A. REVIEW OF THE GYMNODONT FISHES OF JAPAN. 
Rv David Stakh Jordan .md John Ottkrbein Snyder, 
Of the Ldand Stanford Junior University. 
In the present paper is given an account of the CrA^mnodont fishes 
(Tetraodontidte, Tropodichthj^idffi, Diodontidtp, Triodontidse, and Mol- 
ida?) known from the waters of Japan. The paper is based on the 
collections made b}' the writers in Japan in 1900 under the auspices of 
the Hopkins Laboratory of Leland Stanford Junior University, and 
on the collections contained in the United States National jNIuseum. 
A series of duplicates is in the United States National Museimi. The 
accompanying drawings are the work of Miss Lydia M. Hart and 
:\ir. A. H. Baldwin. 
MEASUREMENTS. 
The measurements given in this paper, except those quoted from 
other authors, were made as follows: Length of caudal peduncle, 
measured from end of base of anal to middle of base of caudal ; length 
of head, from tip of snout to upper edge of gill opening; width of 
interorbital space, measured on the bony septum between the eyes; 
length of snout, from tip of snout to orbit; diameter of eye, longi- 
tudinal diameter of exposed iris; in numbering the dorsal and anal 
rays the short anterior rays are included. 
Suborder GYMNODO\TES. 
Plectognaths without a spinous dorsal, with the bod}" short and 
with the bell}' inliatalile; the scales typically spiniform, with root-like 
insertions, and with the jaws enveloped in an enamel-like covering, 
without distinct teeth. This group contains degraded Plectognaths, 
which have lost the scales, spinous dorsal, and distinct teeth. In the 
extreme forms the pelvis, i-ibs, and caudal vertebri>? are also lost, the 
species depending on their dermal armature, leathery skin, or inHat- 
able belly for protection from enemies, while little power of active 
movement remains, {yvixvos^ naked; odovg^ tooth.) 
Proceedings U. S. National Museum, Vol. XXIV— No. 1254. 
229 
