Series Plectognathi 



421 



poison arrows. Tetraodon fahaka is a related species, the 

 first known of the family. It is found in the Nile. Tetraodon 

 lacrymatus, black with white spots, is common in Polynesia. 

 Tetraodon aerostations, with black spots, is frequently taken in 

 Japan, and Tetraodon setosus is frequent on the west coast 

 of Mexico. This species is subject to peculiar changes of color. 

 Normally dark brown, with paler spots, it is sometimes deep 

 blue, sometimes lemon-yellow and sometimes of mixed shades. 



FIG. 359. Tetraodon meleagris (LacepMe). Riu Kiu Islands. 



Specimens showing these traits were obtained about Clarion 

 Island of the Revillagigedos. No Tetraodon occurs in the West 

 Indies. Colomesus psittacus, a river fish of the northern part 

 of South America, resembles Spheroides, but shows consider- 

 able difference in the skull. 



But few fossil Tetraodontida have been recognized. These 

 are referred to Tetraodon. The earliest is Tetraodon pygmaus 

 from Monte Bolca. 



The ChonerhinidcB of the East Indies are globefishes .hav- 

 ing the dorsal and anal fins very long, the vertebrae more 

 numerous (12 + 17), twenty-nine in number. Chonerhinus 

 naritus inhabits the rivers of Sumatra and Java. 



The little family of Tropidichthyidcz is composed of small 

 globefishes, with a sharply-keeled back, and the nostrils almost, 

 or quite, wanting. The teeth are as in the Tetraodontida. 

 The skeleton differs considerably from that of Spheroides, 

 apparently justifying their separation as a family. The species 



