FAMILY MUGILOIDIDAE — SCHTJLTZ 267 



be in front of the pectoral base, whereas in the Branchiostegidae the 

 pelvics are under or a Httle in front of pectoral base. Actually, in 

 Mugiloides chilensis (Mohna) the pelvics are nearly under the pectoral 

 fin base. In Parapercis they are more anteriorly placed. However, 

 there is so much variabihty in the position of the pelvic fins among 

 the species usually referred to these famihes that other characters 

 must be employed. 



Macrias Gill and Townsend (Science, new ser., vol. 14, p. 937, 1901) 

 has been referred to the Mugiloididae by Jordan (Stanford Univ. 

 Publ. Biol. Sci., vol. 3, No. 2, p. 229, 1923) but the original description 

 does not indicate that Macrias belongs in this group. Unfortunately, 

 the type has not been saved. 



Townsend (Bull. New York Zool. Soc, vol. 39, No. 1, p. 29, fig. 

 1936) published a photograph ^^ of M. amissus. From it, I conclude 

 that Macrias belongs to the family Notothenidae because the illustra- 

 tion shows (1) the pelvics are inserted in advance of pectorals; (2) 

 two dorsal fins, the first spinous; and (3) two lateral lines, a dorsal 

 one, then posteriorly a lateral line along midside. The other 

 characters are likewise those of notothenids. 



Among those genera of which I have seen specimens, I would refer 

 the following, in addition to Parapercis, to the Mugiloididae; Mugi- 

 loides Lacepede (= Myxonum Rafinesque); Pinguipes Cuvier and 

 Valenciennes; Prolatilus Gill; Pseudoperces Ribeiro; Parapercichthys 

 Whitley and Phillips; and Porteridia Fowler. There may be other 

 genera in the family Branchiostegidae (= Latilidae) that belongs here 

 too. These famihes resemble the Notothenidae but may be dis- 

 tinguished by having 2 pairs of nasal openings, whereas the Noto- 

 thenidae have only a single pair. 



The following characters appear to be shared by the genera listed 

 above : 



Branched caudal fin rays 8+7 ; two pairs of nostrils, anterior tubular; 

 one opercular spine; gill membranes attached to the isthmus far for- 

 ward, with a broad to narrow fold across isthmus; pelvics 1,5, with 

 third or fourth branched rays longest; fourth gill arch with a re- 

 stricted opening behind it; lateral line complete, mostly following 

 dorsal profile on side of body, but on midside posteriorly; pelvic 

 insertion under to in front of pectoral fin base and in front of the 

 dorsal fin origin ; dorsal fin continuous with III to VIII spines followed 

 by soft rays; anal origin under front part of base of soft dorsal; head 

 mostly scaled, except preorbital and snout; no scales on dorsal and 

 anal fins; scales basall}^ on pectoral and caudal fins; vomer and 

 palatines with or without teeth. 



" Unfortunately the original photograph published by Dr. Townsend cannot be located, according to a 

 letter (Jan. 7, 1957) from Dr. William Bridges, Curator of Publications, New York Zoological Society. 



