304 DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE OF AUSTRALIAN FISIIES, 



Genus Hippocampus, Leach. 



Trunk compressed, more or less elevated, composed of from 

 ten to twelve rings. Shields with more or less prominent 

 tubercles or spines. Occiput compressed into a crest, terminating 

 at its supero-posterior corner in a prominent knob (coronet). 

 Supra-orbital, temporal and humeral regions with prominences. 

 Tail prehensile, finless. Pectoral fins. Eggs carried in a sac at 

 the base of the tail, opening near the vent. 



All Temperate and Tropical Seas. 



978. Hippocampus abdominalis, Kaup. 



Gunth., Cat. Fishes, VIIL, p. 199. 



Dorsal fin 28-31. Tubercles not much developed and very 

 obtuse ; those on the head sometimes with simple filaments. 

 Length of the snout rather more than, or equal to, the distance 

 between the posterior margin of the orbit and the gill-opening 

 in adult examples, but shorter in young ones. Body generally 

 with large round brown spots, more or less confluent into bands 

 on the hinder part of the tail ; head with much smaller round 

 brown spots, of which those round the orbit are the most 

 constant. Sometimes uniform blackish brown. 



Tasmania. 



979. Hippocampus antiquorum, Leach. 



Gunth., Cat. Fishes, VIIL, p. 200. 



Dorsal fin 19. Tubercles generally well developed on the 

 head and body, and sub-acute, rarely blunt. Length of the snout 

 ecpial to the distance between the hind margin of the orbit and 

 gill-opening. Spines on the head and neck sometimes with 

 simple filaments. Brown with bluish-white dots, more or less 

 confluent into lines on the lower part of the side and gill-cover ; 

 dorsal fin with a black sub-marginal band. 



Cape York. (Darnel.) 



