132 EDIBLE FISHES OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 



Genus II.— PLATYCHCEROPS. 



I*Iafi/cJia'i'ops, Ivlunzing. SB. Ak. Wieu, Ixxx. Abtli. i. p. 399, 1879. 



Braiicliiostegals six : pseudobranchiio present. Body rather short, oblong 

 or ovate, not much compressed. Snout moderately rounded. Preopercle 

 entire. Four transversely ilattened canines anteriorly in each jaw : lateral 

 teeth connected by an osseous ridge : posterior canine present or absent. 

 One dorsal fin with eleven spines and ten or eleven rays : anal with three 

 spines and eleven or twelve rays. Scales of moderate size, those of the 

 cheeks non-imbricate : bases of the vertical fins partially scaly. Lateral line 

 continuous. 



Geographical distribution.— Coasts of temperate Australia and Tasmania. 



PLATYCHCEROPS GOULDI 



Lahrus goiddii, Pichards. Ann. Nat. Hist. 1813, xi. p. 353. 



Cossyplius vel Lachnolaimus gouldii, Kichards. Yoy. Erebus & Terror, Pish. 



p. 132. 

 Cossyphus (/ouldii, Pichards. Ann. Nat. Hist. (2) 1851, vii. p. 288, and Proc. 



ZooL 'Soc. 1850, p. 72, pi. iii. fig. 3; Gnth. Catal. Pish. iv. p. Lll ; 



Macleay, Catal. Austr. Pish. ii. p. 78 ; "Woods, Fisher. JN .S. Wales, p. 



74, pi. xxxi. 

 PJait/chirrops iiniUeri, Kluuzing. SB. Ak. AYien, Ixxx Abth. i. 1879, p. 399, 



pi. viii. f. 2. 



Blue Groper. 



Plate XXXV. 



B. vi. D. 11 11. A. 3 11. Y. 1/5. P. 16. C. 14. L. lat. 39-41. L. tr. 10/17. 



Length of head 400, of caudal fin 550, height of body 3*50 in the 

 total length. Eye rather small, its diameter 4'60 in the length of the head, 

 2'00 in that of the moderately rounded snout, and IGO in the convex inter- 

 orbital space. Xostrih slightly separated, the anterior minute, rounded, and 

 with a low, fleshy valve, more developed behind; the posterior much larger, 

 oval, horizontal, and patent. L'pper profile of head flat. Lips thick 

 and fleshy, the lower with a well developed rounded lateral flap. Upper 

 jaw slightly the longer. Cleft of mouth small and slightly oblique, the 

 maxilla reaching to beneath the anterior nostril : intermaxillary processes 

 reaching to between the anterior margins of the eyes, their length 2"33 in 

 that of the head. Preorbital a little longer than deep. Preopercle entire. 

 Two pairs of strong flattened canines anteriorly in each jaw : lateral teeth 

 visible, but connected by a sharp osseous ridge, beyond which the tips slightly 

 protrude : posterior canine present or absent. The dorsal fin commences 

 above the base of the pectoral and termicates above the eighth anal ray; 

 the spines are somewhat curved backwards, and, with the exception of 

 the two or three posterior ones, strongly compressed ; the last spine is 

 slightly longer than those preceding it, 315 in the length of the head, and 

 I'GO in the longest rays, which are situated in the posterior half of the fin : 

 the anal commences beneath the first dorsal ray ; its spines are stronger than 

 those of the dorsal, the third the longest, 2 40 in the length of the head and 

 1"33 in that of the longest i"ays : ventral small, the second ray the longest, 

 2'00 in the distance between its origin and that of the anal, and bearing the 

 same proportion to the length of tlie head ; the spine stout and strongly 

 compressed, equal in length to the second anal spine, pectoral well develoijed 

 rounded posteriorly, 1'40 in tlie length of the head : caudal truncate, 



