Art. XVIII.—Note on the Occurrence of Lophotes in New Zealand Waters.

By T. Jeffery Parker, D.Sc., F.R.S.

[Read before the Otago Institute, 13th June, 1893.]

The genus Lophotes forms, according to Dr. Günther, a separate division of Acanthopterygian fishes. I quote his description from “The Study of Fishes,” p. 519:—

“Seventeenth Division.—Acanthopterygii lophotiformes.

“Body riband-shaped, with the vent near its extremity; a short anal behind the vent; dorsal fin as long as the body.

“Only one species is known of this division or family, Lophotes cepedianus. It is most probably a deep-sea fish, but does not descend to so great a depth as the Trachypteridæ, its bony and soft parts being well coherent. It is a scarce fish hitherto found in the Mediterranean, off Madeira, and in the Sea of Japan; its length is known to exceed 5ft. The head is elevated into a very high crest, and the dorsal fin commences with an exceedingly strong and long spine on the head. Silvery, with rose-coloured fins.”

To the localities above mentioned must be added Cape Colony, since a fine local specimen is to be seen in the South African Museum, Cape Town. The occurrence of the fish in New Zealand also seems to indicate that, like many other deep-sea fishes, it is practically cosmopolitan.

The present specimen came ashore at the St. Clair Baths, near Dunedin, last December, and was very generously presented to the Museum by the bath-keeper, Mr. Stark. It is 4ft. 8 ½in. (143cm.) in length, and reached the Museum in an excellent state of preservation, except for the fact that the rose-colour of the fins had faded.

A coloured figure of this very beautiful and interesting fish is given in the illustrated edition of Cuvier's “Règne Animal,” Poissons, Atlas, pl. 70.