PEDICULATI. 231 



Synopsis of Indian Genera. 



Head and body compressed. Teeth on palate. 



Gills lateral 1. ANTKNNABIUS. 



Head and body strongly depressed. No teeth on 



palate. Gills on upper surface of body . . 2. HALIEUT.SA. 



1. Genus ANTENNAEIUS (Comm.), Cuv. 



Syn. Chironectes, pt., Cuv. 



Head large, elevated and compressed. Only one half of the 

 anterior branchial arch provided with lamellae. Cleft of mouth 

 nearly vertical. Eyes lateral. Grill-openings lateral. Cardiform 

 teeth in the jaws and palate. The spiuous dorsal in the form of 

 three isolated spines, the anterior of which, situated upon the 

 snout, is modified into a tentacle ; the second dorsal of moderate 

 length ; anal short. Body smooth, granulated, or covered with 

 minute spines, and sometimes with cutaneous tentacles. Air- 

 bladder large and simple. Pyloric appendages absent. 



Geographical Distribution. Pelagic, chiefly tropical. These 

 fishes, as a result of their mode of progression, have a wide geo- 

 graphical range. Their pediculated pectoral fins allow them to 

 walk or hop over moist ground or slimy rocks in quest of their 

 prey, and even clasp pieces of wood or seaweeds. Although bad 

 swimmers, M. Dussurnier observed that they inflate themselves 

 and float on the water like a Diodon. The " Anglers," to which 

 this genus belongs, conceal themselves in the mud, displaying only 

 the erectile first ray, situated on the head, and which bears an ex- 

 crescence on its extremity resembling a worm or piece of meat. 

 By agitating this, smaller fishes are attracted and fall a prey. 



The species of this genus, owing to variation in colour, to change 

 in the form of the spines on the body with age, and to the abnormal 

 increase or decrease in the number of rays, are difficult to discrim- 

 inate one from another. 



Synopsis of Indian Species. 



Skin rough. Yellow, with brown spots and 



streaks 1. A. Mspidus, p. 231. 



Skin rough. Greyish brown, with a black 



ocellus on the side, another at base of 



middle of dorsal fin. Fins spotted 2. A. nummifer,?. 232. 



Skin generally smooth, but with fleshy 



excrescences. Colours various, sides 



with white spots 3. A. marmoratus, p. 23?. 



1004. (1.) Antennarius Mspidus. (Fig. 84.) 



Lophius hispidus, HI. Schn. Syst. Ich. p. 142. 



Antennarius hispidus, Day, Fish. India, p. 271, pi. lx, fig. 2 (see 

 synon.). 



mura moia, Tel. ; Kend, Marathi. 



