1941 CATALOGUE OF FISHES OF TORTUGAS 3H 



Family OGCOCEPHALIDAE. Batfishes 



Dr. Longley examined many specimens of this family in American and 

 European museums, and found that the species, especially those of the genus 

 Ogcocephalus, were very imperfectly understood. Unfortunately he was not able 

 to complete his studies. I have salvaged what I could from his notes, so far as 

 they applied to the local species, but much of his work is a total loss. I have pre- 

 pared the following key, which is introduced to show the chief diagnostic char- 

 acters of the local genera and species. S. F. H. 



Key to the Genera and Species 



a. Disk with frontal region elevated, with a more or less produced 

 rostrum, long and prominent in some species; eyes lateral; teeth on 



vomer and palatines; dorsal normally with 4 rays Ogcocephalus 



b. Pectoral with 13 rays; black spots (polka dots) at least in shoul- 

 der region, and often on sides of head and tail 



c. Rostral process very short, its projection in advance of eye 

 about equal to diameter of eye; base of pectoral plain or 



merely black-spotted, not with black spots and white lines . . nasutus 

 cc. Rostral process longer, its projection in advance of eye 

 greatly exceeding diameter of eye, proportionately longer in 

 young than in adults; base of pectoral with dark spots and 



white lines, forming reticulations cubtjrons 



bb. Pectoral with 10 or 11 rays; no prominent dark spots on shoul- 

 der region or elsewhere 



d. Rostral process short, its projection in advance of eye about 

 equal to diameter of eye; body very rough, spines and 

 tubercles numerous, many of them low and stout, buckler- 

 like; some of spines in upper part of disk surrounded at 

 base with brown rings; pectoral tips dark; tip of caudal 



pale (red in life) parvus 



dd. Rostral process notably longer, its projection in advance of 

 eye being equal to two or more times diameter of eye; body 

 only moderately rough, spines and tubercles smaller; tips 

 of pectorals and caudal black 



e. Rostral process moderately long, its projection in ad- 

 vance of eye about 2.3 in head, the latter measured from 

 tip of upper jaw to gill opening; spines and tubercles 

 on body rather small, many with pungent tips; color 

 above dark brown, spines pale, making surface appear 



pale-spotted vespertilio 



ee. Rostral process very long, its projection in advance of 

 eye about 2 in head, the latter measured from tip of 

 upper jaw to gill opening; spines and tubercles fewer 

 and larger, blunt, not with pungent tips; color plain 



grayish sp. 



aa. Disk with frontal region not elevated, no rostral process or spine, 

 snout rounded; eyes partly superior; dorsal normally with 6 rays 



