PLATE XXIX. Fig. 3.
FORM.—Still more elongated than the _Iluocœtes fimbriatus_, but not
tapering so much to a point posteriorly, the tail being blunter and
more rounded. Greatest depth about one-eleventh of the entire
length: head one-seventh. Head more compressed, its thickness being
only three-fourths of its depth. Nape rather more elevated, and the
profile more sloping, its descent commencing at a more backward
point. Snout equally short and rounded, but much less projecting
over the lower jaw. Gape, intermaxillary, and maxillary, similar:
also the teeth; only the pair of canines above, standing in front of
the series, are smaller; and below, the teeth in front are in two or
more rows. On the fore part of the vomer is one strong tooth, and
apparently one or two other smaller teeth with it; on each palatine
a row, one or two of the anterior ones being stronger than the
others. Eyes very much smaller; their diameter scarcely more than
one-seventh the length of the head; not sufficiently high in the
cheeks to cut the line of the profile: interocular space slightly
convex.
Pieces of the gill-cover on the whole similar, but the branchial
aperture much smaller, the fissure not descending below the level of
the upper part of the pectoral: branchial membrane with six rays.
Skin quite naked, and thickly studded all over with mucous pores.
Also some very large and conspicuous pores in rows on the jaws and
cheeks, but not elevated into cutaneous tubes, excepting the
nostrils, which are tubular.
Dorsal and anal with all the rays articulated, and the greater part of
them simple, but some toward the tail a little branched at their
tips. Caudal not so pointed as in _Iluocœtes_. Pectorals and
ventrals similar, but the latter a trifle longer and broader in
proportion.
Length 4 inc. 7 lines.
COLOUR.—(_In spirits._)—Brown, with the jaws, under part of the head,
and lower half of the cheeks, whitish; also a whitish fascia
extending longitudinally from behind each eye to the upper angle of
the opercle.
_A second specimen_ in the collection is smaller than the above,
measuring only two inches and a half in length. It is in bad
condition, but does not appear to differ, except in having the
anterior canines above but very little developed.
Habitat, Falkland Islands.
Both individuals of this species were taken by Mr. Darwin in the
Falkland Islands. “Caught amongst kelp.”—D.