A NEW FISH, REPUTED TO BE POISONOUS , FROM QUEENSLAND. 177 
the teeth directed outward. Behind these teeth are broad bands of rough 
villiform teeth which extend right across the symphysis. In the lower jaw 
the teeth are caniniform on each side of the mandibulary symphysis, followed 
by two large canines (not quite so long as the longest pair in the upper 
jaw) and a single row of sharp pointed teeth. Behind these are bands of 
villiform teeth as in the upper jaw. A wide ^-shaped band of villiform teeth 
on the vomer, without a median posterior shaft, and patches of rougher 
villiform teeth on the palatines, which are shaped as in the accompanying 
figure. A buccal flap present in each jaw. Palate longitudinally plicate. 
Tongue large, fleshy, rounded, without teeth. 
Text-figure 1 . — Lutjanus coatesi , sp. nov. Palatal dentition of Holotype. Natural size. 
As the specimen has been gutted and cleaned, no details can be given 
concerning branchial arches, gillrakers, stomach contents, sex, etc. Pseudo- 
branchise are present. 
Body robust, its depth subequal to length of head or about one-third 
of the standard length but accurate measurement is impracticable. Large, 
regular, weakly ctenoid or ciliated scales cover the body and extend over 
the breast and onto the bases of all the fins except the spinous dorsal and 
the ventrals. Scales have 12 to 15 basal radiating striae, central portion rather 
like ground glass, circuli fine, apical denticles numerous and becoming frayed 
at edge of scale. An axillary ventral scale. Fifteen predorsal scales, which 
do not reach the level of the eyes, and about fifty scales with obsolescent 
tubes on the lateral line, which ceases at the root of the caudal fin. The 
scale-rows all slope obliquely upwards and backwards above the lateral line 
but run in a longitudinal direction below it. Suprascapular denticulations 
obsolete. 
Dorsal fins continuous but notched, the fourth or fifth spines were 
probably the longest, but the fifth appears to have been damaged and is 
shortened in this specimen. The base of the spinous dorsal is longer than that 
of the soft, which has a rounded margin ; none of the ra,ys is as long as the 
longest dorsal spine. Anal commencing below anterior dorsal rays, its base 
is shorter than that of the soft dorsal. Second anal spine very thick but not 
so long as third ; the anterior anal rays are about twice as long as the 
