Anatomical diversity 220 



Generic relationships and comparative diagnoses ofsubfamilies(Ostraciinae and Lactophrysinae) . . . 238 



Suborder Tetraodontoidei (Gymnodontes) 243 



Comparative diagnosis (contrast with that of the Balistoidei) 243 



Infraorder Triodontoideo [and Superfamily Triodontoidea, Family Triodontidae] 243 



Comparative diagnosis (contrast with that of the Tetraodontoideo) 243 



Detailed description of Triodon macropterus 244 



Anatomical diversity 254 



Relationships to the Balistoidei and to the other Tetraodontoidei 260 



Infraorder Tetraodontoideo 263 



Comparative diagnosis (contrast with that of the Triodontoideo) 263 



Superfamily Tetraodontoidea 264 



Comparative diagnosis (contrast with that of the Moloidea) 264 



Family Tetraodontidae 265 



Comparative diagnosis (contrast with that of the Diodontidae) 265 



Comparativediagnosesof subfamilies (Tetraodontinae and Canthigasterinae) 265 



Detailed description of Lagocep/ia/us/aeui^atus 266 



Detailed description of Canthigaster rostrata 274 



Anatomical diversity and generic relationships 286 



Summary of generic relationships and intrafamilial classification 341 



Relationships to the Diodontidae and to the other Tetraodontoidei 342 



Family Diodontidae 343 



Comparative diagnosis (contrast with that of the Tetraodontidae) 343 



Detailed description of D(odon/io/ocan(/ius 343 



Anatomical diversity 351 



Generic relationships 365 



Relationship to the other Tetraodontoidei 368 



Superfamily Moloidea [and Family Molidae] 368 



Comparative diagnosis (contrast with that of the Tetraodontoidea) 368 



Detailed description oiMola mola 368 



Anatomical diversity 377 



Generic relationships 391 



Relationship to the other Tetraodontoidei 392 



Material examined 393 



Recent species 393 



Fossil species 398 



EPILOGUE, Remaining problems 400 



ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 401 



LITERATURE CITED 403 



INDEX OF DISCUSSION OF GENERA 421 



Figxires 



1. Flowing-line illustrated version of hypothesized familial and subfamilial groupings of the Plectognathi 5 



2. Angular-line versionof hypothesized familial and subfamilial groupings of the Plectognathi 6 



3. Flowing-line illustrated version of hypothesized familial, subfamilial, and generic relationships of the 

 Superfamily Triacanthoidea, the basal Plectognathi 45 



4. Range of diversity in body form in the Recent Triacanthodidae: Parahollardia lineata and Halimo- 

 chirurgus alcocki 47 



5. Parahollardia lineata: external features 48 



Parahollardia lineata, composite based on several specimens, 45.7-86.1 mm SL, Gulf of Mexico to 



South Carolina: 



6. lateral view of entire specimen 57 



7. lateral view of head 58 



8. dorsal and ventral views of skull 58 



9. posterior view of orbit; posterior view of skull; posterior and lateral views of first abdominal verte- 



bra 59 



10. dorsal view of branchial arches; lateral view of hyoid arch and urohyal 60 



11. lateral view of pectoral girdle 60 



12. lateral view of caudal fin supporting structures 61 



