of eye 1.5 in snout and 4.6 to 4.4 in head. Spiracle large, ovoid to subcircular, placed just above level of posterior corner of eye and behind it by a distance slightly more than its own length; length of spiracle 3.0 in horizontal diameter of eye. Gill-openings very small, vertical, concave, and in a horizontal series anterior to pectoral base. Lengths of first four gill-openings either subequal or decreasing rearwards, ¼ to ⅔ the horizontal diameter of eye; 5th gill-opening varying from slightly larger to smaller than preceding gill-openings. Interspaces between gill-openings subequal between 1st and 2nd, and 2nd and 3rd, and larger than that between 3rd and 4th, and 4th and 5th. Nostrils very large, close together, oblique, placed well forward on anterior third of snout so that the lateral nasal aperture faces almost directly frontwards. Interspace between nostrils narrow, 3.2 to 2.6 in preoral length. Lateral and medial nasal apertures round, separated from each other chiefly by the thick fleshy posterior nasal flap; medial aperture more than half covered by the extensive, convex-margined anterior nasal flap which projects rearwards; posterior margin of medial aperture bordered by a low membranous band. Mouth small, almost transverse, with thick, fleshy lips which are complexly pleated longitudinally—i.e., across the lips at right angles to the mouth. Preoral clefts long, reaching more than ⅔ of distance from angles of mouth to upper symphysis, and extended rearwards for an equal or shorter distance by abruptly shallowing furrows.

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Teeth 14/5-1-5 in a 525 mm male, 17/5-1-5 in a 560 mm male, dissimilar in upper and lower jaws. Upper teeth narrow, erect and of uniform size except for the last few series on each.

side where the teeth are oblique and diminish in size. In the central sector of mouth there are ten or eleven series of teeth with four or five rows or parts of rows functional; these occupy a slightly arched quadrangular area about twice as wide as long. The lateral two or three series of oblique teeth comprise about three rows which trail rearwards as a narrow band from each side of the quadrangular area, being placed on the medial face of the upper jaw where they cannot be seen without dissection. Each upper tooth from central sector of mouth.

Text-fig. 6—Oxynotus bruniensis. Fig. A—595 mm male, New Zealand, lateral view and insets of transverse sections of snout and peduncle. Figs. B-C—Dorsal and ventral views of head of same. Fig. D—1st dorsal fin of 525 mm male, New Zealand. Fig. E—1st dorsal fin of 722 mm female, New Zealand . Fig. F—Right nostril of 595 mm male. Figs. G-H—104 mm embryo (one of seven from 722 mm, New Zealand female), ventral view of head, and lateral view. N.B.—External gill filaments, up to 18 mm long, are omitted in. Fig.H and shown only on the left side in. Fig.G; the yolk-sac, 70 mm × 60 mm, is also omitted in both figures of the embryo. C = level of cloaca. YS = stalk of yolk-sac.

with a long, sharply-pointed, lanceolate cusp, its edges irregularly and finely serrate, borne on a bifid base. The cusp stands well clear of the base on a rather narrow pedicle which proximally is irregularly striated longitudinally. The bases of adjacent teeth are placed close together or touching but do not overlap each other. Lower teeth with only one row functional, broad, blade-like, erect and symmetrical at the centre of the jaw where there is a median tooth, but slightly oblique towards the angles. Each tooth with a high rectangular base and a triangular cusp; the margins of the cusp are irregularly and finely serrate. Bases of adjacent lower teeth overlapping laterally.

1st dorsal fin subtriangular, large, very high, its height about twice the length of its base measured from origin of exposed spine, and greater than length of head. Origin of 1st dorsal obscure; anterior margin steep in front of spine but steepning even more behind spine where it is increasingly convex towards the apex; apex pointed, less than a right angle; distal margin at first concave from apex downwards but becoming convex halfway along its length; posterior margin short, less than horizontal diameter of eye; posterior free corner right-angled or acute. 1st dorsal spine sloping forward, largely concealed, its short exposed tip above or behind posterior tip of pectoral when latter is adpressed to side; total length of 1st dorsal spine just less than or equal to distance from its tip to apex of 1st dorsal fin. 2nd dorsal similar to 1st but smaller, its height 1.3 to 1.5 in height of 1st dorsal, its base measured from origin of exposed spine 2.0 in base of 1st similarly measured. Origin of 2nd dorsal fairly well defined, almost an eye-length in front of pelvic origin; length of complete base of 2nd dorsal equal to interspace between 1st and 2nd dorsals. Anterior margin of 2nd dorsal behind exposed tip of spine less steep than that of 1st; distal margin more nearly straight. 2nd dorsal spine sloping rearwards, largely concealed, its exposed tip above or just in front of posterior insertion of pelvic base; total length of 2nd dorsal spine equal to distance from its tip to apex of 2nd dorsal fin. Caudal deep and short, its length measured from hypural origin 4.0 to 4.8 in total length; epiural lobe moderately developed, its height about 4.0 in length of its anterior margin and 1.5 in height of hypural, its anterior margin slightly convex; terminal margin straight to convex, long, its length about the length of epiural; subterminal notch shallow and obtuse, but distinct; origin of hypural well anterior to epiural; lower anterior margin of hypural convex, apex a bluntly rounded right-angle, posterior hypural margin straight, convex or slightly sinuous. Pectorals leaf-shaped, about as long as head but narrow, their greatest breadth (near base) approximating half their length; anterior margin straight proximally, becoming convex towards the anterior (outer) corner which is sharply rounded and acute; distal margin almost straight, more than ⅔ as long as anterior margin; posterior margin very short, posterior inner corner very broadly rounded and obtuse. Pelvics small, constricted at base; anterior, distal and posterior margins very slightly convex, anterior and posterior corners bluntly rounded; length of anterior margin about ¼ longer than distal margin, and ⅔ as long as anterior pectoral margin. Claspers in 595 mm male ovoid in section, rapidly tapering to their tips, which reach as far back as hypural origin; for ⅔ of their length they are joined to their respective posterior pelvic margin; subterminally each carries a strong lateral spur.

Colour: Uniform greyish-brown, but with white or translucent areas at tips of dorsal fins and claspers, along distal margins of pectorals and pelvic fins and at apex of hypural lobe of caudal; there is also in most specimens a light-coloured patch on the ventral surface beneath the gill-openings; lips pinkish-white.

Dalatias licha (Bonnaterre, 1788). Text-fig. 7, A-B; Text-fig. 8, A-H.

The Black Shark was first reported from New Zealand by Parker (1883, p. 222) who identified it as the Mediterranean Scymnus lichia, now recognised as Dalatias licha and known from the Atlantic and Pacific, both north and south, as well as the Mediterranean. Whitley (1931, p. 310) proposes the new name Scymnorhinus phillippsi for the Australasian species without indicating why it is specifically distinct except for the statement that “as McCulloch hinted (it) is obviously not conspecific with the French Squalus lichia.” McCulloch (1914, p. 81) identified specimens from the Great Australian Bight as S. licha though he says: “In using that name.

I do so only because the descriptions of the Mediterranean species are so incomplete that, in the absence of typical specimens to compare with, it is impossible to determine whether they are specifically identical or distinct.” Phillipps (1946, p. 19) accepts Whitley's name and regards D. phillippsi as distinct from D. licha in having the mouth placed further back, differently placed fins, a shorter caudal fin, as well as in various other characters.