6i 



cristae of tail continuous. Intermedial shields (scu- 

 tella) present, as also a praenuchal and two nuchal 

 shields. Operculum with complete longitudinal 

 keel and radiating ridges or lines, especially in 

 the lower half of the operculum. Snout rather 

 short, slightly shorter or longer than remaining 

 part of head. Dorsal with 21 35 rays, situated 

 above 5 9 rings, one or two of which belong 

 to the tail; anal behind middle of length; caudal 

 small; pectorals present. Eggs large, isolated in 

 open cells in the abdominal skin of the male. 

 They are laterally protected by ventrally diverging 

 plates ; posteriorly and anteriorly these plates are 

 provided with converging cutaneous folds, which 

 temporarely are glued together in the median 

 line and enclose the eggs. 



Distribution: Living in the literal region 

 from East Africa, Mauritius, Bourbon, indo- 

 australian Archipelago, Philippines, Japan, Aus- 

 tralia to Pacific Islands. 



Key to the species ofChoeroichthys. 



1. Rings 19 -j- 21 245 subdorsal rings 

 5 7 -f- 2. Superior and inferior lateral 

 intermedial shields of trunk and lateral 

 and inferior intermedial shields of tail 



with a longitudinal keel Ch. sculptus p. 6l. 



2. Rings 14 15 -j- 1 8 19; subdorsal 

 rings 4 -\- \ . No keels on the inter- 

 medial shields Ch. brachysoma p. 62. 



i . Choeroichthys sculptus (Gthr.) [Fig. 26, p. 61]. 



Dorylchthys sculptus Gunther, Cat. Brit. Mus. VIII. 1870, p. 185. 

 Doryichthys sculptus Boulenger, Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. (6) 



XX. 1897, p. 374. 

 Mici-ophis sculptus Jordan & Scale, Bull. Bur. of Fisheries XXV. 



(1905) 1906, p. 214. 

 Doryrhamphus macgregori Jordan & Richardson, Bull. Bur. of 



Fisheries, Washington, 1908, p. 246. 

 Microphis ocellatus Snyder, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. Wash. XXXVI. 



J 909, P- 598. 

 Doryichthys sculptus Gunther, Fische d. Stidsee III. 1909 1910, 



P- 433- 



Fig. 26. 



Choeroichthys 



sculptus (Gthr.) 



X3-4- 



