FISHERY BULLETIN: VOL 78, NO. 1 



distance between the tips of the sphenotic bones 

 (Figures 1, 2) The head of the vomer, bearing as 

 many as 10 recurved teeth, is also unusually wide 

 (Figures 1, 2, 5-7). The frontals are triradiate in 

 shape and widely separated from each other along 

 their dorsal margins, approaching one another on 



the midline only at their ventromedial extensions. 

 A semicircular-shaped pterosphenoid is present 

 under the posterior extension of each frontal. The 

 parasphenoid is well separated from the ven- 

 tromedial extensions of the frontals. Posterome- 

 dially, the parasphenoid underlies the anterior 



Sphenotic 



Pterosphenoid 



Parietal 



Supraethmoid 



Vomer 



Lateral ethmoid 



Posttemporal 



Exoccipital 



Epiotic 



Frontal 



Pterotic 



Supraoccipital 



Figure 2.— Dorsal view of cranium oi Melanocetus murrayi, LACM 31501-3, 84 mm SL. Cartilage stippled, open 



spaces solid black. 



Pterosphenoid 



Sphenotic 



/Parietal 



Posttemporal 



Lateral ethmoid 



Vomer 



Supraethmoid 



Exoccipital 



20th pre-ural 

 centrum 



Basioccipital 



Parasphenoid 



Pterotic 



Supraoccipital 



Prootic 



Figure 3.— Lateral view of cranium of Melanocetus johnsoni , LACM 32786-1, 75 mm SL. Cartilage stippled, open 



spaces solid black. 



62 



