_T. capite, dorso, lateribus, et pinnâ caudali, nigro-maculatis;
ventre turgidissimo, fasciis obliquis nigris: corpore undique
muricato, caudâ solum exceptâ: capite brevi; fronte inter oculos
paululum depresso: maxillis æqualibus: lineâ laterali nullâ: pinnâ
dorsali omnino ante analem positâ: pinnâ caudali subrotundatâ._
D. 11; A. 10; C. 10; P. 11.
LONG. unc. 2. lin. 6.
FORM.—Head short. Body approaching to globular, with the skin of the
belly extremely loose and capable of great inflation; every where
beset with minute prickly asperities, the extreme end of the tail
alone excepted. Crown nearly flat, very slightly depressed between
the eyes. Jaws equally advanced. Nostrils tubular. No appearance of
any lateral line. Dorsal entirely in advance of the anal: both these
fins small. Caudal slightly rounded.
COLOUR.—(_In spirits._) Head, back, and sides to the depth of the
pectorals, greyish brown, spotted with black; the spots very small
and crowded on the back, but becoming larger on the flanks and tail.
Belly white, with deep black oblique broad bands, inosculating in
some places, so as to form large meshes. Dorsal, anal, and
pectorals, plain; but the caudal very elegantly and distinctly
spotted.
The ticket attached to this specimen has been lost, and its locality is
in consequence unknown. In general appearance, it very much resembles
the _T. lineatus_ of Bloch, of which it may possibly be a variety; but
it would seem to differ from that species, in having the forehead less
elevated; in wanting the lateral line altogether, of which I can
discover no trace; and in having the whole back and upper part of the
sides spotted, and not merely the tail and its fin, as is represented in
the _T. lineatus_.