FISHES OF FAMILY BLENNHDAE 59 



size. I (1967) discussed this condition in detail for Entomacrodus 

 and now believe the condition is evidence of phyletic relationship be- 

 cause subjectively I had grouped together the genera in which the 

 condition occurs before I knew the range of its occurrence. 



The anal rays are usually shorter than the dorsal rays, but in some 

 species of Salarias the anterior anal rays are greatly produced and 

 much longer than any of the dorsal rays. 



Pectoral girdle and fins. — The pectoral girdle of blenniids is most 

 notable for the reduction in size and synostosis of the coracoid with 

 the cleithrum. The scapula also is reduced beyond what one ordinarily 

 finds in perciforms, but it is never fused with the cleithrum. In most 

 blenniids the scapular foramen is bounded entirely by the scapula, but 

 in some genera and species, notably most Nemophidinae, Ecsenius, 

 and some species of Omobranchus and Blennius, the anterior border 

 of the scapular foramen is incomplete and is bordered by the cleithrum. 



In all blenniid genera except Enchelyurus (Omobranchini) , Alticus, 

 Andamia, Damania, Lophalticus, and Praealticus (Salariini) there 

 are two normally formed postcleithra on each side. In the listed genera 

 the postcleithra appear as one to three small, well-separated ossifica- 

 tions in the connective tissue of the skin in what would have been their 

 normal position if they had been formed normally. The dorsalmost 

 postcleithral element may or may not be in contact with the cleithrum. 

 It is interesting to note that the salariinine genera listed usually have 

 been considered, primarily on intuitive grounds, to be related (as 

 indicated also by their names) . The peculiar nature of the postcleithra 

 tends to confirm previous opinion. 



In the Blenniinae the supracleithrum is similar to that described 

 for Entomacrodus nigricans in its relationship to the posttemporal; 

 however, in the Nemophidinae the supracleithrum has become much 

 extended anteriorly and the posttemporal has become much reduced. 

 The supracleithrum of the Nemophidinae has a close connection with 

 the epiotic not found in the Blenniinae. It appears that in the Ne- 

 mophidinae the postcleithrum has taken over the function of the 

 posttemporal. In the Nemophidinae and Omobranchini the supra- 

 cleithrum never bears a sensory canal, but such a canal is variably 

 present, depending on the genus, in the Blenniini and Salariini. 



The posttemporal is forked in all Blenniinae and unforked in the 

 Nemophidinae (Avith the exception of one of the two specimens of 

 Aspidontus taeniatus examined, where it gives a sHght indication of 

 forking). The lower arm of the posttemporal of the Blenniinae is 

 attached variably by a ligament to the intercalar (usually at a point 

 near the junction of the intercalar and pterotic spine) or to the pos- 

 terior surface of the pterotic spine. There is variation within a genus 

 in this respect; for instance, in all the species of Entomacrodus exa- 



290-282—68 5 



