59. HIPPOCAMPID^. 
3>?5 
wise essentially as in S. californiense. Nuchal plates somewhat keeled 
in var. leptorliynchus ; not keeled in var. ariindinaceum. Coast of Cali- 
fornia, chiefly south of Point Concepcion ; abundant. 
{Syngnatlms leptorliynchus Girard, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Pliila. 1854, 15(>: Synynathus 
leptorhynchus Girard, U. S. Pac. R. R. Sur\\ Fish. 346: Sytiynafhus hpforhyneJnis Gill. 
Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1862, ‘284: Syngnathus aruruUnaceus Girard & Gill, 11. cc.,) 
aa. Breast shields covered hy loose shin ; lower jaw included. {Dermal ostethiis* Gill.) 
61§. S. paiEict9(»in39e (Gill) J. & G. 
Brown ; dorsal flu speckled. Body comparatively robust Snout 
moderate, a little longer than the rest of the head. Eye large. Occiput 
with a raised keel ; joint between the occiput and the first dorsal shield 
more perfect than usual, so that the head can be placed at an angle with 
the body. Greatest depth about equal to length of post-orbital part of 
head. Skin on breast and anterior ventral plates thin, showing the 
striation of the bones. Tail twice as long as trunk. Head 8 ; D. 41 ; 
rings 19 + 39. L. 12. San Diego, Cal. Only the original types known. 
{Dermatostethus punctipinnis Gill, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. 186‘2, ‘283.) 
Family LIX.— HIPPOCAMPIDiE. 
{The Sea Horses.) 
Syngnathoid fishes destitute of caudal and ventral fins, and with the 
tail prehensile. Form of the body and head singular; in the typical 
genera the body is compressed, and the head, which is placed nearly 
at right angles with the axis of the body, is surmounted by a bony 
crest. These little fishes have thus a remarkably horse-like physiog- 
nomy, like that of the conventional “knight” at chess. Mouth very 
small, terminal. Dorsal fin median, of soft rays only; anal fin minute 
pectoral short, with a broad base. Gill-openings very small. Egg-i30uch 
of the male usually at the base of the tail. Genera about 4; species 
about 30, most of them belonging to Hippocampus. Fishes of the open 
seas of warm regions. They attach themselves by their tails to sea- 
weed and other floating substances, and are often carried to great dis- 
tances by currents. 
{Sjngnathidx, group Hippooampina Gunther, viii, 194-206.) 
a Body compressed ; occiput with a narrow bony crest, which is surmounted by a 
“coronet”; shields with tubercles or spines Hippocampus, 188. 
*Gill, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1862, 283: type Dermatostethus punctipinnis Gill. 
{Seppa, skin; 6te0oZ, breast.) 
Bull. Nat. Mus. No. 16 25 
