NO. 1254. GYMNODONT FISHES OF JAPAN— JORDAN AND SNYDER. 258 
22. TETRAODON MELEAGRIS Lacepede. 
Tetrodon melcdyrla Lacepbde, Hiwt. Nat. PoLss., I, 1799, pp. 476, 505; seas of 
Asia, on a drawing by Cpmrnerson. ^Richardson, Voyage Sulphur, Fish, p 
122, pi. XLVii, 57, figs. 1-3, locality unknown, probably China Seas; also 
notes a drawing from Tahiti by Solander. — Gunther, Cat. Fish., VIII, 1870, 
p. 299, Richardson's type. 
f Arothron ophryas Cope, Fishes Lesser Antilles, 1870, jj. 479, Navigator Islands. 
f Ovoides ophryas Fowler, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1900, p. 528, pi. xx, fig. 
2, after Cope's type. 
f Ocoideg lafifrons Je^^ki^h, Bull. U. S. Fish Comm., 1899 (June 8, 1901), p. 398. 
Honolulu. 
Head, 2^ in length; depth of caudal peduncle, 3^ in head; eye, 8; 
snout, 2|; interorbital space, 2^; dorsal vajii, 10; anal rays, 10. 
Body robust, the belly capable of great inflation; dorsal contour 
evenly rounded, not much elevated; contour of snout slightly concave. 
Fk.; s.— Tetraodon meleagris. 
Head large, its length less than distance between gill opening and 
insertion of dorsal fin; interorbital space somewhat convex. Eye 
small, the diameter about 3 in snout; a little nearer to tip of snout 
than to gill opening. Dental plates of about equal width, the suture 
without a deep groove, and without vertical ridges on either side. Gill 
opening not so wide as base of dorsal. Nostril with a bifid tentacle 
with 2 compressed flaps; no apparent opening. 
Lines of mucous pores not evident except above eyes. Bod}^ every- 
where except lips, border of gill openings, and bases of fins hispid 
with rather slender, thick-set spines; those of the back short and 
rather rigidly set; those below nearly twice as long and more easily 
depressed; the transition from shorter to longer spines gradual on 
the sides. 
Fins with rounded edges; dorsal and anal of equal height, 2| in 
head; caudal. If; pectoral, 2. 
Color dark brown or blackish, the spines whitish; everywhere 
