48 40
Length of head. ............4. 9. 8
Distance from extremity of snout to eye’s

anterior margin ............. 2,5 2,5
Eye’s diameter. .............. 2 2

d) Messina; harbour, surface. C. Bovatuius. 1
specimen. March 14. 1891.

Riempth Ol BOGy 6a ea Bk Gia Ci 838 mm.
Greatest height of body........... 8 oy
Distance from extremity of snout to dor-

Sal TD ne Gece Ge be A Se woe 27

‘Distance from extremity of snout to vent 41
Length of head
Distance from extremity of snout to eye’s
anterior margin. ............. 8
Bye’s diameter, 1. . 6 <4 x
11

9. L. brevirostris Kavp.
Cat. Apod. Fish. Brit. Mus. 1856. p. 150. pl. XVII fig. 15.

“There is in the museum only one single speci-
men of this species. Dr. Bovatiius obtained it in
Messina harbour March 14. 1891. Its dimensions are
as follows: .

Length Of D0dy + 26a a4 «ee +64 es 51 mm.
Greatest height of body .......... 10
Distance from extremity of snout to dor-

Sal, Wiis ees ee aw wwe we ee Boe Boas 24g
Distance from extremity of snout to vent 37 ,
Lene OF Bead se eke o Soe wae SS BB «gs
Distance from extremity of snout to eye’s

anterior margin. ............. 1,5 ‘i
Eye’s diameter ..........0+000084

10. L. Maurolici Faccioxa.
Deser. n, sp. Leptoc. str. Messina. Att. Soc. Tosc. Se. Nat. Pisa.
1883. Vol. VI. fase. I. p. 7. t. 4. f. 6.
Of this species too the museum contains but one
specimen, also procured in Messina. harbour on March
14. 1891 by Dr. Bovatuius. Its dimensions are:

Tenet GP POY ge ode aoe oe beg 88 mm.°
Greatest height of body .......... -
Distance from extremity of snout to dor-

Sal Mise pee e ae ee a  a e ey S 6. x
Distance from extremity of snout to vent 81 ,
Re@Meth OF Medd: x24 ow eae eae ws c “4
Distance from extremity of snout to eye’s.

entetior Margit. . 224+ 4 <4 2 ea os 28)

Hyé’s: diameter 22.4 = saw bee nee. Ia 53
12

11. L. ineequalis Faccio.a.

Descr. n. sp. Leptoc. str. Messina. Att. Soc. Tose, Sc. Nat.. Pisa.
1883. Vol. VI. fasc. I. p. 7. t. 4. f. 5.

This species, apparently one of the commonest of
the Leptocephalids met with near Messina, is repre-
sented by no less than twenty two individuals in
the collection, all from that locality, some of them
procured by Prof. Toten and Dr. APpELLér, some by
Dr. Bovauuius. It might perhaps seem superfluous
to record the dimensions of so many individuals be-
longing to one and the same species, but since the
proportions of the different parts of the body to one
another are of such great importance in differentiating
the species, particularly in the family of the Leptoce-
phalids, it cannot but be of great interest and mo-
ment, seeing we have at our disposal a large selec-
tion of individuals belonging to the same species, to
observe how constant these proportions in reality
prove to be.

+

a, b) Messina. A. AppELLor. 2 specimens. 1888.

a) D)

mm. mm.
Length of body............... 114 104
Greatest height of body .........04. 10 10
Distance from extremity of snout to dor-

Sal) files ee eae we ee eae a a ace ge SA 65 62
Distance from extremity of snout to vent 94 88
Length of head... 2... ... 2... 7 7
Distance from extremity of snout to eye’s

anterior margin.............. 2 2

Eves Mamieuer i4-h b.9 3 ei eee a ew a 2 2
13

c—k) Messina. Hs. Tuten and A. Appennor. 9
specimens. Feb. 1888.

ec) de) f) gh hh ) jf)

nm mn. mm. mm. mm. mm, mm. mm, mm.

Length of body 103 .97 96 95 94 91 90 90 81
Greatest height
ofbhedy,«., 8 98 9 8 B B F F 8B
Distance from

extremity of

snout to dor-

sal fin... 62 59 58 57 59 56 51 53 47
Distance from

extremity of

snouttovent 89 83 83 81 82 80 76 77 69
Length ofhead 6 7 7 7% 6 6 6 6 6
Distance from

extremity of

snout toeye’s

anterior mar-

SIN ek G8 2 Qo 2 2° 2B Qe Be OO
Eye’s diameter 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2

i—v) Messina; straits, surface, daytime. C. Bo-
vaLuius. 11 specimens. Feb. 12. 1891.

Length of body:
I) m) Mm oO) ph) g 7) 8) ft U) Y)
mm, mm. mm, nn mm. mm. mm. mm, mm mm. mm.
416 116 115 112 107 107 105 104 100 94 92
Greatest height

of body:
10 9 11 9 9 9 9 10 10 9 9
14

Distance from

extremity of

snout to dor-

sal fin:

1) m) oo p) @ ) 8) ) Ww Y
nm. mm, mm. mm. mm. mn. mn. mm. mn mm mm.
70 67 68 59 62 58 60 56 56 55 53
Distance from

extremity of

snout to vent:

90 90 95 82 952585 85 84 838 79 77
Length of head:

7 7 7 7 7 7 ? 7 7 @G 7
Distance from

extremity of

snout to eye’s

anterior mar-

gin:
Be 2 ee 2 2 ee Be Bee OS
Eye’s diameter:

2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2

12. IL. Bleekeri. Faccto.a.

Rivista sp. Leptoc. Att. R. Accad. Pelorit. 1883. Anno IV.
p. 196. t. f. 1.

There are four individuals of this species in the
collection, all from Messina. Three of them were pro-
cured by Dr. AppeLLér in 1888, and the fourth by
Dr. Bovauuius in 1891. 7

a—c) Messina. A. AppELLOF. 8 specimens, 1888.

 

1 This specimen is in a bad state.
a)
A mn,
Length of body. .......... 122
Greatest height of body...... 12
Distance from extremity of snout
to dorsal fin. .......... 57
Distance from extremity of snout
LO VEDEs ae wae Ee a ee 85.
Length of head. .......... 8
Distance from extremity of snout
to eye’s anterior margin .... 2
Eye’s diameter. .......... 2

d) Messina; straits, surface, daytime.

Lius. 1 specimen. Feb. 12. 1891.

Length of body .............
Greatest height of body.........

15

b) c)
mm. mm.
114 106

10 9

492 48

71 70

8 7,5
2 2
2 2
C. Bovat-
96 mm

Distance from extremity of ‘snout to. dor-

Sale fii ak ee RE OR i. sees

Distance from extremity of snout to vent 56

Length of head .............

