Subclass TELEOSTEI (continued}. 



Order ACANTHOPTERYGII (continued). 

 Family II. SQUAMIPINNES. 



Chatodontida, pt., Richardson. 



Pseudobranchiae well developed. Body elevated and compressed. 

 Mouth generally small, and situated in front of snout. Teeth 

 villiform or setiform, neither incisors nor canines ; in most of the 

 genera the palate is edentulous. Soft portion of the dorsal fin of 

 greater extent than the spinous ; anal with three or four spines ; 

 lower pectoral rays branched ; ventrals thoracic, 1/5. Scales cycloid 

 or very finely ctenoid, extending to a greater or less extent over the 

 vertical fins. Air-bladder present, generally simple. Intestines 

 usually much convoluted ; stomach csecal. Pyloric appendages in 

 moderate numbers. 



Geographical Distribution. These fishes are, as a rule, marine 

 and tropical. Some are taken in rivers and estuaries, but very few 

 are captured above tidal reach. 



Synopsis of Indian Genera. 

 First group. CH^TODONTINA. 

 No palatine or vomerine teeth. 



A. Dorsal spines not separated from rays by a hollow 



or notch. 



a. No preopercular spine. 



Snout moderate or short; no elongate dorsal 



spine 1. CH^TODON. 



Snout much prolonged 2. CHELMON. 



Snout moderate, 4th dorsal spine elongate .... 3. HENIOCHUS. 



Snout moderate, 3rd dorsal spine elongate .... 4. ZANCLUS. 



b. A strong preopercular spine 5. HOLACANTHUS. 



B. A notch or hollow between spines and rays of 



dorsal. 

 . Pectorals short. 



No dorsal spines with filiform extremities .... 6. SCATOPHAGTTS. 



Several dorsal spines elongate and filiform .... 7. EPHIPPUS. 

 b. Pectorals very long, nearly reaching caudal . . 8. DRKPANE. 



Second group. TOXOTINA. 



Vomerine and palatine teeth. 



Body oblong ; dorsal in posterior half 9. TOXOTES. 



VOL. II. 13 



