Phthinobranchii 



composed of plates which are soldered to the ribs, 

 toothless mouth is at the end of a long snout. 



2 35 

 The small 



FIG. 186. Shrimp-fish, JZoliscus strigatus (Gimther). Riu Kiu Islands, Japan. 



These little fishes with the transparent carapace look very 

 much like shrimps. Centriscus scutatus (Amphisile] with the 

 terminal spine fixed is found in the East Indies, and ALoliscus 

 strigatus with the terminal spine movable is found in southern 

 Japan and southwards. 



A fossil species, ALoliscus heinrichi, is found in the Oligocene 



FIG. 187. sEoliscus heinrichi Heckel. Eocene of Carpathia. Family Centriscidce. 



(After Heckel.) 



of various parts of Europe, and Centriscus longirostris occurs 

 in the Eocene of Monte Bolca. 



In the Centriscidaz and Macrorhamphosidce the expansions 

 of the hypocoracoid called infraclavicles are not developed. 



The Lophobranchs. The suborder Lophobranchii (Ao0o?, 

 tuft; fipayxos, gill) is certainly an offshoot from the Hemi- 

 branchii and belongs likewise among the forms transitional 

 from soft to spiny-rayed fishes. At the same time it is a 

 degenerate group, and in its modifications it turns directly 

 away from the general line of specialization. 



The chief characters are found in the reduction of the gills 

 to small lobate tufts attached to rudimentary gill-arches. The 

 so-called infraclavicles are present, as in most of the Hemi- 

 branchii. Bony plates united to form rings take the place of 

 scales. The long tubular snout bears the short toothless jaws at 

 the end. The preopercle is absent, and the ventrals are seven- 

 rayed or wanting. The species known as pipefishes and sea-horses 

 are all very small and none have any economic value. They are 



