25 



FAMILY OPHIDIID^. 

 Genypterus blacodes (Forster) Australian Rockling. 



During October, 1904, an example of this southern ophidioid, 

 measuring 590 mm. (23 J inches), was forwarded for determination 

 by Mr. J. O. Batchelor, Commissioner for Fisheries. It had 

 been captured on our coast, at Jervis Bay. A second specimen 

 was presented by Mr. J. E. Chinnery during May, 1906. This 

 was from Ulladulla, and measured 675 mm. (26-^ inches). A 

 remarkable feature about the second specimen is that the barbels 

 are conspicuous by their absence, their loss having, apparently, 

 been brought about by some accident, as there is a very pro- 

 nounced contusion in the vicinity of and a little posterior to the 

 position in which they should naturally be. 



The following description is based upon these two speci- 

 mens : 



Length of head 440-4*55, height of body at anal S'00-8'75, 

 width at end of opercle 10-35-10-90 in the total length (without 

 fin). Longitudinal diameter of eye 7 '40-8 -35, length of snout 

 5-45-5-90, width of interorbital space 5-70-6-15 in the length of 

 the head. 



Body long and somewhat eel-like ; tail tapering and highly 

 compressed ; head long ; snout obtusely rounded ; jaws very 

 unequal, the lower much shorter than the upper, w r hen closed 

 fitting within the band of long pointed teeth of the upper jaw ; 

 maxillary broad and triangular, extending to about two-thirds of 

 the diameter of the eye beyond that organ. Eye fairly small, 

 situated in the first third of the length of the head ; inter- 

 orbital space wider than diameter of eye, flattish, with a slight 

 depression in the centre. In the smaller specimen, a rounded 

 protuberance on the median line of the snout between the 

 posterior nostrils; this is barely noticeable in the larger. Opercle 

 ending in a membranaceous flap, which covers a blunt spine. 



Teeth : Each jaw is armed with an outer series of strong 

 conical teeth ; similar teeth on vomer and palatines. A band of 

 villiform teeth in each jaw more noticeable in the upper inside 

 the strong conical ones. 



Fins : Dorsal and anal continuous, forming one fringing fin. 

 Dorsal commences above posterior half of pectora ; composed 



