SPIIVH.KXA. 10-- 



Fam. 18. SPIIYll.EXID-E. 



]\toutli protractile, the maxillariis excluded from the oral border ; 

 dentition very stronjj. Two nostrils on each side, 'i'wo well-separated 

 dorsal fins, the anterior formed of a small number of spines. Ventral 

 tins more or less behind the pectorals, with one spine aiul 5 soft rays; 

 jtelvis not connected with the pectoral arch. Anterior ribs sessile, the 

 rest inserted on para[)op]iyses. Vertebrre 24. Air-bladder large. 



Tropical and Subtropical Seas, often at the mouths of rivers. 



1. SPHYR^NA. 

 Artcdi, Syiion. Pise. p. 112 (17;!8) : Cuv. cV Viil. llisl. I'oiss. iii. p. .'^2') (1820) ; 

 (iiinlii. Cat. Fi>ii. ii. \>. :VM (18G0) : l')Oui('nl,^ I'oiss. Buss. Cungo, p. lU'.i 

 (1001). 

 Body elongate, feebly compressed, covered with small cycloid scales ; 

 lateral line complete, formed of straight tubules. Head elongate; 

 mouth large. Two largo teeth in front of the praeraaxillary, the edge 

 of which is beset wiih a single series of small teeth ; a series of large 

 palatine teeth ; the largest mandibular teeth in front, followed by fiist 

 small and then large teeth, iu a single series. Anterior dorsal tin with 

 5 slender spines, above the vcntrals ; second dorsal and anal o[)posite to 

 each other, without pungent spine. 



Mediterranean and Tropical and Subtropical Seas; one species 

 entering the rivers of AVest Africa. 



]. SPIlYn.EXA GUACHANCHO. 

 Cuv. it Val. t c. p. :U2 ; Poey, Mem. Cuba, ii. p. llll^ (ISfiO) ; Jlcck & Xewl. 



I'l-oc. Ac. Pliilud. lS8i, p. 70 ; Jonl. & Evenii. Fish. N. Aukt, p. &2i 



(18'.H".) ; BouU'iig. Poiss. Bass. Conuo, p. ?,Gi (IHOI). 

 Sphi/ra-mi afra, Peters, Mon. Bcrl. Ac. 184-1, p. 82, and 187l'), p. 812. 

 Sjifii/rmia ihihia, Bleek. Nat. Verb. Vet. Ilaariem, xvili. 18015, no. 2, [>. 70, pi. w. 



fig. 2; Steind. Notes Lcyd. Mus. xvi. 18'.14, p. 32. 

 Si>hijrii'na (luenthen, Haly, Ann. & Mag-. X. H. (-1) xv. 187.'), p. 270. 

 Sj'lii/rceiM jello (non Cuv. & Val.), Steind. Deuk.schr. \k. \\'ion, xliv. 1832, p. 30. 



I)e])th of body 7 to 7| times in total length, length of head 3 to 

 3^ times. Eye perfectly lateral, 2| to o times in length of snout, 

 5^- to 6i times in length of head, 1 to 1| times in iuterorbital width ; 

 maxillnrv extending to below antiM'ior 1)order of eye; chin without 



