SAMARIN^ 



Type. — South African Museum. 



Distribution.— South-east Africa (Algoa Bay, East London, Natal) 



Specimens Examined : 



i(l8omm.). Durban, Natal. Warren. 



' '"'" " '• >■ Marley and Robinson. 



Attains to a length of 15 to 18 inches. 



Subfamily 4. SAMARIN^. 



Dorsal fin extending forward on the snout below the nasal organ of the blind sied 

 which IS nearly on median line of head; pelvic fins short-based or rather elongate' 

 that of ocular side median and somewhat advanced, the fins supported bv the pelvic 

 bones behind or below the cleithra ; pectoral radials present ; hypocoracoids expanded 

 1 arapophyses of prajcaudal vertebra; united to form closed hjemal arches bearing 

 the slender ribs at their extremities. Olfactory organ rather feeblv developed the 

 lamina; slightly raised, parallel, without central rachis. Lateral line rudimentarv 

 and scarcely apparent on blind side of body. 



Four genera from the tropical Indo-Pa'cific. 



Synopsis of the Genera. 

 L Bases of pelvics short ; mouth large, the maxillary i or more than i head • 

 both pectorals developed : lateral line with distinct curve above pectoral ■ 

 gill-rakers long, slender, denticulated. 



A. Scales deciduous, less than 35 in lateral line : snout, jaws, interorbital 

 space and upper parts of eye-balls not scaled . .3. Br\chypleura 



B. Scales firm, more than 50 in lateral line ; snout, jaws, interorbital space 



and upper parts of eye-balls scaled . . . 33- Lepidoblepharon. 



n. Bases of pelvics rather elongate ; mouth small, the maxillary "enerallv 



less than i head ; pectoral of blind side absent ; lateral line nearly straight ■ 



gill-rakers (if present) short, not denticulated ; scales rather small firm' 



a . borne of the anterior dorsal rays and those of pelvic of ocular side prol'on.'ed 



and filamentous ; all the caudal rays simple . ,, S^m\ris 



B. Anterior rays of dorsal and those of pelvic of ocular side not much pro- ' 



longed ; middle caudal rays branched . . . .35, Samariscus. 



