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TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY 



the palatoquadrate arch normal; three superior pharyngeals present on each side; basi- 

 branchials present; the neuropophyses and haemopophyses ending each in two spines 

 between which the interspinous elements fit." 



Tate Regan (1929, p. 326) agrees with Gill and Starks that there is nothing to do but 

 to put this strange fish in an order by itself (Xenopterygii) allied to the Percomorphi. 



Apparently not much aid in solving the problem is given by the otoliths. According 

 to Frost (1930a, p. 623), the sagitta of Lepidogaster gouanii of the family Gobiesocidae is of 

 the percid type; it resembles that of Gerres rhombeus of the suborder Percoidea in some 

 features and that of Smaris australis (also of the Percoidea) in others, but its genetic relations 

 with either of these forms can hardly be very close. 



BlENNIOIDEI (BlENNIES, BrOTULIDS, ETC.) 



Notwithstanding the advanced position of the blennies, the skull Is relatively little 

 modified from the percomorph type. The premaxillse of the most generalized form {Clinus, 

 No. 517, Brit. Mus. Nat. Hist.) are in essentials of pure percoid type (Fig. 251). The 



&phot 



soc p/o 



Clinus elegans 



' Clinus despic Hiatus 



Fig. 251. Clinus. 



maxilla has a lump-like process for articulation with the vomer and a small proximal fork 

 around the articular process of the premaxillae. In Blennius, however, the skull (Fig. 252) 

 is much more specialized, due to the development of a battery of nipping teeth which 

 collectively are curiously suggestive of those of the sauropod dinosaur Diplodocus. In 

 order to operate this nipping dentition the jaw muscles are evidently stout, as indicated by 

 the strong sagittal and lambdoid crests. The large strongly-rimmed orbits project upward. 

 Thus with regard to adaptive skull characters there is a greater difference between Blennius 

 and Clinus than there is between the latter and Pinguipes, which is classed by Regan as a 

 percomorph. The osteology of the blennies has been reviewed by Tage Regan (1912<f). 

 Even in the highly specialized Zoarces anguillaris (Fig. 253) the skull retains most of 



