FAMILY, XXVIII— CALLIONYMID^. 321 



Family, XXVIII— CALLIONYMIDiE, Michardson. 



GalUonymmm, Swainson. 



Branchiostegals five to six : pseudobranchise. Gill-openings of moderate width or very narrow Bodv 

 mostly elongated. The infraorbital ring of bones does not articulate with the preopercle. Teeth in the iaws 

 none on the palate. Two dorsal fins, the anterior with from four to seven flexible spines : second dorsal and 

 anal similar : ventrals wide asunder. Scales and lateral-line present or absent. Air-vessel absent. 



In Cuv. and Yal. these fishes are included under the OoUoides, but it is doubted if they should not form 

 a separate Family, and Eichardson, as I think, correctly considered them as such. 



SYNOPSIS OF INDIVIDUAL GENUS. 



1. CcbUiowymus. Definition as in. the family. 



Genus, I — Cailiontmus, Linnmm. 

 Synchi/ropus and Diplogramwms, Gill. 



BrancUostegals five or six : pseudohrcmcMm, a sUt hehwid the fourth gill. Qill-openvngs very narrow, some- 

 times merely arovmd hole at the upper edge of the opercle. Head and anterior portion of the hody depressed. Eyes 

 of moderate size, usually directed somewhat upwards. Mouth narrow, upper jaw protractile. A strong, variously 

 armed spine at the angle of the preopercle. Teeth in joMs minute : palate edentulous. Two dorsal fms, the anterior 

 consisting of three or four flexible spines : ventrals with fi/ve rays, and widely separated one from the other. Lateral- 

 lime single or double. Air-vessel absent. 



These fishes termed " Dragonets " appear to live mostly at the bottom of the sea and near the shore. 

 They are extensively spread, being found in the temperate seas of the Old world, also throughout the seas of 

 India to the Malay Archipelago and beyond. They exhibit in many instances sexual distinctions either in the 

 length of their fins, in their colours, or iu both. They have been divided in accordance with the size and 

 position of their gill-openings as follows : — 



1. Gill-opening small, superior. Lateral-line siagle. 



2. GiU-opening small, superior. Lateral-Hue double. 



3. Gill-opening lateral and more dilated. Lateral-hne single. 



4. Gill-opening lateral and more dilated. Lateral-liae double. 



SYNOPSIS OF SPECIES. 



I. Gill-opening small, superior. Lateral-line single. 



1. Gallionymus longicaudatus, D. 4 | 9, A. 9. Preopercular spine with from 5 to 10 denticulations 

 internally, and one at its base directed forwards. Dots on head and body, fins spotted. East coast of Africa, 

 through seas of India to the Malay Archipelago. 



2. Callionymiis sagitta, D. 4 | 9, A. 9. Preopercular spine with four or five denticulations internally, and 

 one at its base directed forwards. Maxilla does not reach to below orbit. Ocellated spots on body, first dorsal 

 dark, other fins spotted. Seas of India and Mauritius. 



3. Callionymus flmoiatilis, D. 4 | 10, A. 9. Preopercular spine with two or three denticulations 

 internally, and one at its base directed forwards. Maxilla reaches to below first third of eye. River Hooghly 

 at Calcutta. 



II. Gill-openvng more dilated ami lateral. Lateral-line single. 



4. Gallionymus Uneolatus, D. 4 | 8, A. 7-8. Preopercular spine with two denticulations internally, and 

 none at its base directed forwards. Bands across back : oval or round white spots on first dorsal fin : two or 

 three rows of blue spots on the anal. Madras and Eeunion. 



5. Callionymus Orientalis, D. 4 | 10, A. 12. Preopercular spine with three denticulations internally. 

 White spots on first dorsal fin, other fins banded. Tranquebar. 



6. .Gallionymus operoularis, D. 4 | 9, A. 9. Interorbital space as wide as one diameter of the eye. 

 Preopercular spine with six denticulations internally, and none directed forwards at its base. Brownish, 

 dotted : fins spotted. Coromandel coast of India. 



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