1596 
Genus Benthosaurus Goode and Bean 
Benthosaurus GOODE and BEAN, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., 
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vol. 12, 1886, No. 5, p. 168. Type Benthosaurus 
grallator GOODE and BEAN, monotyplc. 
Body elongate, tapers hack to rather long slender caudal 
peduncle. Head slightly depressed. Eye very small, incon¬ 
spicuous. Mouth cleft wide, horizontal, lower jaw protruding. 
Maxillary long, not stout, expanded posteriorly. Premaxill- 
aries and mandible with bands of small uniform teeth; short 
oblong band each side of vomer, interspace rather wide; pal¬ 
atines and tongue smooth. Gill opening very wide, membranes 
free from isthmus. Gill rakers long, slender, numerous. 
Pseudobranchiae present. Branchiostegals 11. Scales cycloid, 
moderate. Leteral line axial, complete. Dorsal median. No 
adipose fin. Anal postmedian. Caudal forked, lowest ray 
produced. Pectoral inserted rather high. Ventral rays 7, 
inserted midway in space between pectoral and ventral, outer 
or lower produced ray reaches beyond caudal. 
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