NO. 3582 GENUS ENTOMACRODUS SPRINGER H 



of E. decussatus) exhibit sexual dimorphism in average numbers of 

 segmented dorsal rays. Other taxa either do not show such differ- 

 ences or the data are inconclusive. In all taxa where such sexual 

 dimorphism occurs, males tend to average more rays tlian females. 

 In all species, exceptionally high dorsal counts were usually from males 

 and low counts from females. Dimorphism in other meristic char- 

 acters was not noted. 



The species dwell in shallow water, in tide pools, along reefs, 

 or rocky shores and are essentially circum- and subtropical in 

 distribution. 



In all species of Entomacrodus, except E. venniculatus , E. niu- 

 qfoouethsis, and E. nigricans, for which there were sufficient data, 

 males attained a larger size than females, and the largest specimen in 

 any given collection \\'as usually a male. In the first two named 

 exceptions, females attained a larger size than males, and in the latter 

 exception the sexes attained equal size. In general, however, males 

 averaged larger than females. Overall sex ratios in the different 

 species were quite variable, and generalizations cannot be made. 



Intrafamilial relationships. — The genus Entomacrodus is a 

 member of the family Blenniidae and belongs in the subfamily 

 Salariinae as defined by Norman (1943). (Norman's subfamily 

 Ophioblenniinae is a synonym of the Salariinae; the former was based 

 on specunens now known to be larval stages of salarines.) The 

 genera of the Salariinae, with the exception of Rhabdoblennius Whitley 

 and allied genera, are characterized primarily by the nature of the 

 attachment of the teeth on the jaws. The very numerous teeth of 

 the dentaries and premaxillaries are loosely held in each jaw in a thick 

 band of connective tissue which is attached to the bone. The den- 

 taries and premaxillaries have a concave surface where the connective 

 tissue is attached. The arch of the bone encompassing the connec- 

 tive tissue and lying external to the bases of the teeth has been termed 

 a "crest" by Norman. In the other subfamily of the Blenniidae 

 (the Blenniinae), the teeth of both jaws are relatively few and firmly 

 implanted on the bone. In Rhabdoblennius and allies, the premaxil- 

 lary and dentary teeth are relatively few. The premaxillary teeth, 

 while held to the jaw only by connective tissue, are tightly associated 

 with the bone. The dentary teeth, in contrast, not only are held 

 to the jaw by connective tissue, but some also are loosely inserted in 

 openings in the dentary bone. 



The genera and species of the Salariinae are poorly known and a 

 meaningful discussion of relationships of the genera is not possible at 

 present. Entomacrodus usually has been distinguished from all other 

 salarine genera by the presence of teeth on the vomer; however, Smith 

 (1959) described Pereiilixia, which has vomerine teeth, and I have seen 



