ICHTHYOLOGY OF VENEZUELA — SCHULTZ 193 



LACTOPHRYS TKIQUETER (Linnaeus) 



Chapin o Sapo de mar 



Ostracion triqueter Linnaeus, Systema naturae, ed. 10, vol. 1, p. 330, 1758 



("India"). 

 Lactophnjs triqueter Rohl, Fauna descriptiva de Venezuela, p. 3S5, figs. 192, 193, 

 1942 (coast of Venezuela). 



LACTOPHRYS TRICORNIS (Linnaeus) 



ToRO o Vaquito 



Ostracion tricornis Linnaeus, Systema naturae, ed. 10, vol. 1, p. 331, 1758. 



("India"). 

 Ladophrys tricornis Rohl, Fauna descriptiva de Venezuela, p. 386, fig. 194, 1942 



(coast of Venezuela). 



Suborder Tetraodontoidea 

 Family TETRAODONTIDAE: Puffers; Tamboriles 



KEY TO GENERA OF TETRAODONTIDAE REPORTED FROM VENEZUELA 



la. Dorsal rays 8, anal 7, counting rudiments; 2 distinct openings on each more- 

 or-less tubular nostril; inner surface or nasal tube with one or more folds; 

 lower sides of body without a dermal fold along a lateral line tube. 



Sphoeroides Anonymous 



16. Dorsal rays 10 to 15; anal 9 to 13. 



2a. Dorsal rays about 10, anal rays 9 to 10; no dermal fold along lower sides of 



body; gill opening extends down in front of about 7 pectoral rays; caudal 



fin truncate or a little concave. 



3a. Nostrils without a distinct tube or tentacle but with a small porelike 



opening on each side; back in front of dorsal fin compressed into a lovV 



keellike ridge or short prominence; margin of eye without eyelid; snout 



somewhat pointed CanthigastGr Swainson 



36. Nostrils with 2 distinct openings on each side at tip of a short tube; back 

 without keel, more or less depressed; membrane of eye free ventrally 

 for a short distance, but fused dorsally; snout blunt, rounded. 



Colomesus Gill 

 26. Dorsal rays about 13 to 15; anal rays 12 or 13; lower sides with a dermal 

 fold along a lateral line tube; tubular nostrils with 2 small openings 

 distally; back without ridge, more or less depressed; membrane of eye 

 free ventrally, fused dorsally; gill opening extending down in front of 

 about 8 to 10 pectoral rays; caudal fin forked -Lagocephalus Swainson 



Genus SPHOEROIDES Anonymous 



Sphoeroides (Author anonymous), Allg. Lit.-Zeit., column 676, 1798. (Genotype, 

 Tetrodon spengleri Bloch.) (Ref. copied.) 



The correct identification of the puffers in the western Atlantic 

 referred to the genus Sphoeroides is very difficult if not impossible for 

 certain forms. There appears to be so much variation in size of 

 eye and head and in other morphological characters that most keys lead 

 to doubtful identifications. Since no revision of tliis genus has been 



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