Distance from extremity of snout to eye’s

anterior margin. ...........
Eye’s diameter... ....-..0+.6-

oe

13. L. Kefersteinii. Kavp.
Ann. a. Mag. nat. hist. 1860. 3. Ser. VI. p. 270. pl. 3. f A.

Dr. Faccrona states concerning this species in an
essay, printed in J? Naturalista Siciliano 1883 and
entitled “Note sui pesci dello stretto di Messina. I.. Su
di alcune specie nuove o poco note“, that it lacks teeth
and pectoral fins (“Non esistono denti*. —

“Manca
16

ogni vestigio di pettorali“). The same author, how-
ever, in his Rivista says as follows: “Mascelle inferiore
un tantino pitt corta della superiore,.entrambe con
denti“, and about the pectoral fins: “Pettorale lunga
quanto -l’occhio, affilata“. In the single example of
the species in the collection, the teeth are well devel-
oped; the pectoral fins are however wholly wanting.
The specimen was obtained by Dr. Bovatiius in the
Straits of Messina on Feb. 12. 1891. /
Its, dimensions are as follows:

Lene oF Wedy sa se OS ke Ss 68 mm.
Greatest height of body .......... 5 y
Distance from extremity of snout to vent 40 ,
Length of head... ........0...., 3D»
Distance from extremity of snout to eye’s

anterior margin. ...........04. 15 5
Eye’s diameter... ..:......2.00.4 35

14. LL. Eekmani n. sp.
tt 6%

The body is very strongly compressed, elongate
and low; its greatest height, contained between eleven
and twelve times in its length, is situated about in the
middle; the height decreases therefrom almost uni-
formly towards the head and the tail.

-The head is small; its length is contained about
two times and a half in the body’s greatest height.
The upper profile is slightly convex and descends rap-
idly. The snout is pointed. The distance from the
extremity of the snout to the anterior margin of the
eye is one and a half times greater than the diameter
17

of the latter. The eye has a circular contour; its
upper margin does. not reach to the upper profile of
the head. The posterior nostril lies immediately in
front of the anterior margin of the eye; the anterior
nostril is situated quite close to the posterior, the di-
stance between them being somewhat less than. half
the diameter of the eye. The cleft of the mouth is
somewhat oblique, tending upwards, and reaches about
as far back as the middle of the under margin of the
eye. The mandible is a trifle longer than the upper
jaw; its lower profile is almost straight and retreats with
a very prominent angle. There are teeth in both jaws.

The pectoral fins are rudimentary. The vertical
fins are not much developed; the dorsal fin has its
origin immediately behind the vent. The caudal fin is
short and rounded.

The vent is situated near the hinder end of the
body, the distance between it and the end of the tail
is .contained about twenty times in the total length
of the body.

. A row of pigmentary spots, broken here and
there, runs the length.of the belly side from the
throat to the vent. A row of similar spots, very
small, sparsely placed, stretches along the back too.
Furthermore, pigmentary spots are to be found at the
base of the vertical fins; finally, similar rows run
along every myocomma beneath the lateral line, and
these are so close together that to the naked eye
they assume the form of one continuous dark line.

The museum possesses a particularly large num-
ber of examples of. this species, collected in the Cen-
2
18

tral Atlantie by the late Captain G. C. Ecxman while
travelling to and fro, between Europe and Savannah
in Georgia in the years 1889, 1890, 1891, 1892 and
1895. The specimens obtained on the last voyage
have been preserved in formol; this mode of pre-
serving seems especially suited to these animals, for
preserved thus they retain their natural form and
transparency. Altogether there are 451 individuals:
of the species in the collection obtained at times and
in localities as below stated.

a) Lat. 21° N. Long. 56° Wz. 28 spec. Jan. 31. 1889.
b) , 24, 4 68 , 36 , Feb. 5. 1889.
C) » 87% » » 78 4 57 4 4 10.1889.
d) , 28, 4 70°38 , 75 , Nov. 20. 1890.

é) ” 29° vp ” 72° Y vE ” ” 1 8 9 0.
f) » 20°, » 08° » 10. , March27.1891.
a ae » 64 , 71, April 1.1891.
h) ” 22° 2 7h 65° ” 14 ” n I, 1891.
i) , 22° , » 68° » bf 4 5 Be 1891.
yD ¥ 23° , » 67° » 40 ” ” 4.1891.
By jy RO gy FOF oy BF 5 Bs LSS1,
thy 22° ” n 665° ” 4 , Jan. 1892.
m) , 24 , » 70° ” q) % » 1892:
n) ” 28° ” ” 70° 30! ” 18 ” March 15.1895.
o) » 28, » 70° 4, 4 , 4 16.1895.

P) » 29 , » 69 5 = » » 17.1895.

The individual figured in Pl. I., procured April 2.
1891 in Lat. 22° N. and Long. 65° W., has the fol-
lowing dimensions:

Length of body ............00,4 80 mm
Greatest height of body. .......... 7
19

Distance from extremity of snout to vent 77 mm,
Length: Of Mead: 6:60 sek ae ace aw wR 3
Distance from extremity of snout to eye’s
anterior margin
nye’ es: Gia moter segs ae ee 1

”

”

Referring the reader to the remark made upon
L. inequalis Facciona (p. 12), I now add some mea-
surements for forty other examples of the species
obtained on the same occasion as the one of which
the dimensions have just been given.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Numbers of . ‘| Distance from extremity
specimens. a of snout to. vent.

1-2 84: 7 81, 80
S24) || 98 7 79, 78
5-6 81 7 78

7-8 80 7 76
9—12 79 7 76
13—16 78 7 25, 75, 75, 74
17—20 77 7 74
21-22 76 7 73, 72
23—24 | 75 7 72

25 74 7 71
96-27 | 73 | 7, 6,5 70
28-31 72 6 70, 69, 69, 69
32-85 | 71 6 69, 69, 68, 68
36 — 37 70 6 68, 67

38 69 6 66
39-40 | 68 6 65

 

 
20

15. L. immaculatus n. sp.
Pl i f. 4 and 5.

The body is very strongly compressed, rather
elongated and low; its greatest height, contained a
little more than nine times in its length, is situate
in the middle, whence the height diminishes ahout
evenly towards head and tail.

The head is small; its length is contained about
two’ and one third times in the greatest height of
the body. Its upper profile is slightly convex and
descends rapidly. The snout is pointed. -The distance
from the extremity of the snout to the anterior mar-
gin of the eye is about one and a half times greater
than the diameter of the latter. The eye has a cir-
cular contour; its upper margin does not reach to
the upper profile of the head. The posterior nostril
is situated immediately in front of the eye’s anterior
margin; the anterior nostril is a short distance from
the posterior — the distance being about one third of
that between ‘the anterior nostril and the extremity of
the snout. The cleft of the mouth is almost horizon-
tal, reaching back to the middle of the lower margin
of the eye. The mandible has the same length as
the upper jaw, its under profile is straight, retreating
with a very prominent angle. Both jaws are toothed.

‘The pectoral fins are not much developed. The
vertical fins are rudimentary ; the dorsal fin has its
commencement immediately in front of the vent. The
caudal fin is short and‘ rounded.

