514 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vol.38. 



Dzector Joiu>\s and Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mas., vol. 3, p. 2325 (Nov. 



26, L898). 

 Thalassophrym Ogilby, Ann. Queensland Mus., qo. 9, pt. 2, 1908, pp. 46 and 55. 

 Dsector < >gilby, Ann. Queensland Mus., no. 9, pt. 2, 1908, pp. 46 and 54. 



Dorsal spines two, perforated for the passage of a venom canal as 

 in Thalassothia. 



Operculum developed as a slender spine, bollow like the dorsal 

 spines. 



Teeth blunt conic; present on mandible, maxillary, vomer, and 

 palatines. 



Gill membrane narrower than in Porlchthys, reaching about to the 

 end of the opercular spine. 



This genus differs from TJialassotMa in the number of dorsal spines; 

 in the first rays of the anal not being separated from the rest of the 

 fin, and probably in the somewhat slenderer body. 



ThalassopKryne differs from Porichthys in the dentition, in the 

 character of the spines, and in the width of the gill membrane. 



The teeth of Thalassopliryne resemble those of young specimens 

 of Opsanus tau very closely and are very different from those of 

 Porichthys. 



KEY TO THE SPECIES OF THALASSOPHRfNE. 



a 1 . Eye small, 8 to L2 in head, teeth conic, i 'e or less flattened at tip. 



6 1 . Dorsal and anal fully joined to caudal. 



C 1 . Dorsal and anal long, about 30 rays in each don i. 



(■-'. Dorsal and anal shorter, alioul 20 rays in each amazonica. 



b 2 . Dorsal and anal not united to caudal, the tin membrane behind last rays reaching 

 to base of outer caudal rays. 

 d x . Teeth conic, only slightly flattened at tip. 



e 1 . Color dark brown with numerous spots of black the size of the eye and 



smaller. Teeth in a narrow patch across head of vomer punctata. 



e 2 . Color brown, more or less marbled with darker but without conspicuous 



spots of black. Teeth in a single row across head of vomer maculosa. 



d 2 . Teeth broad, almost incisor, oval in Eronl view with a long cutting edge; color 



dark grayish with a reticulation of grayish while lines reticulata. 



a 2 . Eyelarge,5 to 6 in head, teeth broad incisors, cutting edge nearly straighl .megalops. 



THALASSOPHRYNE DOWI Jordan and Gilbert. 



Thalassophrym dowi Jordan and Gilbert, Proc. (J. S. Nat. Mus., vol. L0, IS87, 



p. 388, 

 Dxctor" dovri Jordan and Evermann, Bull. 17, l. S. Nat. Mus., pt. 3, p. 2325, 



Nov. 26, 1898. 

 Thalassophrym dou H Iilbert and Stares, Mem. California Acad. Nat. Sci.,vol.4, 



1904, p L87 



"We can find no characters excepl the slightlj longer dorsal and anal fins, the 

 somewhat more elongate body, and other differences in proportions which separate 

 this species from the rest oi the genus Thalassophrym . These characters taken alone 

 are not worthy of generic or Bubgeneric rank. The main character on which the 

 genus Dsector was founded was the joining of the dorsal and anal fins to the caudal. 

 This, taken in connection w ith the greater length of the dorsal and anal and the more 

 elongate form would probably constitute a valid genus. However, Thalassophryne 



