401 
thickened and the skull otherwise modified. A very similar 
The Squamipinnes 
species, Chetodipterus zonatus, occurs on the west coast of 
Species allied to Chetodipterus are fossil in the Italian 
Mexico. 
The Drepanide of the East Indies are close to the 
Eocene. 
Drepane punctata is a large, deep-bodied fish resem- 
bling the spadefish but with larger scales. 
hide. 
Care: 
Virginia. 
Chetodipterus faber (L.). 
Fic. 337.—Spadefish 
The Platacide. 
Platax 
In this group the few dorsal 
spines are closely attached to the soft rays and the general 
In the young the body is deeper than in the 
—Closely related to the Ilarchtde is also the 
adult and the ventral fins much more produced. The best- 
East Indian family of Platacide, remarkable for the very great 
known species is the tsuzume or batfish (Platax orbtcularts), 
Platax tetra, farther south, is very similar. 
which ranges from India through the warm current to northern 
depth and compression of the body, which is much deeper than 
long, and the highly elevated dorsal and anal still further empha- 
size this peculiarity of form. 
color is dusky. 
Japan. 
11—26 