‘The vent is situated near the hinder end of the
body; the distance between it and the end of the
2:1

tail is contained about twenty times in the body’s
length.
Pigmentary spots are wholly wanting. ’

Only one specimen is to be found of this species
‘in the collection: its, habit does not differ much from
that of the preceding species. It was procured by
Captain Ecoxman on the 23** of April 1890 in Lat.
84° N. and Long. 65° W. (Central Atlantic). Its mea-

surements read as follows: -
engin Of Dody. < seauciucw wok Gao we aed 67 mm.
Greatest height of body ... Lean eee OG
Distance from extremity of snout to vent 64 ‘3
Length: of Read geass. ace 2 elw de ee es 3 ‘5
Distance from extremity of snout to eye’s
anterior margin. ..........0004 Leb gs
Eye’s diameter ..........20200. Ll

16. L. Schéelei n. sp.

Pl. I. £. 6 and 7%.

The body is compressed, elongated and high; its
“greatest height, contained more than nine times in
its length, is situated in about the middle, whence
the height diminishes almost uniformly towards head
and tail.

The head is small; its length is contained about
three times in the body’s greatest height.. Its upper
profile is. for the major part convex, but a little in
front of the eye shows a very slight concavity. The
snout is pointed. The distance from the extremity
of the snout to the eye’s anterior margin is about
one and a half times greater than the diameter of
22

the eye. The eye has a circular contour. Its upper
margin does not reach to the upper profile of the
head. The posterior nostril, like a slit in form, and
vertical, is situated somewhat in front of the eye’s
anterior ‘margin. The anterior nostril is rounded. The
distance between the two nostrils is about half that
between the anterior nostril and the extremity of the
snout. The cleft of the ‘mouth tending upwards a
little obliquely reaches backwards to beneath the cen-
‘tre of the under margin of the eye. The lower jaw
is somewhat longer than the upper; its under profile
is slightly convex, retreating with a somewhat pro-
minent angle. There are teeth in both jaws.

The pectoral fins are rudimentary. The dorsal and
anal fins are very low; the former has its origin imme-
diately in front of the vent. The caudal fin is pointed.

The vent is situate near theh inder end of the
body; in the examples of this species in the col-
lection the ratio of the distance between vent and
tail-end to body’s length is roughly as follows, 1:15,
1:19, 1:20, 1:22, and 1: 24,

On the lower side for about the first fifth of
the body’s length there extends a row of pigmentary
spots very close together espécially at the hinder end.
A little beyond where this row ceases, two other
rows of spots begin, one_on each side of the body;
they run just above the alimentary canal and reach
as far as the vent. These’ spots are so close together
that to the naked eye they appear to form two con-
tinuous dark lines. Along the upper side, from a
point a little behind the neck to the commencement
of the dorsal fin a row of spots extends, somewhat
23

sparser. Further, another row. of similar but very
minute spots runs the length of the dorsal, caudal
and anal fins at the base of the same. Finally a
row of pigmentary spots, minute .and closely packed,
is to be found in every myocomma below the lateral
line. This species, that seems to be very close in
characters to L. affinis Facctoua, is represented in-
the museum by five specimens, one of which, that figu-
red, comes from the Malayan Archipelago; it was
obtained by the late Captain G. von ScuieLz; the
others come from the Aflantic Ocean, collected by
Captain von ScH&e.e, the late Captain Forsstrém and
Captain Eckman. In the specimens from the Atlantic
Ocean the height of the body is relatively less than
in the one specimen from the Malayan Archipelago;
in other respects the latter agrees perfectly with the
others.

a) Lat. 9°5' S. Long. 127° 40' E. G. v. ScHmetn.
1 specimen. Sept. 9. 1887.
Length of body. ..,...+....00-. 140 mm.

Greatest height of body .......... 15) oy
Distance from extremity of snout to vent 133,
Lenethvo? head oat kee ee a es oy
Distance from extremity of snout to eye’s

anterior margin... 2... 6 ee ee ees 1B 43
Bye’s diameter... 2-6 eee ee ees tL &

b) Lat. 27° N. Long. 41° 45' W. G. v. ScHEELE.
-1 specimen. 1885.
Length of body ...- ++ ee ee eee 75 mm.

Greatest height of body. ....-...+., a
Distance from extremity of snout to vent 70 ,
24

Length of head ...... Be ee Ger eas eae ok 3 mm.
Distance from extremity of snout to eye’s

anterior margin... 2+ ee ee ee ees ee
Eye’s diameter ines At SS ae eee (hardly) 1,

c, d) Lat. 24° N. Long. 68° W. G. C, Ecxman.

2 specimens. Dec. 1892.
sa ec) a)

mm. mm.
Length of body .....- ++ ee ee eee 68 58
Greatest height of body.........-. an)
Distance from extremity of snout to vent 65 55
Length of Head.» «cue aes was 3 8
Distance from extremity of snout to eye’s
anterior margin..........+.. es 1 1
Kye’s diameter «1644. 4ee 4s (hardly) 1 1

e) Lat. 8° S. Long. 30° W. A. Forsstrom. 1 speci-
men. Dec. 1892.

Length of body ...... Sie saaeise Sensi Sas Caceres 193 mm.
Greatest height of body. .........-. 15 ,
Distance from extremity of snout to vent 185,
Length of head ...... 2... - ee eae 5 y
Distance from extremity of snout to eye’s

anterior margin. ..........0.040. BD og.
Eye’s diameter ee Bits, BETS OE ee tay ies ea ee 1 oy

17. L. Forsstr6mi n. sp.
Pl. I. f. 1—3.

The body is compressed,-rather short and high;
its greatest height, contained about seven and a half
times in its length is situated in the middle, whence
the height recedes by slow degrees towards the head,
but more rapidly towards the tail.
25

The head is small; its length is contained about
two and two third times jn the greatest height of the
body.. Its upper profile is slightly convex and slopes
downwards. The snout is pointed. The distance from
the extremity of the snout to the anterior margin of
the eye is somewhat greater than the diameter of the
latter. The eye has a circular contour; its upper mar-
gin does not reach up to the upper profile of the head.
The posterior nostril is situated rather in front of and
higher than the eye; the anterior, situated considerably
lower than the posterior, is at a distance from it that
is rather greater than that between itself and the ex-
tremity of the snout. The cleft of the mouth is al-
most horizontal, extending back nearly to the posterior
margin of the eye. The lower jaw is shorter than
the upper. Its lower profile -is slightly convex and
lacks the prominent angle backwards. ‘Teeth are pre-
sent in both jaws.

The pectoral fins are very rudimentary. The ver-
tical fins are not highly developed either. The dor-
sal fin has its origin directly in front of the vent;
the caudal fin is very short and rounded.

The vent is situated about the middle of the
body. :
Scattered pigmentary spots are to be found on
the head in the neighbourhood of the gill-openings
and under the throat. Along the lower side of the
body there runs a row of these spots closely packed
and along the upper side a row also, but here sparser
and less regular. Along the bases of the dorsal, cau-
dal and anal fins a row of extremely minute closely
"26

packed spots extends. Finally, along the lateral ane
there is also a similar row.

