THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE FAMILY OF SCATOPHAGOID 



FISHES. 



pa- 

 Theodore Gill, M.D., Ph.D. 



Tbe genus Scatophagus has been by general consent associated closely 

 with the Clia'todontids and EpMppiids in one and the same family. 

 Only two ichthyologists have dissented from the cnrrent view. 



Bleeker, in 1859, suggested a family [PimelepterouJei) subdivided 

 into three subfamilies {CrenUJentiforines, Phnelepteriformes, and Ephip- 

 piiformes). Under the Epliippiiformes were combined the genera Eph ip- 

 pus, Brepane, Scatophagus, and the extinct Pygceus. 



Bleeker, in 187G, referred the genus Scatophagus (then called by him 

 Ephippus) back to the " Ch(etodontoidei,^^ but isolated it thereunder as 

 the representative of a subfamily " Scatophagiformes.^^ 



Gil!, in 1883, suggested that " Scatophagus^ ^mX^mg from the figure 

 of its skeleton (Agassiz's Poissons Fossiles, t. 4, pi, ii, f. 1), belongs to 

 a peculiar family, the Scatophagidcv^ the ribs of wbich are simjile ami 

 received in sockets comparatively bigh on the centra, and, apparently,* 

 the posttemporal is forked. In fact, Scatophagus appears to have no 

 direct affinity with the Choetodontids." 



Tbe subsequent examination of a skeleton (made from a dried speci- 

 men kindly forwarded to me by William P. Sclater, esq., of Calcutta) 

 confirms the deduction from tbe previous consideration of the exterior 

 of the fish combined with the figure of tbe skeleton. Tbe family is 

 quite distinct, and not even closely related to the Cbsetodontids or 

 Ephippiids. The principal characteristics are now given under (1) a 

 .super-family and (2) a family caption. 



SCATOPHAGOIDEA. 



Acanthopterygians with a myodome, the posttemporal bifurcate and 

 connected by extensive suture with the cranium, the posterior process 

 extending upwards to tbe supraoccii)ital and entering into the posterior 

 lateral edge of tbe cranium, and tbe lateral process constituting tbe in- 

 ferior lateral edge; lateral crests of cranium obliterated; the two ante- 



* " The figure given by Professor Agassiz is ambiguous." — Original note. 



Proceedings National Museum, Vol. XIII — No. 833. 



355 



