THE OSTEOLCKiY OF 8().MK liERYCOID FISHES. 



By Edwin Ciiapix Stakks 



Of Stanford University. 



The material upon which this paper is })as('d represents tiv(> families 

 of Beryeoid fishes, as follows: 



Trachichthyidfe, represented by IfoploxtetJDis jajxnilciix Hiloemlorf. 



Berycida?, represented by 

 Beryx sjjlendens Lowe. 



Holocentrid^, represented 

 l)y Iloloeentrus ascenslonis 

 (Osbeck) and Myripristis occi 

 dentahs Gill. 



Polymixida?, represented by 

 Poly III ixia japon ica Giinther. 



Monocentridge, represented 

 by Jfonocentris japonicus 

 (Houttuyn). 



These families are held to- 

 gether b}' some very constant 

 characters, the most impor- 

 tant of which, aside from the 

 increased number of ventral 

 rays, is the presence of well- 

 developed orbitosphenoids.^' 



When such diverse families 

 as these possess so important a character, seconded as it is by several 

 minor ones, it seems justifiable to base a group upon it. 



"It is remarkable to find this archaic character among the spiny-rayed fishes, 

 though it is well in keeping with the pneumatic duct to the esophagus, which some 

 of the Beryeoid fishes are said to have. 



The presence of orbitosphenoids is common among tlie lower forms from the Bony 

 Ganoids up to and including the Salmonoids. So far as the author can asi-ertain, 

 they hitherto have not been found in forms more speciali/.cd tlian the last. They 

 have been searched for in vain in tlic following: Auhjnts, SiinoiiKK, B<,)x, Fundnliis, 

 Aphredoderux, and nearly all of the families of Hemiliranchs, Synentognaths, and 

 Percesoces. 



Fig. 1.— View of lower side of cranttm of beryx 



SPLENDENS, SHOWING THE ORBITOSPHENOIH. TH E 

 PARASPHENOID HAS BEEN REMOVED. a». AI.ESPHE- 



NOID ; 6,s, basisphenoid; /, frontal; o«, orbito- 



SPHENOID; .v. SPHENOTir. 



Proceedings U. S. National Museum, Vol. XXVll— No. 1366. 



601 



