Jordan and Evermann .Fishes of North America. 1705 





Balistex mitis, BENNETT, Proc. Comm. Zool. Soc., i, 1831, 169, East Indies ; GUNTHEB Cat 



vm, 218, 1870. 

 Pachynatlms triangularis, SWAINSON, Class'n Fishes, n, 326 1839, Vizagapatam ; after 



KUSSELL, pi. 20. 



Balistes hippe, RICHARDSON, Yoy. Sulphur, Fishes, 127, 1843, East Indies. 



Batistes frenatus, KICHARDSON, 1. c., 129, 1843, East Indies; BLEEKEE, Atlas Ind. pi 323 



1862. 

 Batistes schmittii, BLEEKER, Verb. Bat. Gen., xxiv, 37, 1852, Sumatra. 



669. CANTHIDERMIS, Swainson. 



(SOBACOS.) 

 Canthidermis, SWAINSON, Nat. Hist. Class'n. Anim., n, 325, 1839 (angulosus= maculatus). 



This genus differs from Balistes chiefly in having the gill opening sur- 

 rounded by ordinary scales, there being no developed bony scutes behind 

 it. Body much more elongate than in Balistes; dorsal spines 3; dorsal 

 and anal elevated in front; caudal with its angles acute; scales moderate, 

 not very rough; scales of caudal peduncle unarmed, or with a median 

 spine; cheeks completely scaled; a naked groove before eye. Species 

 not well known, inhabiting both Indies. Giinther places all except C. 

 aureolus in the synonymy of Canthidermis maculatus. The variation in 

 squamation and in the number of fin rays shows that at least C. sufflamen 

 and especially C. sobaco are distinct from C. maculatus. (anavQa, spine; 

 depf.ia, skin.) 



a. Scales of trunk each with a median spine or keel; eye moderate, 4 in snout measured 

 ohliquely ; tips of vertical fins moderately produced ; D. Ill, 26 ; A. 24. 



SOBACO, 2120, 

 aa. Scales of trunk without median spines or keel. 



b. Dorsal rays III, 27; anal rays 25. Eye large, 3 in snout, measured obliquely; 

 tips of vertical fins much produced; adult plain brownish, unspotted, but 

 sometimes clouded with paler. SUFFLAMEN, 2121. 



bb. Dorsal rays III, 22 to 24; anal 19 to 21; scales not very rough; adult with 

 more or less of blue or pale spots. MACULATUS, 2122. 



bbb. Dorsal rays III, 20; anal rays 17; lower parts spotted with white. 



WILLUGHBEII, 2123. 



2120. (JAXTHIDERMIS SOBACO,* Poey. 

 (SOBACO.) 



Head 4 (in total with caudal) ; depth 2. D. Ill, 26; A. 24. Body com- 

 pressed; first dorsal spine 7 -jj- in total length ; highest dorsal ray3|; anal 



* The following nominal species is probably the young of Canthidermis sobaco: 

 Canthidermis asperrimus, COPE. 



D. 26 ; A. 24. Orbit large, 2 in muzzle, 4 in head. Pelvic depth If, humeral 2$ times in 

 total length ; anal depth 2 times in the same. The scales possess a convex vertical series 

 of short acute spines, with a median large spine directed backward from middle of series. 

 Its anterior margin is sharp, and its anterior base supported by a number of convergent 

 ribs. Spines of dorsal scales have a branch scale at base in front. The cheek scales are 

 very numerous and not larger than those of body. Dorsal spine strong, stout, with 4 rows 

 of spinules, smooth behind; no larger caudal spines; caudal fin convex, without project- 

 ing angles; profile nearly straight, interrupted by the convex orbital margin. Color 

 brown above, yellowish below; 4 longitudinal dark-brown stripes above middle of side, 

 which break into spots posteriorly ; 3 brown spot sat base of dorsal fin; belly with broad 

 irregular dark bands; on the caudal peduncle and pelvic region similar broad bands form 

 a coarse reticulated pattern; fins brown-spotted. Type 3 inches in length. Locality 

 uncertain, supposed to be from St. Martins, West Indies, or from Darien. (Cope.) It 

 belongs to Division I. A. of the genus of Hollard ; that is, the scapular squamation similar 

 to that of the sides, and the third dorsal spine well developed ; the cheek scales not sepa- 

 rated by naked fissures, (a&perrimus, most rough.) 



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