BATRACHOIDIBJE OF QUEENSLAND. 
47 
spines, the lower much the longer, the upper short and divergent, 
often absent. Gill-opening moderate, embracing the base of the 
pectoral fin ; gill-rakers tubercular ; pharyngeal teeth unequal in 
size, acute and cardiform. Dorsal fins with iii, 18 to 22 rays, the 
middle spinous ray the longest : anal fin similar to but shorter than 
the soft dorsal, with 15 to 18 rays : caudal fin free, rounded or 
cuneiform. Axillary pore present. Frontal ridges strongly de- 
veloped ; transverse ridge linear ; occipital ridge feeble ; basis cranii 
evenly rounded. Vertebra? 9 + 18 = 27 # (fidTpaxos, a frog ; 6/xoto?, 
like). 
Coasts of India, Malaysia, Australia, and Southern New Guinea, 
entering tidal rivers. Voracious fishes of small or moderate size, 
living at the bottom, and partial to muddy localities where the water 
is more or less obscured. Species three. t 
Key to the Australian Species. 
a. Dorsal rays .19 or 20, anal rays 16 ; no frontonasal tentacle ; supraciliary tentacles 
small ; axillary pore large. 
b. Diameter of eye more than interorbital width, which is 6| in the head ; vomerine 
teeth uniserial; one subopercular spine 1. minor. 
bb. Diameter of eye less than interorbital width, which is 5} in the head ; vomerine 
teeth biserial ; two subopercular spines 2. coscus. 
aa. Dorsal rays 21 or 22, anal rays 18 ; a frontonasal tentacle ; supraciliary tentacles 
large ; axillary pore minute. 
c. Diameter of eye rather less than interorbital width, which is 6^ in the head ; 
vomerine teeth uniserial ; two subopercular spines 3. broadbenti. 
1. BATRACHOMCEUS MINOR. 
? Batrachus dubius Richardson, Zool. Erebus & Terror, Fish. 1845, p. 16, pi. x : 
Port Jackson— Giinther, B.M. Catal. Fish., iii, 1861, p. 169.— Macleay, 
Proc. Linn. Soc. N. S. Wales, v. 1880, p. 572. Not Lophius dubius White, 
1790. 
Batrachus dubius Alleyne & Macleay, Proc. Linn. Soc. N. S. Wales, i, 1877, 
p. 335 : Sue Island, Torres Straits — Macleay, ibid., viii, 1884, p. 267. Not 
Lophius dubius White, 1790. 
? Batrachus trispinosus Kner, Reise Novara, i, 1865, Fisch. p. 189 : Port Jack- 
son. Not Giinther. 1861. 
? Pseudobatrachus striatus Castelnau, Res. Fish. Austr., 1875, p. 24 : Cape York. 
LESSER FROG-PISH. 
D. iii, 19 or 20 ; A. 16 ; Vert. 9 + 18 = 27. Width of head 
equal to or rather more than its length, which is 2*75 to 3*00 in that of 
"According to Gdnther Batrachus trispinosus has 12 + 17 vertebrae (v. B.M. 
Catal. Fish., iii, p. 169). 
f Batrachus trispinosus differs so much in the dentition of the jaws and in the 
number of the vertebrae (12 + 17, fide Giinther, B.M. Catal. Fish., iii, p. 189), that 
I am uncertain as to whether it should rightly be referred to this genus. 
