THE FISHES OF NEW JERSEY. 361 
Sub-Order GYMNODONTES. 
The Puffers. 
These are degraded plectognaths without spinous dorsal, dis- 
tinct teeth, or scales. 
Key to the families. 
a. Caudal region normal, caudal peduncle developed 
b. Jaws divided by median suture, maxillaries and dentaries each curved 
outward behind premaxillaries. TETRODON TID 
bb. Jaws undivided, premaxillaries and dentaries co-ossified into suture- 
less arches. DIODONTIDE 
aa. Caudal region aborted, body trunciated behind dorsal and anal; jaws 
without median suture. MOLIDAS 
Family TETRODONTIDE. 
The Puffers. 
Body oblong or elongate, usually little compressed, sometimes 
very broad. Head and snout broad. Each jaw confluent, form- 
ing a sort of beak, which in each jaw is divided by a median 
suture. Maxillaries curved outward behind premaxillaries. Lips 
full. Nostrils various. Gill-openings small, placed close in front 
of pectorals. Medifrontals articulated with supraoccipital, post- 
frontals confined to sides, ethmoid more or less projecting in 
front of frontals. Postfrontals extending outward as far as 
frontals. Prosethmoid short and narrow, little prominent to view 
above. Noribs. Vertebre few, 7 or 8+ 9 to 13. Caudal ver- 
tebrze normally developed. Air-vessel present. Belly capable of 
great inflation. Skin scaleless, usually more or less prickly, 
spines or prickles usually weak and movable, not rooted. Skin 
armed with bony scutes forming a sort of carapace sometimes. 
Spinous dorsal and ventral wanting, fins composed of soft rays 
only. Dorsal posterior, opposite and similar to anal. Caudal 
distinct. Pectorals short, broad, upper rays longest. Ventrals 
none, pelvic bone undeveloped. 