There are four specimens of this species in iis
collection, all from the Central Atlantic. One of them
was taken by Captain von Scuie.z, the others by Cap-
tain Forsstrom.

a) Lat. 4° 8. Long. 84°10' W. G. v. Scniune.
1 specimen. 1885.

Length of DOdy i seus see a ee eee ees 62 mm.”
Greatest height of body ........... 8 sy
Distance from extremity of snout to dor-

Sal Ne ae a Sk oY ee ee we 30),
Distance from extremity of snout to vent 29
Length of head... . 2.2... . 22. ee. a oy
Distance from extremity of snout to eye’s

anterior margin....... cue Rees i) 2
Eye's diameler a. 544k ds ae ee wos vee

b, c) Lat. 8° S. Long. 30° W. A. Forssrrém. 2
specimens. Dec. 1892.

b) e)

mm. mm.
Length of body ............... 60 59
-Greatest height of body .......... 8 8
Distance from extremity of snout to dor-

SAT sp a cee a sae A as eee oe 28 26
Distance from extremity of snout to vent 30 28
Length of head ............0., 3 8
Distance from extremity of snout to eye’s

anterior margin. ............, 1 1
Aye S CWMGlEr «2 x ew ke eke ewe ee 0,5 0,5

d) Lat. 6° N. Long. 45° W. <A. Forssrrém.. 1
specimen. Date not given.
27

Length of pode. 4 6 s44 2 dws day eas 58 mm.
Greatest height of body ........... 8 Cy
Distance from extremity of snout to dor-

MLA Sane kaa Ee oe he ee. ee |
Distance from extremity of snout to vent 33,
Teeneth et Wead i sc.2 oe eia eee nse eae Se 35 ,
Distance from extremity of snout to eye’s

anterior’/margin. . 2. ........0.. ho;
Hye’s diameter ..............0.0. 1

18. L. undulatus n. sp.
PL IL f. 4—6,

The body is compressed, elongate, low, of almost

even height, a trifle higher nevertheless behind than
in front; its greatest height is contained about fifteen

times in its length.

The head is very small; its length is contained
about one and a half times in the greatest height of
the body. Its upper profile is in the form of a reg-
ular arch. The snout is pointed. The interspace
between the snout-extremity and the front margin of
the eye is equal to one and a half times the latter’s
diameter. The eye has a circular contour; its upper
margin does not reach up to-the upper profile of the
head. The posterior nostril lies immediately in front
of the eye; the anterior one is quite close to the
other. The cleft of the mouth is horizontal reaching
as far back as the eye’s posterior margin. The lower
jaw is of the same length as the upper and has a
convex lower profile retreating with a slightly pro-
minent angle. There are teeth in both jaws.

1
28

The pectoral fins are small and acutely pointed.
The vertical fins are little developed; the dorsal fin
has its origin near the hinder end of the body. The
caudal fin is short and rounded.

The vent is situated in front of the middle of
the body. The alimentary canal has not a straight
course; at fairly equal distances it is incised, causing
the fore part of the body’s under profile to appear
wavy.

Above each of these incisions in the alimentary
canal there is a line of very minute pigmentary spots.
These are found also in the majority of the myocom-
mata beneath the lateral Tine, forming to the naked eye
unbroken dark lines of differing length and fineness.

Of this characteristic species, which apparently
closely resembles L. Kefersteinii Kaup, the collection
is in possession of only. one representative, captured
by Captain Ecxman off the coast.of Georgia in Lat. 29°
N. and Long. 72° W., in the month of Nov. 1890.
That specimen has the following dimensions:

Length of body....... a ea oaene 88 mm.
Greatest height of body ........... 6 ,
Distance from SR enTy of snout to dor-

SAUTE oases 8 Sos Goo mq: Pees 83) C«,
Distance from extremity of snout to vent 35 ,
Length @F Head 2 4 bo SA we OS wd A i

Distance from extremity of snout to eye’s =
‘anterior margin
Eye’s diameter

ee eee ee ee ee lw
29

19. L. humilis n. sp.
Pl. IL £ 7-9..

The body is strongly compressed, elongate and
very low, and of almost uniform: height, the hinder
part though is a trifle} higher than the fore.. Its great-
est height is contained. about fifteen times in its
length.

The head is very small; its length goes once and
a halfinto the body’s greatest height. Its upper pro-
file is in the form of a regular arch. The snout is
pointed. The.interspace between the snout-extremity
and the anterior margin of the eye is about half as
great again as the eye’s diameter. The eye has a
circular contour; its upper margin does not reach to
the head’s upper profile. The posterior nostril is situ-
ated a little in front of the eye; the anterior about
as far from the posterior as from the snout- -extremity.
The cleft of the mouth is horizontal extending to some-
what behind the middle of the eye’s under margin.
The lower jaw is a little shorter than the upper and
“has an under profile that is slightly convex retreating
with a somewhat prominent angle. Teeth in both jaws.

The pectoral fins are extremely rudimentary. The
vertical fins are also very slightly developed; the dor-
sal fin has its origin immediately in front of the vent;
the caudal fin is very short and bluntly pointed.

The vent is situated in front of the body’s middle.

‘Along the lower side of the body from the throat
to the vent extends a row, at many points discontinuous,
of very minute, closely packed pigmentary spots; an-
other row of somewhat larger spots, further apart,
30

runs along the upper side of the body to the origin of
the dorsal fin. A series of very minute spots runs
along the bases of the dorsal, caudal and anal fins.
Similar ones. are found too in most of the myocom-
mata beneath the lateral line, forming for the naked
eye unbroken dark lines, differing in length, but ap-
proximately ,alixe in fineness.

In the collection there are two examples of this
species, which in many respects coincide with the
previous one. These two were obtained by Captain.
Forsstrém in the vicinity of the island of Fernando
Noronha, off the coast of Brazil (8° S. Lat. 30° W..
Long.). That was in Dec. 1892. Their dimensions
are as follows:

a) 6)

nm. mm.
Length of body...............4. 88 70
Greatest height of body........... 6 5
Distance from extremity of snout to vent 41 386
Length of head. ........... (hardly) 4 38
Distance from extremity of snout to eye’s

anterior margin ....... tes iad atin 1,5 1,5

Bye's ‘diameter eu 54 sake es (hardly) 1 1

20. L. javanicus n. sp.
Pl. I. £. 1—3.

The body is strongly compressed, moderately.
elongate and low; its greatest height, contained about
eleven times in its length is situated rather behind
the middle. It gradually diminishes in height from
that point towards both head and tail in approxi-
mately equal degrees.
31

The head is elongate; its length is equal to the
bedy’s greatest height. Its upper profile is in the
form of a regular shallow arch. The snout is poin-
ted. The space from the snout-extremity to the eye’s.
anterior margin is about three times as great as the
diameter~6f the eye.

The eye has a circular contour; its upper margin
does not reach up to the upper profile of the head.

The posterior nostril is situated a little in front
of the eye. The anterior is distant from the snout-
extremity four times as far as from the posterior
nostril. The cleft of the mouth is horizontal, reaching
back to the middle of the lower margin of the eye.

