152 BULLETIN 18 9, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



gradual changes with age. The large specimens all have smooth 

 skin, whereas the small ones have rough skin. The sculpturing of 

 the head is identical in all the specimens examined, except that the 

 serrations on the several ridges mentioned in the description are less 

 prominent in the large specimens. The proportions based on the 

 small specimens differ from those of the large ones only to a minor 

 degree, the most notable ones being a somewhat broader interorbital 

 (3.9 to 4.4 in postorbital part of head), in the large examples, a differ- 

 ence expected to occur with growth, and the broader and more 

 depressed body (about twice as broad as deep). The enumerations of 

 fin rays and the position of the fins are in agreement in all specimens 

 examined. In the light of this general information it seems advisable 

 to identify the small specimens with the large ones, which obviously 

 are F. corneta, at least until a more complete "growth series" becomes 

 available for study. 



Range. — Gulf of CaUfornia to Peru. Previously reported from 

 only as far south as Panama Bay. 



Family SYNGNATHIDAE: Pipefishes and Seahorses 



Body elongate, with several angles; head in Hne with axis of body 

 (as in pipefishes) or at an angle (as in seahorses) ; trunk and tail en- 

 closed in bony firmly connected rings, snout greatly produced, 

 tubelike, bearing a small toothless mouth at its tip; tail long, pre- 

 hensile in seahorses; males vnth egg pouch under anterior part of taU, 

 sometimes under body, commonly formed by two folds of skin meeting 

 or overlapping on median line; dorsal fin composed of soft rays only; 

 ventral fins wanting; other fins small or wanting. 



KEY TO THE GENERA 



a. Body very elongate; head in line with axis of body; tail not prehensile; 

 caudal fin present. 

 b. Ridge ("lateral line") along middle of side not interrupted, bent upward 

 and continuous with lateral dorsal ridge of tail.. Leptonotus (p. 152) 

 bb. Ridge along middle of side interrupted above vent, resumed higher up 

 and continuing with lateral dorsal ridge of tail-- Syngnathus (p. 153) 

 aa. Body less elongate; head placed at an angle to the axis of trunk; tail prehen- 

 sile; caudal fin absent Hippocampus (p. 156) 



Genus LEPTONOTUS Kaup, 1853 



Body in large females deep, compressed, the dorsal profile rising 

 suddenly behind head; belly acute; tail about twice length of body; 

 ridge ("lateral line") along middle of side not interrupted over vent, 

 being bent upward and continuous with the lateral dorsal ridge of the 

 tail. 



A single species comes within the scope of the present work. 



