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XIX. Description of Ceratodus, a genus of Ganoid Fishes, recently discovered in Fivers 
of Queensland , Australia. By Albert Gunther, M.A., Fh.D., M.D., F.F.S. 
Received February 7, — Read March 16, 1871. 
Contents. 
Page 
Introductory Remarks 51 1 
Geographical Distribution and Habits 513 
External Parts . — Ceratodus forsteri and Cera- 
todus miolejois 514 
Structure of the Scales 516 
Nasal Cavity 517 
Eye 517 
Oi’gan of Hearing 517, 526 
Dentition 518 
Skeleton 520 
General Configuration of the Skull. The Rela- 
tions of its Cartilaginous and Osseous parts 521 
Detailed description of the Parts of the Skull 522 
Yertebral Column 526 
Scapular Arch 530 
Pectoral Limb 531 
Pelvis and Pelvic Limb 535 
Page 
Organs of Circulation 535 
Gills 539 
Lung 540 
Relative Situation of the Abdominal Yiscera . . 542 
Intestinal Tract 543 
Liver 545 
Hropoetic Organs 545 
Organs of Reproduction 546 
Female Organs 547 
Male Organs 549 
The Affinities of Ceratodus to other Recent 
Fishes 551 
On the Affinities of Ceratodus to certain Fossil 
Fishes 555 
Concluding Remarks. 560 
Explanation of the Plates 561 
Introductory Remarks. 
At the beginning of last year my valued correspondent, Mr. Gerard Kreeet, Curator 
of the Australian Museum, Sydney, informed me of the discovery in Queensland of a 
large Lepidosiren - like animal, of which he enclosed a photograph *, and which he 
assigned to Ceratodus , a genus of fishes known from fossil teeth only, naming the species 
after its discoverer, the Hon. William Forster, Ceratodus forsteri. 
Before my reply had time to reach Mr. Krefft, a short communication of his on the 
subject was read before the Zoological Society of London (April 28, 1870) ; it is entitled 
“ Description of a gigantic Amphibian allied to the genus Lepidosiren, from the Wide- 
Bay district, Queensland” (Proc. Zool. Soc. 1870, p. 221). The author describes in this 
note the principal points of the external appearance and dentition, and mentions also 
that “ the skeleton is partly ossified, partly cartilaginous, the vertebree being pure car- 
tilage, and the ribs hollow tubes filled with a cartilaginous substance. The palate and 
upper part of the skull are bone, and the head is covered with two enormous scales.” 
* From this photograph, the woodcut in the Proc. Zool. Soc. 1870, p. 222, is taken. 
MDCCCLXXI. 4 B 
