FAMILY, XXVIII— CALLIONYMID^. 321 



Family, XXVIII— CALLIONYMIDiE, Richardson. 



GallionymincB, Swainson. 



Branchiostegals five to six : pseudobranchisB. Gill-openings of moderate width or very narrow. Body 

 mostly elongated. The infraorbital ring of bones does not articulate with the preopercle. Teeth in the jaws, 

 none on the palate. Two dorsal fins, the anterior with from four to seven flexible spines : second dorsal and 

 anal similar : ventrals wide asunder. Scales and lateral-line present or absent. Air-vessel absent. 



In Cuv. and Val. these fishes are included under the Gobioides, but it is doubted if they should not form 

 a separate Family, and Richardson, as I think, correctly considered them as such. 



SYNOPSIS OF INDIVIDUAL GENUS. 

 1. Callionymus. Definition as in the family. 



Genus, 1 — Calliontmds, Linnceus. 



Synchiropus and Diplogrammus, Gill. 



Branchiostegals five or six : pseudohrcmcMce, a slit behind the fourth gill. Gill-openings very narrow, some- 

 times merely a round hole at the upper edge of the opercle. Head and anterior portion of the body depressed. Eyes 

 of moderate size, usually directed somewhat upwards. Mouth narrow, upper jaw protractile. A strong, variously 

 armed spine at the angle of the preopercle. Teeth in jaws minute : "palate edentulous. Two dorsal fins, the anterior 

 consisting of three or four fiexible spines : ventrals with jive rays, and widely separated one from the other. Lateral- 

 line single or double. Air-vessel absent. 



These fishes termed " Dragonets " appear to live mostly at the bottom of the sea and near the shore. 

 They are extensively spread, being found in the temperate seas of the Old world, also throughout the seas of 

 India to the Malay Ai-chipelago and beyond. They exhibit in many instances sexual distinctions either in the 

 length of their fins, in their colours, or in both. They have been divided in accordance with the size and 

 position of their gill-openings as follows : — 



1. GiU-opening small, superior. Lateral-line single. 



2. GiU-opening small, superior. Lateral-Line double. 



3. Gill-opening lateral and more dilated. Lateral-line single. 



4. Gill-opening lateral and more dilated. Lateral-line double. 



SYNOPSIS OP SPECIES. 

 I. Gill-opening small, superior. Lateral-line single. 



1. Callionymus hngicaudatus, D. 4 | 9, A. 9. Preopercular spine with from 6 to 10 denticulations 

 internally, and one at its base directed forwards. Dots on head and body, fins spotted. East coast of Africa, 

 through seas of India to the Malay Archipelago. 



2. Callionymus sagitta, D. 4 | 9, A. 9. Preopercular spine with four or five denticulations internally, and 

 one at its base directed forwards. MaxiUa does not reach to below orbit. Ocellated spots on body, first dorsal 

 dark, other fins spotted. Seas of India and Maui-itius. 



3. Callionymus fluviatilis, D. 4 | 10, A. 9. Preopercular spine with two or three denticulations 

 internally, and one at its base directed forwards. Maxilla reaches to below first third of eye. River Hooghly 

 at Calcutta. 



II. Gill-opening more dilated and lateral. Lateral-line single. 



4. Callionymus lineolatus, D. 4 | 8, A. 7-8. Preopercular spine with two denticulations internally, and 

 none at its base directed forwards. Bands across back : oval or round white spots on first dorsal fin : two or 

 three rows of blue spots on the anal. Madras and Reunion. 



6. Callionymus Orientalis, D. 4 | 10, A. 12. Preopercular spine with three denticulations internally. 

 White spots on first dorsal fin, other fins banded. Tranquebar. 



6. Callionymus opercularis, D. 4 | 9, A. 9. Interorbital space as wide as one diameter of the eye. 



Preopercular spine with six denticulations internally, and none directed forwards at its base. Brownish, 



dotted : fins spotted. Coromandel coast of India. 



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