PLECTOGNATHI 



727 



Body non-inflatable, truncate posteriorly, without caudal peduncle; 

 caudal fin absent, the dorsal and anal fins confluent. Skin 

 rough or tessellated. Vertebrae 17 in Orthagoriscus. 

 The very young are armed with spines. 



Fio. 440. Orthagoriscus mola. (After Goocle.) x^. 



The " Sun-Fish " are extraordinary creatures found in the open 

 sea or descending to great depths, and of wide distribution. 

 The number of species is still very uncertain, but two generic 

 forms, Orthagoriscus or Mola and Eanzania, are easily distin- 

 guished. Examples of both occur now and then on our coasts. 

 Orthagoriscus mola grows to upwards of 8 feet and to a weight 

 of 1800 pounds. It has been observed to swim slowly about, 

 near the surface, the high dorsal above the water. Its food is 

 said to consist chiefly of jelly-fish and larval fishes ; its mode of 

 reproduction and places of breeding are still unknown. 



