52 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF [1885. 



A REVIEW OF THE AMERICAN GENERA AND SPECIES OF BATRACHID.E. 

 BY SETH E. MEEK AND EDWARD A. HALL. 



In the present paper we have attempted to collect the synonymy 

 of all the genera and species of Batrachida 1 known from American 

 waters. 



The specimens examined by us all belong to the Museum of the 

 Indiana University. 



Analysis of Genera of Balrachidse. 

 a. Dorsal spines two ; opercle very small, its posterior part 

 developed as a single strong spine ; subopercle feebly 

 developed, narrowed and not ending in a spine ; body 

 scaleless. 

 b. Spines of dorsal fin and operculum hollow and connected 

 with venom glands ; lateral line on sides of body single ; 

 no canine teeth. Thalassophryne. 1. 



bb. Spines solid, without venom glands ; several lateral lines 

 on sides of head and body, composed of pores and 

 shining spots, some of these accompanied by cirri ; 

 canine teeth present; vertebrae 12 + 31 ; frontal region 

 depressed, forming a triangular area below level of tem- 

 poral region, its median ridge very low. Porichthys. 2. 

 aa. Dorsal spines three ; opercle developed as two strong 

 diverging spines ; subopercle rather strong, with two 

 spines similar to those of opercle. 

 c. Body scaleless ; branches of subopercular spine parallel, 

 the lower branch much the shorter ; vertebra? 10 + 22 ; 

 frontal region not depressed, its median ridge promi- 

 nent. Batraciius. 3. 

 cc. Body scaly ; branches of subopercular spine subequal 

 and diverging ; frontal region broad, flat and slightly 

 depressed, its median ridge rather prominent. 



Batrachoides. 4. 



1. THALASSOPHRYNE. 

 Thalassophryne Giinther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., iii, 1801, 174 (maculosa). 

 In this genus only five species are recognized. These have been 

 well described by Dr. Giinther and Dr. Steindachner. They are 

 noted for the development of poison glands in connection with 

 their spinous armature. 



