240 DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE OF AUSTRALIAN FISHES, 



The middle and hinder dorsal and anal rays are very slender and 

 somewhat prolonged, the last extending nearly or quite to the 

 root of the caudal. Caudal tin deeply forked. Scales very thin 

 and minute, deciduous. 



Cape York (Chevert Exp.). Port Darwin. 



860. Beloxe annulata, Cuv. & Val. 



Gunth., Cat. Fishes VI., p. 240.— Bleek., Atl. Ichth. Scomhr., 



p. 48, pi. 12, fig. 3. 



D. 23-24. A. 21-22. 



The free portion of the tail is tetrahedral, higher than broad, 

 with a slight narrow longitudinal keel along the side. The 

 length of the head is contained twice and a-third in the total 

 length (without caudal), its upper surface with a broad and very 

 shallow median groove ; superciliary region striated ; base of the 

 intermaxillaries depressed ; maxillary nearly entirely hidden by 

 the praoorbital. Teeth strong ; vomerine teeth none. The 

 diameter of the eye is two-thirds of the width of the interorbital 

 space, and two-fifths of the length of the postorbital portion of 

 the head. Body slightly compressed, its depth being much less 

 than the length of the pectoral fin, which is more than the 

 distance of the opercular margin from the orbit. Tongue covered 

 with tubercular asperities. Ventral fin midway between the 

 front margin of the eye and the root of the caudal fin. The 

 middle and hinder rays of the dorsal fin are very slender and 

 somewhat prolonged, the last extending nearly or quite to the 

 root of the caudal. Caudal fin forked. Scales very thin and 

 minute, deciduous. 



Percy Islands and Cape York (Chevert Exp.). Length over 

 three feet. 



861. Belone ferox, Gunth. 

 Gunth., Cat. Fishes VI., p. 242. 