The mandible projects a little beyond the upper
jaw; its lower profile is straight, retreating with a
slightly prominent angle. Teeth in both jaws. Pec-
toral fins none. The vertical fins show but slight
development; the dorsal fin has its origin a little in
front of the vent; the caudal fin is pointed.

The vent is in front of the body’s middle, approxi-
mately at one third of the length from the fore part.

There are some series of closely packed pig-
mentary spots grouped along the sides of the body
immediately above the alimentary canal. There are
moreover a few scattered ones on the head in the
region of the gill-openings and the snout-extremity.

In the collection there is one example of this
species, obtained by Captain von ScHEELE in 1885 in
the Bali Straits. Its measurements are as follows:

Length of body ....... los ea eee Ae 44 mm
Greatest height of body............ 4,
32

Distance from extremity of snout to dor-

Sal. fii. we a i eS ee 13 mm
Distance from extremity of snout to vent 16 ,
Length. of head sean cen cas ees ws 4 oy
Distance from extremity of snout to eye’s

anterior margin. ... 2... + eee eee 1,5
Hye’s diameter... --- ++ eee eres 0,5 ,

21. L. crenatus n. sp.
Pl. Ul. £. 4 and 5.

The body is compressed, rather short and high;
its greatest height, contained about ten times in its
length is situated. behind the middle; from this point
the height. decreases by degrees, quite considerably
towards the head, but scarcely at all towards the tail.
The upper profile of the body is almost straight, the
lower one on the contrary is pretty considerably con-
vex; both profiles are slightly wavy or crenulate.

The head is very small; its length goes into the
body’s greatest height about two and a third times.
Its upper profile is in the form of a regular arch.
The snout is obtuse. .From the snout-extremity~ to
the anterior margin of the eye there is a distance not
quite equal to the double of the eye’s diameter. The
eye has a circular contour; its upper margin does not
reach up to the head’s upper profile. The posterior
nostril is nearly circular and placed directly in front
of the eye’s anterior margin; the anterior nostril
is shaped like a tube, very short in length. The in-
terspace of the nostrils is about as great as the di-
stance between the anterior nostril and the snout:
88

extremity. The cleft of the mouth is almost horizon-
tal, reaching back to behind the middle of- the eye’s
lower margin. The jaws are of the same length; the
mandible has a slightly convex lower profile and lacks
the prominent angle. Teeth in both jaws.

The pectoral fins are of moderate size, obtuse.
The dorsal and anal fins are low; the dorsal com-
mences a little in advance of the vent; the caudal
fin is rounded.

The vent is situated in the middle of the body.

There is a broken line of minute pigmentary
spots along the sides of the body, near the lower
margin; also a row along the back as far as the
origin of the dorsal fin, but they are not so close
together, are larger and with unequal intervals. A row
of very minute closely packed spots runs the length of
the bases.of the dorsal, caudal and anal fins. Finally
beneath the lateral line in most of the myocommata
there are series of minute pigmentary spots, unequal
in length but all of the same fineness.

“The collection contains of this species only one
specimen, procured by Captain Eckman in Nov. 1892
off the coast of Georgia (Lat. 29° N. Long. 72° W.
— the same locality as for L. undulatus. Its mea-
surements are herewith given::

Length of body « «64 ca ae 4 pee... ©6700 mm.
Greatest height of body........... Dy
Distance from extremity of snout to dor-

Sale These 620 Gael as eB ea lo ae 30 ~—C&«,

Distance from extremity of snout to vent 35 ,
ene. Of Bead) 24.4 2 oS eee oS a ae
34

Distance from extremity of snout to eye’s an-
terior margin. 2... ee ee ees *.. 1 mm.
Bye’s diameter .. 2-6 ees eet eee De x

22. L. fuliginosus n. sp.
Pl, Ill. f. 6 and 7.

The body is compressed, rather short and high;
its greatest height, contained in its length about se-
ven times, is situated at a point distant about two
thirds of the total length from the front end. From
this point towards the head the height diminishes
slowly, towards the tail hardly at all.

The head is of moderate size; its length is con-
tained not quite three times in the greatest height of
the body. Its upper profile is strongly convex and
in the form of a regular arch. The snout is blunt.
The distance from the snout-extremity to the ante-
rior margin of the eye is about the same as the lat-
ter’s diameter. The eye has a circular contour; its
upper margin does not reach up to the upper profile
of the head. The posterior nostril lies close up to the
anterior margin of the eye a little above the middle
of it and is rounded. The anterior is not far from
the end of the snout and is of a suboval form; it is
parallel to the upper profile; the nostrils are twice
as far apart as the distance between the anterior one
and the extremity of the snout. The cleft of the
mouth is horizontal reaching further back than the
middle of the eye’s lower margin. The lower jaw is
a trifle shorter than the upper; its under profile is
85

convex and lacks the prominent angle. Teeth are
present in both jaws.

Pectoral fins are wanting. The dorsal and anal
fins are low. The dorsal fin commences immediately
in front of the vent. The. caudal fin is short and
rounded.

The vent is situated behind the middle of the
body; the distance between the vent and the end of
the tail is contained about twice and three fifths in
the body’s length.

On the snout and round and behind the eye there
are numerous pigmentary spots of different ‘sizes
scattered about. A row of minute very closely packed
spots extends along the bases of anal and caudal fins
and along the hind part of the dorsal fin.

Of this species the collection contains one speci-
men from the Central Atlantic (Lat. 24° N. Long. 68° W.)
obtained by Captain Ecxman in December 1892. Its
- Measurements are:

Length Of DOUY +4 444.4422 4e0%4 4 78 mm.
Greatest height of body........... Tae. ay,
Distance from extremity of snout to dor-

Sa) GW ove ga eee ee ere 46,
Distance from extremity of snout to vent 48 ,
Leneth of head a «ae ke ae oe ee eS 4 ,
Distance from extremity of snout to eye’s

anterior margin. ........+...4., LE, na

Bye’s diameter. «.:+6 es a ¥ oe ea yas Ds

~
36

23. L. subinornatus n. sp.
Pl. IV. f£. 1 and 2.

The body is strongly compressed, fairly elongate
and low; its greatest height, contained about eight
times in its length, is situated approximately in the
middle, ‘whence the height. diminishes gradually and
uniformly towards head and tail.

The head is of moderate size; its length is some-
what less than the greatest height of the body.
Its upper profile is convex towards the rear, slightly
concave towards the fore; this causes the snout to
appear considerably depressed. The snout is pointed.
From its extremity to the anterior margin of the eye
the distance is not quite double the eye’s diameter. .
The eye has an almost circular contour; its upper
margin does not reach up to the upper profile of the
head. The posterior nostril is immediately in front
of the eye’s anterior margin above the middle of it;
the anterior nostril is about equally distant from the
posterior as from the extremity of the snout. The
cleft of the mouth tends upwards obliquely and
reaches back almost to the hind margin of the eye.
The lower jaw does not project quite so far as the
upper; it has an almost straight under profile, the pro-
minent angle is almost wholly wanting. Teeth are
present in both jaws.

