CATAPHEACTI. 243 



1. Genus DACTYLOPTERUS (Lacep.). 



Branchiostegals six. Head with its surfaces more or less flat- 

 tened, bony above and on the sides. The angle of the preopercle 

 and the shoulder-bone each produced into the form of a long spine. 

 Granular teeth in the jaws only. Two dorsal fins of nearly equal 

 length ; pectorals much elongate, the anterior portion detached 

 from and shorter than the upper. Scales on body keeled and of 

 a moderate size. Lateral line absent. Air-bladder in two lateral 

 portions, each furnished with a large muscle. 



Geographical Distribution. Tropical Atlantic and Pacific, Medi- 

 terranean, and Indian Ocean. 



1017. (1.) Dactyloptems orientalis. (Fig. 87.) 



Dactylopterus orientalis, Cuv. $ Vol. H. N. Poiss. iv, p. 134, pi. 76 ; 

 Day, Fish. India, p. 279, pi. Ix, fig. 6 ; Suppl. p. 792 (see synon.). 

 Shashana, Arabic ; Ana toumbi, Tarn. 



D.I | 1 | 5-6 | 8. P. 30. V.6. A. 6. C.9. Vert, 9/13. C. p. 18-19. 

 Length of head (including preopercular spine) 3 to 31, height of 

 body 5-|- to 6 in the total length. Eyes nearly one diameter from 

 end of snout and also apart. Interorbital space concave. Spine 

 at angle of preopercle more than half length of rest of head. Bony 

 covering of head produced backwards to below second or third 

 dorsal spine. A shoulder-spine. Fins an elongated filament 

 arises over occiput and is | longer than head; a second, also detached, 

 midway between it and first dorsal spine, than which it is half 



Fig. 87.-- Dactylopterus orientalis. 



shorter. Fin-rays unbranched except last few of dorsal and 

 sometimes of anal, those of the caudal are bifid. Pectoral 

 reaching to end of caudal, its first few rays are short, and rather 

 detached from the remainder of the fin, its middle rays are longest. 

 Scales with a ridge along each ; a large scale forms an oblique 



