62 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM vol. 124 



An additional feature that seems to separate the Blennioidae 

 from all other members of the suborder is that the members I have 

 examined, at least, retain a constant relationship between the anterior- 

 most anal pterygiophores and the first hemal spine. 



Members of this superfamily are abundant inhabitants of all 

 tropical inshore areas, and some extend their ranges well into temperate 

 waters. 



The relationship of the tropical blennies to any other fish group is 

 by no means clear. 



Superfamily Zoarceoidae (=Zoarceoidae+Stichaeoidae-j-Cryp- 

 tacanthodidae of Makushok-f Bathymasteridae+Zaproridae+?De- 

 repodichthyidae+?Scytalinidae). — As Norman (1957, p. 477) in- 

 dicates, Zoarcaeus Nilsson, 1832, appears to be the first Latinized 

 version of Cuvier's (1829, p. 400) "Les Zoarces." But Zoarcaeus is an 

 objective synonym of Enchelyopus Gronow, an invalid name that, 

 depending upon interpretation, may have been validated nomencla- 

 torially by Scopoli (1777). Though the proper generic name to be 

 used herein is by no means clear, the family group names Zoarceoidae 

 and Zoarcidae are available whether or not the generic name on which 

 they are based is a synonym ("International Code of Zoological 

 Nomenclature," 1964, p. 11). 



Head compressed or rounded. The body is long and more or less 

 tapering posteriorly, with a short, usually poorly demarcated caudal 

 peduncle. A single nostril on each side of head. Gill openings rarely 

 (Derepodichthys) extending far forward below the head. Medial 

 extrascapular of the usually well developed lateral line (seismosensory 

 of Makushok) system fused to the parietals. Front and rear of the 

 suspensorium usually firmly connected (apparently weakly connected 

 in Ptilichthys; see Makushok 1958, p. 66, fig. 38b). Prootic excluded 

 from the interior orbital rim. Basisphenoid absent. 



Pectoral actinosts broad, usually four in number (said to be three 

 sometimes in Cebedichthys [Starks, 1930, p. 83] and altogether absent 

 in Azygopsis [Makushok, 1958, p. 106, fig. 72]), the uppermost pectoral 

 ray articulating with the scapula. Pelvic fins with fewer than five soft 

 rays (except Bathymasteridae), frequently absent; if present, none of 

 the soft pelvic rays are strengthened or the interradial membranes 

 between them deeply incised. Interspace between pelvic fins less than 

 the distance across one pelvic base. 



In addition to the above features, there are others common to most 

 or all zoarceoids that will separate them from many of the other 

 Blennioidei. First, the maxillary is much longer than the premaxillary, 

 sometimes more than twice as long in such extreme instances as 

 Anarrhichas. Second, the dorsal fin is always continuous (except for 

 Ptilichthys, which has separate spines anteriorly). Third, the en top- 



