34 



a. Posterior end of median cristae of trunk deflected and 

 sub-continuous with inferior cristae of tail fig. 17, n. 6. 



b. Median cristae of trunk and superior cristae of tail : 



a. continuous fig. 17, n. 7. 



(3. subcontinuous. Subdorsal interruption of the superior 



and median cristae : 



/3' incomplete fig. 17, n. 8. 



/3" complete fig. 17, n. 9. 



/3"' excessive fig. 17, n. 10. 



Of much taxonomical value are the modifications how the 

 parental care is executed in the males. We have indicated 

 above that the eggs are carried open or in pouches of different 

 construction on the ventral surface of the abdomen (Gastro- 

 phori DUNCKER) or subcaudal (Urophori DUNCKER). 



DUMERIL (Hist. nat. Poissons 1870, p. 585) has already 

 expressed the opinion, that "le veritable classement" of the 

 Syngnathidae must be based on the brood organ of the male ; 

 GUNTHER (Cat. Brit. Mus. VIII, 1870, p. 135) made use of it 

 in his "Synopsis of Genera", but DUNCKER (Mitt. a. d. naturh. 

 Mus. Hamburg 1912 and 1915) made a profound study of 

 this organ and gave an arrangement of the Syngnathidae essen- 

 tially corresponding with the groups higher than genera in 

 the following: 



Synopsis of the indo-australian genera of 



Syngnathidae principally based on the brood 



organ in the male. 



I. Brood organ abdominal (Gastrophori Duncker). 



A. Eggs attached to and isolated by the skin of the 

 abdomen, open, not protected by lateral cutaneous 

 folds or bony plates (Gastrotokeina Duncker). 



1. No caudal, tail prehensile; trunk strongly depressed. Syngnathoides p. 39. 



2. Caudal large, tail not prehensile; trunk compressed. Acanthognatlms p. 41. 



B. Eggs attached to and isolated by the skin of the 

 abdomen, laterally protected by osseous plates or 

 cutaneous folds only, which coalesce during breeding 

 {Doryrhamphina Duncker). 



I. Superior cristae of trunk and tail continuous. 

 Operculum with a complete keel. Anus behind 

 middle of length Choeroichthys p. 60. 



