50 U.S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 284 



ceptual practicality (most ichthyologists have a concept of the 

 blenniiuine and salariinine dentitions), leads me to maintain the 

 separation. 



The Nemophidinae always have one, sometimes two, greatly 

 enlarged, recm-ved canines posteriorly on each dentary. The genus 

 Meiacanthus is unique among all fishes in having the dentary canines 

 with a deep groove running along the anterior surface. Just posterior 

 to the base of the canine in each dentary is a depression in the bone. 

 A gland fits into this depression and extends anteriorly into the 

 base of the groove in the canine. There is no information on the 

 use or venomosity of the canine and gland. Tomiyama (1956) noted 

 the presence of grooved canines in M. kamoharai. Varying with the 

 genus, there are none to two canines, smaller than the dentary 

 canines, posteriorly on each premaxillary. The premaxillary canine 

 is separated by a diastema from the comblike teeth. The comblike 

 teeth number from 16 to 42 in the upper jaw and from 16 to 78 in 

 the lower jaw. Depending on the genus, the upper comblike teeth 

 may equal or slightly exceed in number those in the lower jaw (Aspi- 

 dontus, Blennechis, Dasson, Xiphasia, Plagiotremus) , may be slightly 

 fewer in number than those in the low^er jaw {Meiacanthus, Petro- 

 scirtes, Xiphasia, Lembeichthys) , or may be greatly exceeded by those 

 in the lower jaw {Runula). I have no data on whether tooth number 

 increases with standard length. The teeth vary from being weakly 

 to strongly attached to the jaw bones, but the teeth are always at 

 least slightly movable. The capsule-like nature of the jaws and 

 their relationship to the replacement teeth is similar to that of the 

 Blenniini and Omobranchini. The ascending process of the pre- 

 maxillary is considerably reduced, strongly based on the body of 

 the premaxillary, and is no longer a seemingly separate structure 

 as it superficially appears to be in the Blenniinae. The dentaries 

 of the Nemophidinae join medially by a suturing joint. 



The jaws and dentition appear to be the major features from which 

 clues are to be found for the evolutionary paths followed within the 

 Blenniidae. The other families of the Blenniicae, generally considered 

 less specialized than the Blenniidae, as well as many of the perciforms 

 usually considered more primitive, have moderately well-developed 

 premaxillary ascending processes, teeth implanted on the bones of 

 the jaws, no specialized posterior canines, and dentaries that are joined 

 by an even, nonsuturing joint. In these respects, the jaws and denti- 

 tion of some of the Blenniini would be considered the least specialized 

 of the Blenniidae. Within the Blenniini, two species, Blennius ocellaris 

 and B. normani, have reduced the size of the premaxillary ascending 

 processes while strengthening them; they have the lower jaws joined 

 by a suturing joint and have moderately developed upper and lower 