Pectoral fins none. The vertical fins are very
slightly developed; the dorsal fin has its origin just
in front of the vent; the caudal fin is rounded.

The vent lies behind the middle of the body;
37

its distance from the end of the tail is contained very
nearly three times in the body’s length.

Scattered pigmentary spots are met with on the
head, also along the base of the caudal fin, but few
in number here, and- small.

There is one specimen in the collection, obtained
in 1885 by Captain von ScuteLe in the Indian Ocean
off the East Coast of South Africa (Lat. 29° 20' S.
Long. 38° 40' E.). The dimensions are as follows:

Length of body... 1... 2... ee wee 386 mm.
Greatest height of body .......... 4,5 4
Distance from extremity of snout to vent 23 ,
Length of head... ...........6. 38 Cy
Distance from extremity of snout to eye’s

ANLOTION MATSION sou a Roe aoe ae ee aS E 5
Eye’s diameter .. 1... 0... ee eee 0,5 ,

24. TL. lanceolatus n. sp.
Pl. IV. £. 3 and 4.

The body is strongly compressed, short and high ;
its greatest height, contained rather more than six
_ times in its length, is situated at a point a little in
front of the middle; thence the height diminishes gra-
dually almost uniformly towards head and tail, pos-
sibly rather more rapidly towards the latter.

The head is small; its length is a trifle greater
than half the body’s height. Its upper profile is con-
vex at the back, sloping slightly downwards; in front
of the eye it has a concavity, afterwards it is straight
38

and almost horizontal, causing the snout to appear
strongly depressed in comparison with the hind .part
of the head. The snout is pointed. The distance from
the extremity of the snout to the fore-margin of the
eye is a trifle more than twice the eye's diameter.
The eye has an almost circular contour; its upper
margin does not reach up to the upper profile of the
head. The posterior nostril is situated a short di-
stance before the anterior margin of the eye upwards.
The distance between them is about equal to that which
separates the two nostrils. The cleft of the mouth
tends obliquely upwards reaching back as far as the
middle of the eye’s under margin. The lower jaw
projects a little beyond the upper; its under profile
is straight, retreating at a very prominent angle.
Teeth are present in both jaws.

The pectoral fins are rudimentary. The vertical
fins are very slightly developed.

The vent is situated in the hinder part of the
body; its distance from the end of the tail is contai-
ned about five and a half times in the body’s length.

Pigmentary spots are quite wanting.

This species reminding us, in its external form,
of L. longirostris Kaup, is represented in the collec-
tion by three specimens from the Central Atlantic
(Lat. 84° N. Long. 65° W.). They were procured by
Captain Eckman on the 23" of April 1890. The lar-
gest of these specimens has the following dimensions:

Length of body .............., 33 mm.
Greatest height of body. .......... 5
39

Distance from extremity of snout to vent 27 mm.
Benet Of Mead a3. 25.9.4 ed ae ee & 3
Distance from extremity of snout to eye’s
anterior margin
Hye's: diameter’. 2.6 acs. 4-4 ca a ewe ee 0,5

25. L. hyoproroides 1. sp.
Pl. IV. f. 5 and 6.

The body. is compressed, short and high; its grea-
test height, contained about five times in its length,
is in front of the middle; from that point the height
decreases fairly rapidly towards the head, more slowly
towards the tail.

The head is rather small and considerably depres-
sed from the trunk; its length is contained about once
and three fourths in the body’s greatest height. Its
upper -profile is slightly convex, but has an inconsi-
derable depression just in front of the eye. The snout
is blunt. From its extremity to the anterior margin
of the eye the distance is nearly double the latter’s
horizontal diameter. The lower part of the eye is
somewhat contracted, the vertical diameter tends
somewhat obliquely frontwards; its upper margin does
not reach to tbe head’s upper profile. The posterior
nostril is situated at a short distance from the eye’s
anterior margin about on a level with its middle
point; the ‘anterior nostril is as far from the posterior
as from the extremity of the snout,
40

The cleft of the mouth is almost horizontal rea-
ching back as far as the centre of the eye’s lower
margin. The lower jaw is of the same length as the
upper; it has a straight under profile, and retreats at
a prominent angle. Both jaws are toothed.

The pectoral fins are of moderate size and poin-
ted. The dorsal and anal fins are low. The com-
mencement of the dorsal is distant from the occiput
the length of the head; the caudal fin is pointed.

The vent is situated in front of the middle of the
body. A series of minute pigmentary spots runs along
the lower margin of the upper jaw, another along the
lower jaw and two likewise parallel to the gill-opening.
A row of similar spots, but further apart and irregu-
lar, extends the length of the ventral margin of the
body, and a row of rather thickly packed spots runs
too along the side of the body immediately over the
alimentary canal; both these rows end at the vent.
The body has moreover such spots scattered all over
it; most of them are placed on the myocommata.

Of this species, which recals Hyoprorus messa-
nensis K6LLIKER very strongly as regards configuration
there is one specimen in the collection. It was ob-
tained by Captain Ecxman in the Central Atlantic
off the coast of Georgia (Lat. 27° N. Long. 73° W.).
Feb. 10. 1889.

Its dimensions are as follows:

Length of body
Greatest height of body ......... S 7
Distance from extremity of snout to dor-

sal fin
41

Distance from extremity of snout to vent 15,5 mm.

engi, OF MOA e.g see he ee ee we 4,
Distance from extremity of snout to eye’s
anterler MATE fe 4 kw » eee eR ae i ae

Hye's diameter . 2.54 see es ee ew

26. L. curvirostris ». sp.
Pl. V. f. 1 and 2.

The body is compressed, exceedingly elongated and
rather low; for the greater part of its length it is al-
most uniform in height; its height, where it reaches
a maximum, would go nearly twenty-four times into
the length, towards the head the decrease is inconsi-
derable, but in the,other direction it is so great that
the end of the body is almost threadlike.

The head is small; its length is contained about
once and two thirds in the greatest height of the body.
Its upper profile is very convex in the hinder part,
but just in front of the eye it makes a distinct con-
cavity. This causes the slightly arched snout to ap-
pear in contrast depressed. The snout is pointed. The
distance between the extremity of the snout and the
anterior margin of the eye is about twice as large as
the diameter of the eye. The eye has a circular con-
tour; its upper margin does not reach up to the upper
profile of the head. The posterior nostril is situated
‘immediately above the anterior margin of the eye;
the anterior nostril, in the shape of a short tube obli-
quely truncated, is situated a little in front of the
posterior but rather lower. The cleft of the mouth
42

tends somewhat obliquely upwards, is arched and
reaches back to beneath the eye. Thé lower jaw is
somewhat longer than the upper and retreats at a
very prominent angle. Teeth are present in both
. Jaws.

The pectoral fins are very small and rather pointed.
The dorsal and anal fins are very low; the dorsal fin
has its commencement a little in advance of the
vent.

The vent is situated far back; the distance from
it to the extremity of the tail is contained about ten
times in the total length of the body.

