86 FISH AND FISH-LIKE AXIJIALS OF N.S.W._ 



317. Butis Bleeker, Nat. Tijd. Ned. Ind. xi., 1856, p. 412 (butis). 



317a. B. amboinensis. Eleotris amboinensis Bleeker, Nat. Tijd. Ned. Ind. 

 v., 1853, p. 343. B. amboinensis MeCulloch & Ogilby, Rec. Austr. Mus. 

 xii. 10, 1919, p. 271, pi. 36, 4 (PI. xxxvi.). 

 A northern species, recorded from the Tweed River estuary. Length 6 

 inches. 



Suborder Blennioidea. 

 CXLI. Family Blenniidae. 



A. One or two dorsal fins. 



B. Teeth slender and flattened, forming a comb4ike row in each jaw; lateral 

 canines present. 



C. Gill-openings wide, separated by a narrow isthmus. Blennius (318). 



CC. Gill openings narrow, lateral. 



D. Dorsal and anal fins not united with caudal; body shorter. 



E. Gill-opening entirely above base of pectoral. Petroscirtes (319). 

 EE. Gill-opening partly in front of base of pectoral. 



Aspidotilus (320). 

 DD. Dorsal and anal fins united with caudal; body elongate. 



Xiphasia (321). 

 BB. Jaws without either rows of comb-like teeth or large lateral canines. 

 P. Three anterior dorsal spines forming a separate fin above the head. 

 G. First dorsal spine over or in advance of eye. Cristiceps (322). 

 GG. First dorsal spine behind vertical of eye. Pelraites (323). 



FF. A single dorsal fin, almost or entirely composed of spines. 



H. Vomer with teeth. Opmclinus (324). 



HH. Palate toothless. Sticharium (325). 



AA. Three dorsal fins. 



I. Lateral line interrupted. 



J. Head scaly. Gillias (326). 



JJ. Head naked. Tripterygion (327). 



II. Lateral line complete. Lepidoblennius (328). 



318. Blennius Linne, Syst. Nat. 10th ed., 1758, p. 256 (ocellaris). 



318a. B. tashanianus. Id. Richardson, P. Zool. Soe., 1839, p. 99. Id. 



Waite, Rec. Austr. Mus. vi., 1906, p. 205, pi. 36, 5 (PI. xxxvi.). 

 A southern species, which extends northward along the N.S. Wales Coast. 

 Length 5 inches. 



319. Petroscirtes Ruppell, Fische Roth. Meer, 1828, p. 110 (mitratus). 

 A. Teeth forming a nearly straight row across the front of each jaw. 



variabilis (319a). 

 AA. Teeth forming a curved row around each jaw. 



B. A crest usually present above the head; body much compressed. 



atiolius (319b). 

 BB. No crest above the head; body thicker. rotundiceps (319c). 



319a. P. variabilis. Sabre-toothed Blenny. Id. Cantor, Cat. Malay. 



Fish., 1850, p. 200; Id. Day, Fish. India, 1876, p. 327, pi. 69, 7. 

 A widely distributed species. Length 5 inches. 



319b. P. anolius. Oyster Blenny. Blennechis anolius Cuv. & Val., H.N. 

 Poiss. xi., 1836, p. 288. P. anolius MeCulloch, Austr. Zool. i. 4, 1917, 

 p. 90, pi. 10, 2 (PL xxxvii.). 

 A remarkable little fish which lives in the empty shells of oysters where it 

 deposits its eggs and guards them until they are hatched. Length 3 inches. 



