126 UPPER CRETACEOUS TELEOSTS 
along the caudal region become progressively shorter. Small transverse processes 
are present on the precaudal vertebrae, supporting fine pleural ribs. The haemal 
spines are short but slightly more curved than the corresponding neural spines of the 
caudal region. 
Intermuscular bones are present along practically the entire length of the body, 
epineurals dorsally and epipleurals ventrally. 
Scales. Scales are only present along the lateral line and in the mid-dorsal line 
behind the occiput. These latter scutes may be as many as six in number and are 
large, ovoid, and ornamented with a median longitudinal ridge as well as concentric 
rings of minute tubercles. These scutes may have contained a branch of the sensory 
canal system from the head. The third scute in particular shows a postero-dorsal 
pore in the median ridge. The lateral line scales begin just posterior to the post- 
temporal bone where they are very large, more posteriorly they decrease in size 
progressively. The scales overlap and there are approximately 42 scales in the row. 
Each scale is irregularly triangular with the base of the triangle directed posteriorly. 
This posterior edge bears a deep, narrow indentation. This indentation occurs 
where the scale overlaps the anterior region of the succeeding scale. The lateral 
surface of each of the scales is ornamented with raised tubercles except in the over- 
lapped portion. 
Suborder HALECOIDEI 
Diacnosis. Head and body shallow to slightly deepened. Parietals separated in 
the mid-line by the supraoccipital. Post-temporal fossa unroofed. Orbitosphenoid 
and basisphenoid absent ; supraorbital often present. Premaxilla toothed, with no 
ascending process, maxilla always with forwardly inclined teeth ; one supramaxilla 
present. Teeth on palatines, ectopterygoids and endopterygoids but not on vomer. 
Numerous branchiostegal rays. Mesocoracoid arch present ; pectorals inserted 
low on body. Pelvics abdominal or sub-thoracic. Vertebral elements incompletely 
fused ; epineurals numerous. Fins without spines. Caudal with 17 branched rays. 
Preural vertebra 1 fused with ural vertebra I ; ural vertebra 2 present as a terminal 
half-centrum. Scales present or absent, when present small and closely packed. 
Family HALECIDAE Agassiz, 1834 
Diacnosis. Head and body tending to become shortened and deepened. 
Maxilla forms at least half of the gape and bears large, forwardly inclined teeth ; 
characteristically small supramaxilla always present. Preopercular spine arising 
from the postero-ventral region of the preoperculum. Dorsal fin confined to the 
anterior half of the back. Anal fin always remote in position. 
Genus HALEC Agassiz, 1834 
DiaGnosis (emended). Halecidae in which the head is short and undeepened and 
the body is slightly elongated. Supraorbital present. Jaw suspension vertical. 
