ASTERROPTERYX 27 



I 1 . Four rows of teeth in each jaw, outer and inner rows en- 

 larged; 50 to 60 scales in longitudinal series, 32 to 42 



before first dorsal Boroda. 



P. Six to ten rows of small or minute teeth in each jaw, no 



canines. 



n?. Scales 56 to 58 in lateral series, 42 before first dorsal ; 

 a broad naked furrow above-ye, separated from 



it by a single row of small scales Bunaka. 



m". Scales 30 to 40 in lateral series, 13 to 26 before first 



dorsal Ophiocara. 



f. Head not noticeably large, broad, and depressed. 



n 1 . Very small fishes; ventrals long, narrow, with fringed 



rays; lateral scales 20 to 30 Eviota. 



n*. Fishes not excessively small when adult; ventrals of ordin- 

 ary shape ; scales 60 to 170. 



o 1 . No canines ; scales ctenoid, 60 to 90 in lateral series, about 

 70 before first dorsal; soft dorsal and anal rays eight 



to ten Oxyeleotris. 



o 1 . Canines present. 



p\ Scales ctenoid, 70 to 110 in lateral series; head naked, 

 few or no scales before first dorsal; one to several 

 pairs of lateral posterior canines in lower jaw; trunk, 



head, or both, spotted or banded Valenciennea, 



p 2 . Scales cycloid, 150 to 170 in lateral series; head mostly 



naked; one or two pairs of canines present. 

 q\ Soft dorsal and anal of about ten rays; mouth nearly 

 vertical; eyes small; upper jaw with a pair of 

 median canines behind the other teeth. 



Parviparma. 



g 2 . Soft dorsal and anal of twenty or more rays; mouth 

 curved, oblique; eyes large; lower jaw with one 

 or two pairs of canines behind symphysis. 



Ptereleotris. 



Genus 2. ASTERROPTERYX Ruppell 



Asterropterix RUPPELL, Atlas Reise nord. Afrika, Fische (1828) 138 

 (Asterropteryx on the plate that precedes the text). 



The body rather short and deep, laterally compressed, and 

 covered with large ctenoid scales which extend to interorbital 

 space and cover the sides of the convex, pointed head; three to 

 six stout teeth or spines at angle of preopercle; the lower jaw 

 prominent, the mouth oblique, with several rows of teeth in each 

 jaw; teeth all small except those of the outer row which are 

 conspicuously longer and curved, the lateral ones often like ca- 

 nines; no teeth on vomer or palatines; the gill openings of 

 moderate width, the isthmus broad; first dorsal with six spines, 

 the third one excessively long and threadlike ; the second dorsal 

 and anal about equal iji length and height; caudal fin of mod- 



