Fig. 34. Syngnathus 



spidfer Riipp. 

 Female to the left X 3 /j- 

 Male to the right X V.v 



a longer or shorter tube-like snout with or 

 without a median keel. Operculum with a 

 straight longitudinal keel, which is complete 

 or restricted to the basal part. Oblique lines 

 or edges radiate from the keel or are wanting. 

 Dorsal with 21 45 rays, which are inserted 

 exclusively on the anterior tail-rings up to 

 the ninth or also on one to three of the 

 last rings of the trunk; base of dorsal not 

 elevated ; pectorals, anal and caudal present. 

 Eggs isolated in cutaneous cells on ventral 

 surface of anterior part of tail, they are 

 totally protected by cutaneous folds, which 

 may contain more or less developed bony 

 plates. These folds begin next to anus, 

 reach far behind subdorsal rings of tail and 

 coalesce in the median line, splitting length- 

 wise to release the young fishes. Both sexes 

 without much difference in exterior. 



Distribution: Living in temperate and 

 tropical seas; some also in brackish or 

 fresh water. 



Key to the indo-australian species 

 of Syngnathus. 



I. Operculum with a rectilinear complete 

 keel. Median cristae of trunk subcon- 

 tinuouswith superior or inferior cristae 

 of tail {Parasyngnathus Duncker). 

 A. Dorsal situated on tail only. 



1. Snout equal to or slightly longer 

 or shorter than postorbital part 

 of head. Brown, trunk ventrally 

 paler or reticulated with brown. 

 Tail spotted ; head with 3 black- 

 ish bands radiating from eye . . S. djarong p. 79. 



2. Snout longer but less than twice 

 than postorbital part of head. 

 Trunk ventrally with 13 15 



white crossbars S. spidfer p. 80. 



