268 

 i. Atherina (Artedi) Linne. 



(Linn6, Syst. nat. ed. Xa. 1758, p. 315). 



Physoclistic ; more or less elongate, subcylindrical or com- 

 pressed ; covered with cycloid or ctenoid scales of moderate 

 or small size. No perforated lateral line. A silvery band along 

 the side, sometimes underlaid by black pigment. Head flattened 

 above. Eyes lateral, well developed, without a gelatinous eyelid. 

 A pair of not widely separated nostrils between snout and 

 eye. A spinous dorsal of 5 to 8 more or less flexible spines, 

 situated before or opposite to anus. It is entirely separated 



Fig. 70. Atherina valencicnnesi Blkr. n. s. 



from the second dorsal, which is formed by branched rays. 

 Anal with a weak spine; usually longer than the soft dorsal, 

 which it otherwise resembles. Ventral fins abdominal, small, 

 with a spine and 5 branched rays. Pectorals moderate or small, 

 inserted high up. Jaws about equal. Cleft of mouth straight, 

 terminal, oblique, moderate, extending to or beyond anterior 

 margin of eye, bordered by mandibles and intermaxillaries, 

 which may be protractile; the maxillaries are excluded. Teeth 

 usually small, on jaws, also on vomer, palatines and pterygoids, 

 where they may be wanting. Vertebrae with the parapo- 

 physis co-ossified with the centra; numerous: 32 to 60. Parietals 

 present; no splenial ; pterotic not reaching basioccipital. Gill- 

 openings wide, gillmembranes not connected, free from isthmus ; 

 5 or 6 branchiostegal rays. Four gills, a slit behind the fourth. 

 Carnivorous fishes of small size, living in shoals in temperate 

 and tropical seas near the coast, in brackish water, several 

 species even entering fresh water. 



Key to the indo-australian species of Atherina. 



I. Origin of first dorsal about opposite to anus, which 

 is situated I or 2 scales behind tip of ventrals. 

 Vertical through origin of first dorsal much nearer 

 to base of ventrals than to anal A, temmincki p. 269. 



