Volume 1
Natural history of Victoria : prodromus of the zoology of Victoria; or figures and descriptions of the living species of all classes of the Victorian indigenous animals / by Frederick McCoy.
- Frederick McCoy
- Date:
- [1885-90]
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Natural history of Victoria : prodromus of the zoology of Victoria; or figures and descriptions of the living species of all classes of the Victorian indigenous animals / by Frederick McCoy. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.
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![Plate 88. ALOPECIAS VULPES (Linn. sp.). The Thresher, or Long-tailed Shark. [Genus ALOPECIAS (Mull, and Hen.). (Sub-kingd. Vertebrata. Class Pisces. Order Plagiostomata. Sub-order Selachoidea. Family Lamniidse.) Gen. Char.—First dorsal fin opposite to the space between the pectoral and ventral fins ; the second dorsal and anal fins very small; the anal a little behind the second dorsal. Caudal fin of extraordinary length, with a pit at its base. No nictitating eyelid. Spiracles very minute, close behind the eye. Teeth nearly alike in both jaws, no middle tooth, the upper a little oblique, of moderate size, the third on each side in upper jaw much smaller than the adjoining ones, flat, triangular, with smooth edges. Gill-openings small or of moderate width, the two last very close together and over the base of the pectoral. Skin nearly smooth, with very minute scales, each with three slight keels.] Description.—Body cylindrical until near tail, when it is strongly compressed laterally. Snout obtusely pointed, its length slightly less than (he distance apart of the orbits. Mouth small. Nostrils very small. Pectorals very long’, narrow, falcate, with a distinct posterior lobe at base. First dorsal high, triangular, with a projecting posterior lobe at base. Ventrals moderate, with a very long-, narrow posterior lobe at base. Second dorsal very small, a little in front of the anal, which is similar in size and shape, each being ohlong with a very long, slender prolongation of the posterior terminal angle. Pit above at base of caudal, with a prominent ridge in front of it. Upper lobe of caudal excessively long, much compressed, gradually tapering to a narrow, rounded distal extremity, bordered below by a narrow fin, widened into a small lobe near the point. Lower lobe of caudal triangular, of moderate size. Gill-openings very small, the two hinder gill-openings behind the anterior edge of the pectorals. Color: Above, dull bluish-grey, fading to whitish on the belly, with intermediate, irregular, grey, cloudy spots. Measurements. Ft. Length from tip of snout to base of upper lobe of caudal ... 5 „ of upper lobe of caudal ... ... ... ... 5 „ of lower lobe of caudal ... ... ... .. 0 „ from tip of snout to anterior edge of orbit ... 0 Diameter of orbit ... ... ... ... ... 0 Length from posterior edge of orbit to spiracle ... ... 0 Diameter of spiracle ... ... ... ... ... 0 Length from tip of snout to nostril ... ... ... 0 of nostril ... ... ... ... ... 0 from tip of snout to anterior edge of mouth ... 0 „ „ gill-opening ... 1 „ base of pectoral ... 1 „ „ 1st dorsal ... 2 „ „ 2nd dorsal ... 4 posterior edge of last gill-opening 1 anterior base of ventral ... 3 „ edge of anal fin ... 4 Height of 1st gill-opening last gill-opening [ 27 ] ins. lines. 1 0 1 0 7 0 3 5 1 3 2 0 0 ‘ IJ 2 6 0 6 4 0 0 0 4 9 5 0 5 0 6 6 4 9 8 0 2 0 2 6](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b24757469_0001_0547.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
