Figure 143 —Lateral views of 



heads of tvpical aracanids 

 left, Strophturichthye robiutiu, 

 150 mm SL, Australia; right, Amcana 

 .3 mm SL, Tasmania. 



from a great enlargement of the anterior prolongation of 

 the frontals from the level of the eye forward. This swell- 

 ing of the snout is more prominent in males {ornata) than 

 in females (the synonymous flavigaster) and occurs in 

 the family only in this species, even the closely related A. 

 aurita showing no signs in large specimens of any snout 

 or other enlargements. 



The structure of the parasphenoid presents variation 

 of special interest. In Kentrocapros and Strophiurichthys 

 the ventral edge of the vertical platelike portion of the 

 parasphenoid anterior to its articulation with the 

 anteromedial edges of the prootic shelves is relatively un- 

 expended laterally throughout its length, being only 

 slightly wider anteriorly where it sutures with the vomer 

 than more posteriorly. In Aracana the ventral edge of the 



Figure 144.— Ventral views of the two types 

 of configuration of the ventral surface of the 

 vertically expanded anterior portion of the 

 parasphenoid: A, Caprichthys gymnura, 

 74.1 mm SL, Australia, representative of the 



shape in Caprichthya and Capropygia; 



B, Aracana aurita, 87.3 mm SL, Tasmania, 



representative of the shape in the 



two species of Aracana. 



203 



