CO129-538-2 Hong Kong University 23-6-1932 - 15-3-1933 — Page 179

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A Synopsis of the Fishes of China

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swim at the surface, occasionally leaping or skipping along above. In size they are rather small, the largest seldom exceeding a foot in length. Genera about 10.

Synopsis of the Genera.

a1. Caudal forked; anal not modified; oviparous.

b1. Sides of body mostly convex; air bladder simple; ventrals inserted

far before dorsal.

Hyporhamphus.

b. Sides of boly largely flattened; air bladder cellular; ventral inserted

rather close before dorsal.

Hemiramphus.

a2. Caudal truncate or rounded; anal rays more or less modified in male;

viviparous.

Zenarchopterus.

HYPORHAMPHUS Gill.

Balaos.

Hyporhamphus Gill, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 1859, p. 131. Type Hyporhamphus tricuspidatus Gill, monotypic.

Body elongate, but moderately compressed, sides more or less rounded convexly, not flattened. Young with lower jaw short, long and beak like with age. Teeth feeble, mostly tricuspid. Air bladder large, simple, not celluluar. Dorsal and anal fins alike, opposite, not modified in male and last dorsal ray usually short. Caudal mostly forked, lower lobe longer. Ventral small, inserted well forward, nearly midway between opercle and caudal base.

Numerous species in all warm seas, living in large schools usually not far from shore. Food largely green algae.

The following doubtful species, if a member of this genus, appears to differ from the other Chinese species in its fewer dorsal and anal rays:

Hyporhamphus gernaerti (Valenciennes).

Hemiramphus gernaerti Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss., vol. 19, 1846, P. 43. China, Macao.

Hemirhamphus gernaerti Günther, Cat. Fishes Brit. Mus., vol. 6, 1868, p. 268 (copied).—Bleeker, Nederl. Tijds. Dierk., vol. 4, 1873, p. 149 (reference).

Hyporhamphus gernaerti Chu, Biol. Bull. St. John's Univ., No. 1, January 1931, p. 86 (reference).

Lower jaw (beyond extremity of upper jaw) 5 fine, pointed; interorbital equals eye. Dorsal rays 13; low; caudal but little forked. Belly brown like back. Lateral band very broad between dorsal and anal. (Valenciennes).

to caudal base; teeth anal 15, small and Flanks silver gray. Length 178 mm.

Macao, China. A little known species, not seen since originally described in 1846 and distinguished by its short beak and few fin rays.

December 1932.