_Corpus elongatum, antice subcylindricum, postice compressum,
ensiforme, læve, nudum, alepidotum. Rostrum breve, obtusum,
rotundatum, ultrà maxillam inferiorem productum. Dentes acuti,
subconici, in utrâque maxillâ uniseriati: supra canini duo fortes,
curvati, antici, et præ serie exstantes: in vomere dentes pauci
acuti aggregati; in utroque palatino uniseriati. Lingua lævis. Oculi
grandes, prominuli. Apertura branchialis mediocriter fissa, membranâ
quinque-radiatâ. Maxillæ, os suborbitale, et præoperculum, tubiporis
cutaneis brevibus ad margines fimbriatæ. Pinnæ ventrales jugulares,
minutæ, gracilissimæ, triradiatæ. Pinnæ dorsalis et analis prælongæ,
caudali coalescentes, radiis omnibus articulatis._
If I am right in placing this new genus amongst the _Blennidæ_, it will
evidently take its place next to _Zoarces_, to which it is more nearly
allied than to any other group in that family. It agrees especially with
_Zoarces_, not only in general form, but in having all the dorsal and
anal rays articulated, (excepting one in the dorsal, which possibly may
be an accident in the only specimen examined,) and in having the ventral
fins extremely small. On the other hand, it departs from that genus, in
having the body entirely naked, and free from scales; in the two
remarkable canines in front of the upper jaw, and in having teeth on the
palate; also in having no notch at the posterior part of the dorsal. It
is further remarkable for its large prominent eyes, and the rows of
tubipores on the cheeks. Amongst the true Malacopterygians, it
approaches nearest to _Ophidium_, and, but for the circumstance of its
possessing ventrals, it might perhaps be ranged under that genus. It is,
however, evidently a connecting link between the _Apodal
Malacopterygians_ and the _Blennidæ_.
Like the Blennies, this genus has neither cæcal appendages nor
air-bladder. The intestinal canal is rather ample, with a few coils, but
of tolerably equal dimensions throughout.
There is but one species of this new genus in the collection, which is
from the Archipelago of Chiloe. The detailed description of it is as
follows:—