GONOBHTNCHIM5. 
271 
Family GONORHYNCHIDjF. 
Trunk fusiform or elongated, and caudal region relatively short. 
^upraoccipital bone not prominent, but extending forwards to the 
frontals and separating the parietals in the median line ; squamosal 
suturally united with parietals and completely covering the otic 
bones except bohind ; snout not produced ; cheek-plates rudimentary. 
Mandibular suspensorium much inclined forwards, and gape of 
mouth small; premaxilla smaller than maxilla, but excluding 
latter from the oral margin ; teeth, if present, chiefly or exclusively 
on some inner bones of mouth. Opercular apparatus complete, 
with few branchiostegal rays and no gular plate. A ertebral centra 
well ossified, but usually pierced by notochord ; abdominal vertebral 
with robust transverse processes bearing delicate ribs, which do 
not completely encircle the abdominal cavity ; a compound hypural 
bone at the baso of the tail. Intermuscular bones present. Fin- 
fulcra absent; pectoral arch without precoracoid process; dorsal and 
anal fins small ; no adipose dorsal fin. Scales narrow and elongated, 
very deeply imbricated, and often extending over the cheeks and 
opercular apparatus. 
The only known existing species of this family is Gonorhynchus 
g r eyi, which inhabits the seas off Japan, South Africa, Australia, 
and New Zealand. Its gill-cleft is narrow, and pseudobranchiae are 
present ; there is no air-bladder ; the stomach is simple, without 
blind sac, while tho pyloric appendages occur in small number. 
Synopsis of Genera. 
T Teeth on pterygoid and hyoid bones. 
Dorsal fin scarcely if at all behind middle 
of back, and pelvic fins opposed to 
it; scales not covering head Charitosomus (p. 271). 
Dorsal fin far behind middle of back, and 
pelvic fins opposed to it ; scales 
covering head Gonorhynchus (Recent). 
II- Teeth absent. 
Dorsal fin nearly in middle of back, 
more or less directly opposite pelvic 
pair; scales covering head Notogoneus (p. 275). 
Genus CHARITOSOMUS, W. von der Marck. 
[Palacontogr. vol. xxxi. 1885, p. 257.] 
Syn. Solenognathus, Pictet & Humbert (non Swainson, 1839), Nouv. 
Rech. Poiss. Foss. Mt. Liban, 1866, p. 54. 
Head small and trunk much elongated, laterally compressed. 
