266 
BULLETIN Ob' THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
TETRAODONTINiE: 
a. Frontal bones expanded sidewise and forming lateral roofs of orbits, postfron tals limited to posterior portions. 
Species chiefly marine. 
b. Nostril on each side with two distinct openings; frontal region longer than broad. 
c. Dorsal and anal fins comparatively long, falcate, each -of 12 to 15 rays; nostrils sessile, or nearly so, not forming 
a distinct papilla; mucous tubes on upper part of head and on sides of body very conspicuous. 
Lagocephalus, 123 
cc. Dorsal and anal fins comparatively short, rounded, each of l! to 8 rays; nostrils at summit of a hollow, simple (or 
lobed) papilla; mucous tubes inconspicuous Spheroides, 124 
Co I.OM ESIN/E: 
an. Frontal bones narrowed and excluded from orbit; postfrontals being elongated and projected forward and con- 
nected with prefrontals; dorsal arid anal fins short, rounded; snout very obtuse; vertebra 8 + 11 = 19; nostrils 
(probably) as in Spheroides. FI uviatile species Colomesus 
Genus 123. LAGOCEPHALUS Swainson. 
Body comparatively elongate; skin smooth or variously prickly, prickles most developed on 
abdomen; abdomen capable of very great inflation. Dorsal and anal rather long, falcate, 12 to 15 rays 
each; caudal lunate. Nostril without distinct papilla, each with two distinct openings; mucous tubes 
on upper part of head and on sides of body very conspicuous. Lower side of tail with a fold. 
The fishes of this genus are chiefly tropical, Lagocephalus lagocephalus reaching the coasts of 
southern Europe. Vertebrae about 8 + 13 = 21. The increased number of vertebrae and of rays in 
vertical fins mark a transition toward the allied family, Chonerhinidse, in which there are about 29 
vertebrae, the dorsal rays about 35, the anal 30. 
a. Body elongate; head 3.25 in length; depth 4.25 Ixvigatus , 223 
aa. Body stout; head 2.8 in length; depth 3.5 pachycephalus 
Fig. 78. — Lagocephalus Ixvigatus. 
223. Lagocephalus leevigatus (Linnaeus). Smooth Puffer; “ Tarnhoril” ; “ Conejo.” 
Head 3.3; depth 4.3; eye 4.8; snout 2.1; interorbital 2.3; D. 13; A. 12; pectoral 2; caudal 1.25. 
Body elongate, robust, caudal peduncle long and slender, abdomen greatly distensible and set with 
short spines which are depressed when abdomen is deflated, skin elsewhere smooth; head large and 
blunt; upper jaw with two great broad confluent incisor teeth with a median suture; lower teeth much 
smaller; side of body separated from belly by a ridge or angle; lines of mucous pores around eye and 
on top of head armed with weak spines; caudal lunate. 
Color in spirits; Purple above, nearly black; side dirty-silvery, belly white. The young have 
three broad, dark, transverse bands on back of trunk, one on peduncle, one through base of dorsal, 
and one opposite pectoral; similar narrower bands on top of head. 
The smooth puffer is a large, sluggish fish, reaching a length of 2 feet, and of no value as food. 
It is found in bays and river mouths from Cape Cod to Brazil; it is common southward, but rather 
rare north of Cape Hatteras; recorded from New York, Chesapeake Bay, Charleston, Biscayne Bay, 
Key West, Pensacola, St. Johns River, Tortugas, Cuba, and Jamaica. Found by us at Palo Seco and 
Mayaguez, most of our specimens being young, only 2.5 to 4 inches long. 
