A REVIEW OE THE TRIGGER-FISHES, FILE-FISHES, AND TRUNK-FISHES OF JAPAN. B}^ DA^'ID Starr Jordan and Henry W. Fowler, Oftlic Lehmd Stanford Junior Univermty. In the present paper i,s given an account of the Plectognathous fishes, found in Japan, belonging to the suborders of Sclerodermi and Ostracodernii. The paper is based on the collections made by Jordan and Snj^der in 1900, and on the material contained in the United States National Museum, and collections made by the United States Fish Com-mission steamer Alhatrcm. SCLERODERMI. Sclerodermi may be defined as Plectognathous fishes with a spinous dorsal composed of one or more spines inserted just behind the cranium; bod}" of the normal fish -like shape; scales rough, or spinigerous, of regular form; jaws with distinct teeth, conical or incisor-like. (ffK\j/p6g^ hard; Sip/xa^ skin.) ANALYSIS OF FAMILIES. (/. Ventral fins represented each by a large spine, normally articulating with the pelvic bones; scales rounded, more or less spinigerous; dorsal fin of 3 to 6 spines ; vertebr;e about 19 Teiacanthid.e, I. (Kt. Ventral fins obsolete, or the pair represented by a single spine at the end of the long pelvic bone; scales rough, rhombic, or spiniform. h. Vertebrae in small number, 17 to 21; no barbel at chin; gill opening not before the eyes. c. First dorsal composed of 3, rarely 2, spines; the first spine very large, the second locking it in erection; scales comparatively large, bony, rough, forming a coat of mail ; vertebrae, 17 Balistid^, II. cc. First dorsal of a single spine, with a rudiment at its base; scales minute, not bony, the edges spinescent, so that the surface of the body is rough velvety; vertebrae, 18 to 21 '. Monacanthid-k, III. Family I. TRIACANTHID^. Bod}" compressed, covered with small or minute rounded scales more or less spinigerous. Mouth small; teeth in 1 or 2 series in each jaw, conical or incisor-like. First dorsal fin of 3 to 6 strong spines, the Proceedings U. S. National Museum, Vol. XXV— No. 1287. 251
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