XXII 



PERCESOCES 



645 



tants of fresh waters and are carnivorous. Only two genera 

 are known: Ophiocephalus, with about 25 species from Eastern 

 Asia and 3 from Tropical Africa, and Channa, distinguished by 

 the absence of ventral fins, with 3 species from Ceylon and China. 



FIG. 394. Distribution of the Ophiocephalidae. 



Fam. 12. Anabantidae. Differ from the preceding, to which 

 they are closely related, in having part of the dorsal and anal 

 fins and the outer ventral ray spinous, and a shorter, Perch- 

 like body covered with ctenoid scales. The accessory super- 

 branchial organ is still more developed, with thin bony laminae, 

 which are more or less folded and covered with a mucous 

 membrane. These Fishes can live a long time out of water, and 

 the name Anabas scandens, or Climbing Perch, recalls the fact 

 that its first observers in India ascribed to it the habit of 

 climbing up low trees by means of the spines with which its gill- 



FlG. 395. Distribution of the Anabantidae. 