A row of closely packed minute pigmentary spots
runs along the flanks of the body, just above the
alimentary canal. Another row of exceedingly minute
ones extends along the bases of the dorsal and anal
fins. A third row of similar spots follows the course
of the lateral line.

There is only one example of the species in the
collection. It was obtained by Captain Ecxmay in
the Central Atlantic (Lat. 22° N. Long. 65° W.). Its.
dimensions are:

Length of body. ........ 2.2004 238 mm.
Greatest height of body ......... 10 5
Distance from extremity of snout to dor-

Bal TM og ace a aw & Gee ee 208 49
Distance from extremity of snout to vent 215 3
Length of head... .... ee ea 5 *
Distance from extremity of snout to eye’s

anterior margin ............, 255 oy

Eye’s diameter ..,.
438

27. L. tiluroides n. sp.

Pl. V. f. 3—5.

The body is compressed, very much elongated,
low; its greatest height, contained about twenty-three
times in its length is situated in front of the middle;
the height decreases thence but little towards the
head, considerably on the contrary in the other di-
rection, the body tapering here to a filament.

The head is small; its length is equal to the
greatest height of the body. Its upper profile makes
a concavity in front of the eye, the snout being there-
by depressed from the convex hinder part of the
head. The snout is pointed. The distance from its
extremity to the anterior margin of the eye is twice
and a half as large as the diameter of the latter.
The eye has an almost circular contour; its upper
margin does not reach up to the upper profile of the
head. The posterior nostril is immediately in front
of the anterior margin of the eye above its middle
point. The anterior is at a distance from the posterior
that is the quarter of its distance from the extremity of
the snout. The cleft of the mouth tends obliquely upwards
reaching back to the middle of the eye’s under margin.

~' The lower jaw is a trifle longer than the upper; it

has a straight under profile and retreats at a promi-
nent angle. Teeth are present in both jaws.

The fins are extremely rudimentary.

The vent is situated in the hind part of the body;
its distance from the point of the tail goes about

a eight times into the body’s length.
44

A row of minute pigmentary spots extends the
length of the body’s flanks, immediately above the
alimentary canal.

In the shape of its body this species resembles
very much the species in the genus Tilurus. It is
represented in the collection by only one individual,
obtained by Captain von ScuteLe in the Atlantic Ocean
(Lat. 242 N. Long. 21° 50' W.) in 1885.

Its measurements are as, follows:

The length of the body .......... 125 nn,
The greatest height of the body ..... 5 ‘5
Distance from extremity of snout to vent 101 35
Length of hea 25-46 bo Seo ee ae
Distance from extremity of snout to eye’s

anterior. margin... 2... 2.000. 255

Hye’s diameter. ...........004. 1 ‘i
Genus TILURUS Koxrmer.

. Verh. phys. medic. Ges. Wirzburg. 1854. Bad IV. p. 100.

Both species of this genus, 7. trichiwrus (Cocco)
Kavup and T. hyalinus FacciotA are represented in
the museums collection of Leptocephalids.

1. T. trichiurus (Cocco) Kaup.

Syn. Leptocephalus trichiurus Cocco, Giorn. Sc. Lett. Art. Sicil.
1829, XXVI. p. 138. &

T. Gegenbaurt KOLL., 1: ce. p. 101.

T. trichiurus Kaup, Cat. Apod. Fish. Brit. Mus. 1856. p. 145.

pl. XVI. f. 5.
Oxystomus Rafinesquii Facc., Naturalista Sic. 1882. Anno I.
N:o 8. p. 188. t. VIL f. 2. ,

There are five examples of this species: in the
collection; four of these Dr. Apprniér collected at
Messina in 1888 and the remaining one was obtained
by Dr. Bovattius in the harbour of Messina on the
13" of Feb. 1891. Two of the former ones are in
a very bad state, and hence their measurements could
not be taken.

a, 6) Messina. A. AppELLor. 2 specimens. 1888.

a) b)
mm, mm.
Length of body oa eee * ow 2 se 4s 309 300

Greatest height of body. ......... 9 8
- a) b)

mm. mm,

Distance from extremity of snout to vent 291‘ 258

Length of head ...........04.4. 5 5
Distance from extremity of snout to eye’s

anterior margin. .........050.4. 2 2

Eye’s diameter ........6 0.6048. 1 1

c) d) Messina. A. APpPELLOF. 2 specimens 1888,
defective. !

e) Messina; harbour, surface, night-time. - C. Bo-
VALLIUS. 1891. Feb. 138.

Length, of body «224s. 4202 eae ewes 260 mm.
Greatest height of body........... 6 ,
Distance from extremity of snout to vent . 249 _,,
Length of head ..........0.2005 D
Distance from extremity of snout to eye’s

anterior margin. ............. 2 gee 8
Eye’s diameter... . 2.0.0.4 252522 e Be oy

2. T. hyalinus. Facciora.

Syn. Oxystomus hyalinus RAFINESQUE. Ind. d’ittiol. sic. 1810.
p, 62. & 2, & 2,

Oxystomus hyalinus Facc., Naturalista Sic. Anno I. N:o 8.
1882. p. 187. t. VII. £. 1.

Tilurus hyalinus Facc., Rivista sp. Leptoc. etc. 1883. p. 199.

This species too is represented by five individuals,
four captured by Dr. AppELLOr near Messina in 1888
and one by Dr. Bovaniius in the same locality on
Feb. 20. 1891.

a—d) Messina. A. APPELLOF. 4 specimens. 1888.
a) b) c) d)

mm. mm.

mm. mm.
Length of body ........ 3809 267 263 242
47

a vb © @d

Greatest height of body. ... 12 12 12 12
Distance from extremity of

snout to vent. ....... 291 261 254 227
Length of head ........ 5 5 5 5
Distance ‘from extremity of

snout to eye’s anterior mar-

BID? dnl es wy Rw a dine ee 2 2 2 2
Eye’s diameter ........ 1 1. 1 iL

e) Messina; Ganzirri, surface, C. Bovauuius. 1
specimen. 1891. Feb. 20.

Length of body ...........0..4, 222 mm
Greatest height of body .......... os
Distance from extremity of snout to vent. 215 ,
Leneth of head 22 22 eee ea en eaes 5

Distance from extremity of snout to eye’s
anterior margin
Hye’s diaméter «sss eee eee ee wes 1
Bibliography.

Bellotti, C.,

Note ittiologiche. Osservazioni fatte sulla collezione ittiologica
del Civico. Museo di storia naturale, in Milano. VII. I
Leptocefali del mare di Messina. Atti della Societa Italiana
di scienze naturali. Vol. XXVI. Anno 1883. Milano 1883,

Bleeker, P.,
Atlas ichtyologique des Indes Orientales Neérlandaises publié
sous les auspices du Gouvernement colonial Neérlandais.
T. IV. Amsterdam 1864.

Carus, J. V.,
Uber die Leptocephaliden. Leipzig 1861.
Prodromus Faune Mediterranee sive Descriptio Animalium
maris Mediterranei incolarum. Vol. II. P. III. Stuttgart 1893.

