120 FISH AND FISH-LIKE ANIMALS OP N.S.W., 



CLI. Family Platycephalidae. 



A. Head largely scaly; no enlarged, thickened scales on the lateral line. 



B. Vomerine teeth forming a curved band across the bone; cranial ridges not 



serrated or spinose. Platycephalus (351). 



BB. Vomerine teeth in two separate groups, cranial ridge's armed with spines 



and serratures. Insidiator (352). 



AA Head almost naked; scales of lateral line enlarged and thickened. 



Thysanophrys (353). 



351. Platycephalus Bloeh, Ausl. Fische ix., 1795, p. 96 (spathula). 

 A. Jaws and palate without canines. subg. Platycephalus . 



B. Upper surface of cranium with some exposed bony ridges. 



C. Teeth not uniform, some on premaxillary symphysis, vomer, and 

 palatines more or less .enlarged. 

 D. Interorbital space equal to or greater than transverse diameter of 

 eye (except in young). Tail dusky with darker spots and 

 white margins. 



E. Interorbital space nearly flat; head dusky with brown spots. 



fuscus (35>la).. 

 EE. Interorbital space concave; head and body marbled. 



marmoratus (351b). 

 DD. Interorbital space narrower than transverse diameter of eye. 



F. 13 dorsal rays; eye diameter equal to about half its distance 



from end of mandible; 3 or more black longitudinal stripes 



along tail from base to tip. arenarius (351c). 



FF. 14 dorsal rays; eye diameter greater than half its distance 



from end of mandible; black markings confined to posterior 



half of tail. caeruleopunctatus (351d). 



CC. Teeth small and uniform without larger ones on premaxillary 



symphysis, vomer, or palatines; lower preopercular spine very large. 



longispinis (351e). 



BB. No exposed bony ridges on upper surface of cranium, laevigatas (351f). 



AA. Jaws and palate with large canines. subg. Neoplatycephalus. 



G. About 11 gill-rakers on first arch, which are slender. macrodon (351g). 



351a. P. ruscus. Dusky Flathead. Id. Cuvier & Valenciennes, H.N. 

 Poiss. iv., 1829, p. 241; Id. Quoy & Gaimard, Zool. Astrolabe iii., 1835, 

 p. 681, pi. 10, 1 (PI. 3d.). 

 A choice table-fish, of which large numbers are captured in inlets along 

 the whole coast-line. Length 40 inches. 



351b. P. marmobatus. Marbled Flathead. Id. Stead, New Fish. N.S. 



Wales, 1908, p. 9, pi. 3-5; Id. McCulloch, Biol. Res. Endeavour iv. 4, 



1916, p. 197, pi. 57, 1. 

 Occurs on the northern portion of the coast. Length about 20 inches. 



351c. P. arenarius. Sand Flathead. Id. Ramsay & Ogilby, P.L.S. 

 N.S.W. x., 1886, p. 577; Id. McCulloch, Biol. Res. Endeavour iii. 3, 

 1915, p. 164, pi. 13. 1 (PL xl.). 

 A northern species, readily distinguished by the black longitudinal stripes 

 on its tail. Length about 12 inches. 



351d. P. caeruleopunctatus nom. nov. Sand Flathead. Platycephalus 

 bassensis Stead, Ed. Fish. N.S. Wales, 1908, p. 112, pi. 78 (not P. 

 bassensis Cuvier & Valenciennes). 

 The common Sand Flathead of New South Wales has been incorrectly re- 

 corded by various authors as P. bassensis, but it differs from that species in its 

 somewhat stronger dentition, and in the greater development of its cranial ridges. 

 Its colour and marking also is different to that of P. bassensis. As the species 

 is without a name, I use caeruleopunctatus for it, this being a suitable name 

 under which it has been labelled in the Australian Museum. 



