36 Annals of the South African Museum. 



FAMILY COTTID^. 

 GEN. PLATYCEPHALUS, Bl. Schn. 



PLATYCEPHALUS PUNCTATUS, C. and V. 



Teeth in villiform bands on jaws, in two parallel bands on vomer 

 and a long narrow band on palatines. Depth of body 5f to 6^ times 

 in total length excluding caudal, length of head 3^- to 3^- times. 

 Snout If times diameter of eye, which is 7-j to 8 times in length of 

 head ; interorbital width slightly concave and about f diameter of 

 eye ; width of head between preopercular spines equals f its length ; 

 maxillary reaches to vertical of anterior 4th of eye. Supraorbital 

 margin with 5 teeth, the ridge from it to the occiput commences 

 with a strong spine and a group of radiating ridges, with another 

 spine near the nape ; a bony ridge armed with spines passes from 

 middle of posterior margin of eye to origin of lateral line, the last 

 spine being long and blade-like ; a strong spine, directed backwards, 

 a little in advance of upper anterior angle of eye ; a short bony 

 ridge internal to either front nostril ; a strong ridge, commencing in 

 a stellate group of 5 ridges on snout, passes across preorbital armed 

 with 2 spines and joins a strong spine at angle of preoperculum 

 beneath the base of which is a smaller flat triangular spine pointing 

 downwards ; operculum with 2 spines, the lower continued in a bony 

 ridge to preopercular border; nostrils tubular, the anterior termi- 

 nating in a flap ; a spine above axilla. 



Dorsal i, viii 11 ; spines weak, 3rd spine longest and nearly 

 ^ length of head ; soft dorsal lower than spinous. Pectorals a little 

 more than ^ length of head. Ventrals nearly i length of head, 

 reaching to 2nd anal ray. Anal 12, commencing below 2nd ray of 

 soft dorsal and not so high. Caudal truncate, f length of head. 

 Lat. 1. about 80, lat. tr. \ ; 6 rows of scales between lateral line 

 and base of spinous dorsal. 



Colour (of preserved specimens), light brown above, faint yellow 

 beneath ; 3 faint brown cross-bands below spinous dorsal ; upper 

 part of body and head sprinkled with small blackish spots which 

 form irregular transverse lines on all the fins except the ventrals ; 

 spinous dorsal with a dark upper edge. 



Two specimens, 235 mm. and 240 mm. in length respectively, 

 from Mr. Eomer Robinson, Natal. 