Cunningham, J. T.,

The Larva of the Eel. Journal of the Marine Biological Asso-
ciation of the United Kingdom. N. 8S. Vol. III. N:o 4.
London 1895.

On a Specimen of Leptocephalus Morrisii. Journal of the Ma-
rine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. N. S.
Vol. IV. No 1. Plymouth 1895.

Cuvier, G. de,
Le régne animal distribué d’aprés son organisation. N. éd.
T. II. Paris 1829.

t

Delage, Y.,
Sur les relations de parenté du Congre et du Leptocéphale.
Comptes rendus hebdomadaires des séances de l’Académie
des Sciences. TT. 103.
49

Day, F.,
Leptécephalus malabaricus sp. n. Proceedings of the Scientific
Meetings of the Zoological Society of London 1865.

Facciola, L.,

Descrizione di due specie di pesci del genere Oxystomus vi-
venti nellé acque di Messina, Il Naturalista Siciliano. Anno
J. 1881—82. Palermo 1882.

Note sui pesci dello stretto di Messina. I. Su di alcune spe-
cie nuove o poco note. Il Naturalista Siciliano. Anno II.
1882—83. Palermo 1883.

Descrizione di nuove specie di Leptocephalidi dello stretto di
Messina. Atti della Societa Toscana di Scienze Naturali
residente in Pisa. Vol. VI.. Fasc. I. 1882. Pisa 1883.

Rivista delle. specie di Leptocephalidi del mar di Méssina.
Atti della R. Accademia Peloritana. Anno IV. 1883. Mes-
sina 1883.

Due nuove specie di Leptocephalus del mar di Messina, Atti
della Societa dei Naturalisti di Modena. Rendiconti delle
.Adunanea. 8. III. Vol. I. Modena 1883. :

Le metamorfosi del Conger vulgaris e del Conger mystax. II
Naturalista Siciliano. Ann. XII—XIII.

Sul esistenza’ di forme di passagio da alcune specie di Lepto-
cephalidi agli adulti corrispondenti. Il Naturalista Siciliano.
Anno XII.

Le metamorfosi del Conger balearicus, Il Naturalista Siciliano.
Ann. XITI—XIV.

La prima forma larvata dell’ Anguilla vulgaris. Il Naturalista
Siciliano. Ann. XIII-—XIV.

Grassi, G..B. e Calandruccio, S.,

Le Leptocephalide e la loro transformazione in Murenide. Atti
della R. Accademia dei Lincei. Anno CCLXXXIX 1892.
S: 5. Rendiconti. Vol. I. 1. Sem. Roma 1892.

Ulteriori ricerche sui Leptocefali. Atti della R. Accademia
dei Lincei. Anno CCXC 1893. 8. 5. Rendiconti. Vol. IT.
1. Sem. Roma 1893.

4
50

Gronovius, L. T.,
Zoophylacium Gronovianum. .Fasc. I. Lugduni Batavorum 1763,

Giinther, A.,
Catalogue of the fishes in the British Museum. Vol. 8. London
1870. ‘
An introduction to the study of fishes. Edinburgh 1880.
Report on the Pelagic Fishes. The Zoology of H. M. §.
“Challenger*. Vol. XXXI; ,P. 78. London 1889.

Kaup, J. J.,
Catalogue of Apodal Fish, in the collection of the British
Museum. London 1856.
On some new genera and species of Fishes collected by Drs
Haeckel and Keferstein at Messina. The Annals and Ma-
gazine of Natural History. 3. 8. Vol. VI. London 1860.

Kélliker, A.,
Bau von Leptocephalus und Helmichthys. Zeitschrift fir wissen-
schaftliche Zoologie. B. 4. Leipzig 1853.
Weitere Bemerkungen iiber die Helmichthyiden. Verhandlungen
der physikalisch-medicinischen Gesellschaft in Wiirzburg. B.
4, Wiirzburg 1854.

Linné, C. a.,
Systema Nature. T. I. P. II. Ed. Gmel. Lipsie 1788.

Pennant, Th.,
British Zoology. N. ed. V. IIT. London 1812.

Peters, W., :

Leptocephalus (Diaphanichthys) brevicaudus n. sp. Monatsbe-
richte der Kénigl. Preussichen Akademie der Wissenschaften
za Berlin 1864. Berlin 1865.

Helmichthys oculus n. sp. Monatsherichte der Kénigl. Preus-
sichen Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin 1866. Ber-
lin 1867.

“Bemerkungen iiber die von EHinigen angenommene Verwand-
lungen von Leptocephalus in Cepola.“ Monatsberichte der
Kénigl. Preussichen Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin
1868. Berlin 1869.
51

Risso, A.,
Histoire naturelle des principales productions de l'Europe mé-
ridionale et particuliérement de celles des environs de Nice
et des Alpes maritimes. T. III. Paris 1826.

Steindachner, F.,

Ueber zwei neue Leptocephaliden von der Kiiste Peru’s. Sitz-
ungsberichte der Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftlichen Classe
der Kaiserl. Akademie der Wissenschaften. Bd LX. Abth. 1.
Jahrg. 1869, Wien 1870.

Storer, D. H.,
Leptocephalus gracilis. Proceedings of the Boston Society of
Natural History. Vol. II. 1845—1848. Boston 1848.
Fig.

vy vVvvuevv Y

Fig.

1.
2
3.
4.
5
6
7

_

oF

x

Explanation of the plates.

Plate I.

Leptocephalus Eckmani n. sp. Nat. size.

» »
»

»

vy vv vy

»

Schéelei.

»
»

immaculatus »

»
»
»

Plate I.

Leptocephalus Forsstrémi n. sp. Nat. size.

» »
» »

undulatus

»
»

» humilis
»
»

»
»

vy vg

v

Head. %/1.
Part of the trunk. 7/1.
Nat. size.

Head. 5/1.
Nat. size.
Head. 1.

Head. 4/1.
Part of the trunk
in the region of the

vent, 7/1.
Nat. size.
Head. 4/1.

Part of the trunk
in the region of the

vent. 7/1.
Nat. size.
Head. 5/1.

Part of the trunk
in the region of the
vent. 7/1.
Fig. 1.
» 2,
» 8.
» 4.
» 5.
» 6.

7.

Fig. 1.
» 2,
» 3.
>» 4,
» 5.
» 6.

Fig. 1.
» 2,
» 38.
» 4,
>» 5.

58

Plate II.
Leptocephalus javanicus n. sp. 2/1.
» » » Head. 4/1.
» “> >» Part of the trunk (mag-
nified).
» crenatus > /1.
» » » Head. 1.
» fuliginosus » Nat. size.
» » » Head. °)1.
Plate IV.
Leptocephalus subinornatus n. sp. 2/1.
» » » Head. 8/1.
>) lanceolatus » 8h,
» » Head. 81.
» hyoproroides » 2/1.
» » Head. 5/1.
Plate V.
Leptocephalus curvirostris n. sp. Nat. size.
» » » Head. 1.
» tiluroides » Nat. size.
» » » Head. 41.
» » » Part of thetrunk.?/1.
 

 

 

 

 

 

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