(Family):Skin with some large bony plates, each with a median spine. Sphenotic spine triangular-shaped. Jaws teeth small, Close-set, and increasing in size inwards; 1〜3 rows in the upper and 2〜4 rows in the lower. Vomer very broad, lacking teeth. Dorsal fin rays 5〜6. Anal fin rays 4〜5. (Genus):One genus, Himantolophus. (Species):Illicium short, less than 50% of SL*, its base above eyes. Upper jaw length 3.9 in SL. Rays of pectoral and unpaired fins black. A white spot on the dorsal and ventral margins of caudal fin base respectively. Numbers of the outer row of jaws teeth 78 in the upper and 69 in the lower. Two pairs of swellings in the distal end of esca, the anterior pair only half as long as the posterior one*.
Distribution:
Madeira (type locality), off Suriname (7°48’N, 53°45’W).
Remarks:
The esca could not be observed in the present specimen, because the illicium was broken and missing. * Reference data from Maul (1961). (Fujii)