68 



ELOPIFORM FISHES 



Fig. 33. Megalops cyprinoides (Broussonet). Diagram to illustrate variations in caudal 

 osteology. Neural arches stippled, neural spines black. 



The only other significant cranial difference between the two genera concerns the 

 length of the maxilla. The maxilla of Tarpon extends well behind the level of the 

 eye. That of Megalops nearly always terminates at a level beneath the posterior 

 eye border. In two specimens out of a total of 24 examined (ranging in S.L. from 

 48 mm to 365 mm) the maxilla protruded very slightly beyond the posterior orbital 

 margin. 



In the postcranial skeleton Megalops differs from Tarpon in certain respects 

 which are mentioned in the respective diagnoses. Primarily they concern the posi- 

 tion of the ventral fins, the ray counts of dorsal and anal fins and the vertebral and 

 lateral line scale counts. 



