300 DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE OF AUSTRALIAN FISHES, 



Second Group Hippocampina. 

 Tail prehensile, without a caudal fin. 



Genus Gastrotokeus, Kaup. 



Body depressed, the lateral line running along the margin of 

 the abdomen. Shields smooth. Tail shorter than the body, 

 prehensile. Pectoral fins. The males carry the eggs embedded 

 in soft membrane on the abdomen, without a pouch being formed 

 by a lateral expansion of the integuments. 



Indian and Australian Seas. 



971. Gastrotokeus biaculeatus, Bl. 



Gunth., Cat. Fishes VIIL, p. 194. 



D. 40-45. P. 17-23. Osseous rings 18 -f 45-55. 



Superciliary margin terminating behind in a more or less 

 distinct spine. Old individuals sometimes with minute filaments 

 on the lower side of head, body and tail. Origin of the dorsal 

 fin nearly opposite to vent. 



Cape York, Port Essington, South Coast New Guinea. 



Genus Solenognatiius, Kaup. 



Body compressed, deeper than broad, only in adult females 

 somewhat dilated. Shields hard, rugose, with round or oval 

 interannular plates ; no elongate processes. Tail shorter than 

 the body, prehensile. Pectoral fins. 



Chinese and Australian Seas. 



972. Solenognatiius Hardwickii, Gray. 



Gunth., Cat. Pishes VIIL, p. 195. 

 D. 43-45. Osseous rings 26-27 + 55-60. 

 Dorsal surface slightly concave or flat. Shields very rough 

 and rugose, but with scarcely any spines; operculum with 



