SP1IYILENA. 105 



Fam. 18. SPHYR^ENID.E. 



Mouth protractile, the maxillaries excluded from the oral border ; 

 dentition very strong. Two nostrils on each side. Two well-separated 

 dorsal fins, the anterior formed of a small number of spines. Ventral 

 fins more or less behind the pectorals, with one spine and 5 soft rays ; 

 pelvis not connected with the pectoral arch. Anterior ribs sessile, the 

 rest inserted on parapophyses. Vertebrae 24. Air-bladder large. 



Tropical and Subtropical Seas, often at the mouths of rivers. 



1. SPHYR.ffiNA. 



Artedi, Synon. Pise. p. 112 (1738) ; Cuv. & Val. Hist. Poiss. iii. p. 325 (1529) ; 

 Giinth. Cat. Fish. ii. p. 334 (1860) ; Bouleng. Poiss. Bass. Congo, p. 304 



(1901). 



Body elongate, feebly compressed, covered with small cycloid scales ; 

 lateral line complete, formed of straight tubules. Head elongate; 

 mouth large. Two large teeth in front of the preem axillary, the edge 

 of which is beset wiih a single series of small teeth ; a series of large 

 palatine teeth ; the largest mandibular teeth in front, followed by first 

 small and then large teeth, in a single series. Anterior dorsal fin with 

 5 slender spines, above the ventrals ; second dorsal and anal opposite to 

 each other, without pungent spine. 



Mediterranean and Tropical and Subtropical Seas; one species 

 enteriug the rivers of West Africa. 



1. SPHYR^NA GUACHANCHO. 



Cuv. & Val. t. c. p. 342 ; Poey, Mem. Cuba, ii. p. 160 (1800) ; Meek & Newl. 



Proc. Ac. Philad. 1884, p. 70 ; Jord. & Everm. Fish. N. Amer. p. 824 



(1890) ; Bouleng. Poiss. Bass. Congo, p. 364 (1901). 

 Sphyrama afra, Peters, Mon. Berl. Ac. 1844, p. 82, and 1876, p. 812. 

 Sphyrcena dubia, Bleek. Nat. Verh. Vet. Haarlem, xviii. 1803, no. 2, p. 70, pi. xv. 



fig. 2 ; Steind. Notes Leyd. Mus. xvi. 1894, p. 32. 

 Sphyrcena cfuentheri, Haly, Ann. & Mag. N. H. (4) xv. 1875, p. 270. 

 Sphyrcena jello (non Cuv. & Val.), Steind. Denkschr. Ak. Wien, xliv. 1882, p. 39. 



Depth of body 7 to 7-| times in total length, length of head 3 to 

 3^ times. Eye perfectly lateral, 2\ to 3 times in length of snout, 

 5J to 6-| times in length of head, 1 to If times in interorbital width ; 

 maxillary extending to below anterior border of eye ; chin without 



