FISHES OF FAMILY BLENNIIDAE 49 



jaw teeth, the premaxillaries have become relatively thin, arched, 

 platelike bones (fig. 7, pL 9) unlike the bony capsule found in the other 

 blenniids. The comblike teeth of the genera with high numbers of 

 teeth are suspended loosely in a thick band of connective tissue that 

 is attached to the premaxillary; the bases of the teeth make no contact 

 with the bone of the premaxUlary. In the listed genera {Croaltus, etc.) 

 there is much less connective tissue, and it is possible that the teeth 

 in these genera do make slight contact with the bone of the premaxil- 

 laries. Compared with the Bleniini and Omobranchini, the premaxil- 

 laries of the Salariini have become greatly excavated anteriorly, and 

 so the bony capsule is open. There are no longer foramina in the bone 

 for the replacement teeth, and these teeth rest in bands imbedded in 

 the connective tissue (fig. 1, pi. 9). The crestlike formation of the 

 body of the premaxillary lies dorsal to the bases of the functional 

 teeth (and replacement teeth), but it has nothing to do with reception 

 of the upper Hp as Norman proposed. In Hirculops an intermediate 

 condition exists in the premaxillaries, which are partially excavated 

 medially but retain the blenniinine form laterally, with foramina 

 through which the replacement teeth appear. 



Among the Salariini, the dentaries of Croaltus, Antennablennius, 

 Rhabdoblennius, and Hirculops are blenniininelike (bony capsule), 

 with the functional teeth based on the jawbone and with the advanced 

 replacement teeth making their appearance through foramina. The 

 dentaries of the other genera are similar to the premaxillaries in that 

 they are excavated and have the teeth loosely attached in a thick 

 band of connective tissue; however, in Ecsenius (pi. 9) the lateral- 

 most combhke tooth on each dentary is sHghtly broader (in frontal 

 view) and more robust than the teeth more medial in position. This 

 contrasts strongly with all other blenniids in which the lateralmost 

 comblike tooth is the smallest and weakest. In addition, the lateral- 

 most tooth of Ecsenius may be enlarged and canine-Hke as weU as 

 firmly attached to the bone of the jaw, whereas the other teeth are 

 weakly attached. The lateralmost canine-Kke tooth of Ecsenius is 

 well separated from the small, blunt canine (or canines) present 

 posteriorly on the dentary. 



The ascending process of the premaxiQary of the Salariini is based 

 very weakly on the body of the premaxillary and easily is broken at 

 the base in dissection. The dentaries are joined by an even, nonsutur- 

 ing joint, similar to that of most blenniinines. 



Because there are Salariini with jaws similar to, or intermediate 

 in nature between, those of the Blenniini and most specialized 

 Salariini, one can postulate derivation of the Salariini from the 

 Blenniini. There is also a case to be made for combining the two 

 tribes. The small area of overlap, however accompanied by a con- 



