Zoology.-] NATUKAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA. [Fishes. 



Plate 84. 



CTENOLATES AMBIGUUS (Rich. sp.). 



The Murray Golden Perch. 



[Genus CTENOLATES (Gtjnth.). (Sub-kingd. Vertebrata. Class Pisces. Sub-class 

 Teleostii. Order Acanthopterygii. Earn. Percidae.) 



Gen. Char. — Spinous dorsal of ten rays, continuous with the soft dorsal. Branchiostegals, 

 seven ; pseudobranchiae distinct. Teeth villiform, in bands on the jaws and palate bones and 

 vomer. Tongue smooth. Preoperculum finely serrated on straight posterior edge, with larger 

 and less regular denticles directed slightly forwards in groups on undulated inferior edge. 

 Lower edge of preorbital finely serrated. Scales of moderate size, finely serrated on posterior 

 edge. Australia.] 



Description. — Ovate ; greatest depth under anterior part of dorsal, about twice 

 and a half in the total length of the fish, excluding the caudal fin. Head cavernous, 

 a row of 6 or 8 large mucous pits extending on each side of lower jaw and preoper- 

 culum, a few also larger ones above the preorbital plate. Length of the head slightly 

 less than one-third of the total length, without caudal fin. Thickness about half the 

 depth. Dorsal profile very convex from dorsal fin to occiput, concave from thence 

 to end of snout, the concavity of profile greatest in large specimens, and above the 

 occiput. Lower jaw slightly longer than upper, the maxillary reaching, when the 

 mouth is closed, to a little behind the vertical from the anterior part of the orbit. 

 Diameter of the eye one-half of the length of the snout, and one-fourth to one-fifth 

 of the post-orbital length of the head, according to the age. Upper part of the head 

 smooth and naked ; cheeks covered with small scales, about half the size of those on 

 the operculum. Denticles on lower edge of preoperculum in three or four rounded 

 groups, directed forwards. Operculum with one strong triangular spine, little 

 behind tip of soft posterior angle, with a second one a little in front of it on upper 

 edge, sometimes broken into several little denticles, and a third, smaller one, about 

 half way between angle and upper base. Spines of dorsal thick, strong-, the 5th 

 and 6th longest; 1st branched ray of dorsal exceeding last spinous ray by about 

 one-half of its length ; last branched ray about one-fourth more than the length of 

 the last spine. The basal third of the dorsals covered with small scales. Caudal 

 and pectoral rounded. 1st ventral ray lengthened. Three anal spines, very thick, 

 the 1st little more than half the length of the 2nd. Fin-rays: Dorsal, 10 spinous, 

 11 branched; pectoral, 17; ventral, 1 spinous, 5 branched; anal, 3 spinous, 8 

 branched (last two with one base); caudal, 15 to 17, with 3 or 4 short rays above 

 and below. Scales: Along the lateral line, about 82; above, 14 to 16; below, 29 

 to 32. The posterior edge of the coracoid (a) above the base of the pectoral, and 

 of the suprascapular (b) above operculum, finely denticulated. Color: Purplish on 

 top of head; sides of head with mixtures of green, purple, and yellow; back, rich 

 yellowish bronze-green ; sides, golden -yellow, fading into whitish on lower margin; 

 scales of back and sides minutely speckled with black; spinous dorsal fin pale- 

 purplish, the rays tawny -yellow, minutely dotted with black ; soft dorsal, blackish 

 towards edge; pectorals yellowish, the rays minutely dotted with black, membrane 

 nearly colorless; ventral fins, membrane yellowish, rays orange; caudal, with the 



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