BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
268 
The current descriptions of S. spengleri have been based partly on specimens of S. nephelus, an 
entirely distinct species, which has been confused with the present one. The two species differ 
markedly in the very differently-shaped head and coloration. In S. spengleri the head is more slender, 
snout much longer, profile less steep and less concave, and the interorbital somewhat wider. The 
color of S. nephelus resembles that of S. marmoralus, as does also its shape; the spots along side in 
S. spengleri are usually nearly round, while in S. nephelus they are never round, but are oblong or short 
vertical liars invading the white of lower parts from the dark side; the spots in 8. spengleri are always 
more distinct and the caudal fin is always barred, a character which may be regarded as diagnostic. 
An inhabitant of the West Indies, north to Florida; recorded from Tortugas, Key West, Garden 
Key, Biscayne Bay, Big Gasparilla, and Tampa; also from Cuba and Martinique; common about 
Porto Rico, specimens having been obtained at San Antonio Bridge, Puerto Real, Fajardo, Culebra, 
and San Geronimo; most of the specimens are small, but the fish attains a length of about a foot. 
Tetrodon spengleri Bloch, Ichthyologia, I, 135, pi. 144, 17S2, East Indies. 
Le Tetrodon plumier Laeep&de, Hist. Nat. Poiss., I, 504, 1797, Martinique; on a drawing by Plumier. 
Lc Sphiroide tubereule Lacepede, Hist. Nat. Poiss., II, 1, 1798, Martinique; on a front-view drawing by Plumier. 
Tetrodon plumier i Bloch & Schneider, Syst. Iehth., 508, 1801, Martinique; after Lacepede. 
Sphseroides tuberculatus Pillot edition of LaciSpede, VI,- 279, 1831, Martinique. 
Tetrodon turgidus Poey, Synopsis, 432, 1868, Cuba; not of Mitehill. 
Splteroides spengleri Jordan & Evermann, 1732, 1898; in part only; description confused with that of S. nephelus. 
225. Spheroides marmoratus (Ranzani). Spiny-back Blow-fish. 
Head 2.75; depth 4; eye 4.5 in bead; snout long, 1.66 in head; D. 7; A. 6; P. 14. Outline of 
head concave in front of eye; eye full and high, its distance above a line drawn from corner of mouth 
to upper base of pectoral equal to its longitudinal diameter. Interorbital space very narrow, grooved, 
its width equal to that of pupil. Nostrils at end of a tube, situated about equally distant from end of 
snout and posterior edge of eye. Gill-opening equal to base of pectoral, but higher. Length of caudal 
peduncle from anal 2 in head. Length of head equal to half of distance in front of dorsal. Posterior 
rays of dorsal 1.5 in longest, which are 2.5 in head. Pectoral very broad, folding fan-like, margins 
scalloped, broadly rounded, lowest ray 1.8 in upper, which is 2.75 in head. Caudal fin slightly longer 
than distance of its base from dorsal, its rays all of equal length, 1.57 in head. Prickles on ventral 
surface between chin and vent, extending on side of head in front of pectoral fin, on side behind pec- 
toral fin to vertical from dorsal, above from nostrils to dorsal; only snout, axil of pectoral, and caudal 
peduncle naked. Lateral line very faint, extending obliquely upward from side of snout under eye, 
then backward, curving slightly downward under dorsal, most distinct on side of tail. 
Color in alcohol : Above very dark-brown, with 1 ilack blotches, sides lighter, with very pale reticu- 
lations, a series of about a dozen irregular black spots along lower side; below white; caudal slightly 
dusky, with no indications of bars; other fins colorless. 
