Lycodonus mirabilis, 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 : 208-209

Lycodonus mirabilis , new species.

The body is shaped much as in Lycodes Verrillii ; its greatest height, at origin of dorsal, contained about eighteen times in the length of the body. Scales as in Lycodes , the scales not extending out upon the fins. The head and nape are also scaleless. Lateral line apparently obsolete posteriorly, not extending back of the extremity of the pectoral.

The length of the head is contained about seven times in the entire length. The diameter of the eye is contained 2i times in the length of the head, and is about equal to the postorbital portion of the head. The eye is placed high, the width of the interorbital space being less than the diameter of the pupil, and contained 3| times in the long diameter of the eye. Nostrils immediately in front of the eye. Teeth as in Lycodes . The maxilla extends to the vertical through the anterior margin of the pupil; the mandible, to a little behind the vertical through the posterior margin of the pupil.

The dorsal fin is inserted slightly behind the vertical through the base of the pectoral; the portion of the fin present in the mutilated specimen before us contains 80 articulated rays. The first ten or eleven scutes do not support rays, but whether rays were originally present or not cannot now be ascertained. The longest dorsal ray is about equal to the longest anal ray, its length being contained about three times in that of the head. The distance of the vent from the snout is twice the length of the head; the anal begins immediately behind the vent; it consists at present of about 70 articulated rays. The caudal rays extend beyond the tips of the ultimate dorsal and anal rays; they are about 9 in number.

The distance of the ventral from the snout is equal to twice the length of the upper jaw; the middle ventral ray is the longest, it being half as long as the postorbital part of the head.

The length of the pectoral equals three times that of the snout.

Radial formula: D. 80-[-; A. 70-|-; C. 9; P. 18; V. 3.

The single mutilated specimen was from Station 337. It measured 112 millimeters in its imperfect condition.