115. LYCODID.E. 783 



ings forming reticulations around the spots; head paler, with the retic- 

 ulations in much finer pattern; anal pale-edged. Pectorals broad, more 

 than half length of head. Longest spines of dorsal half length of head. 

 Head 11; depth 15. D. CCL; A. 233; P. 19. L. 5-8 feet. Pacific 

 coast, from Monterey north to Puget Sound. Feeds largely on Ech- 

 inoids. 



(Ayres, Proc. Cal. Acad. Nat. Sci. i, 31, 1855: Anarrlilclillujs fells Girard, U. S. Pac. 

 R. R. Surv. Fish. 1858, 125: Anarrhiclithys fells Giinther, iii, 211.) 



FAMILY CXV. LYCODIDJE * 



(The Eelpouts.} 



Body elongate, more or less eel-shaped, naked or covered with very 

 small, imbedded, cycloid scales; head large; mouth large, with conical 

 teeth in jaws, and sometimes on vomer and palatines; bones of head 

 unarmed. Gill-membranes broadly united to the isthmus; pseudo- 

 branchire present ; gills 4, a slit behind the fourth. Dorsal and anal 

 fins very long, of soft rays only, or the former with a few posterior 

 spines; vertical fins confluent around the tail; pectorals small; veu- 

 trals jugular, very small or wanting. Lateral line obsolete or nearly so. 

 Gill-rakers small ; pyloric cceca rudimentary; vent not near the head. 

 Genera about 6 ; species 30. Bottom fishes, chiefly of the Arctic and 

 Antarctic seas; some of them, and perhaps all, are viviparous. 



(Lycodldw Giiiither, iv, 319-326: genus Zoarces Gimther, iii, 295: Zoarclmlce Swain- 

 son.) 



a. Dorsal fin low behind, some of its posterior rays short and spine-like; ventrals 

 small. (Zoarcince.) 



I). Scales present; teeth strong, couic, in jaws only ZOARCES, 425. 



aa. Dorsal fin continuous. (Lycodince.) 

 c. Ventral fins present. 



d. Vomer and palatines toothless; scales present LYCODOPSIS, 426. 



dd. Vomer and palatines with teeth. 



e. Scales present LYCOPES, 427. 



ce. Scales obsolete ." LYCODALEPIS, 428. 



cc. Ventral fins wanting. 



/. Jaws equal; body scaleless GYMNELIS, 429. 



ff. Jaws unequal, the lower projecting UKOXECTES, 430. 



* The six families folio wing (Lycodtdm, Congrogadidce, Fierasferida', Ophidiidw, Gadidce, 

 Macruridaf) constitute the group or suborder of Anacanthini or Jugulares, distinguished 

 from the other Acantliopleri by the long dorsal and anal fins, which are composed of 

 soft rays only. The ventral fins, if present, are jugular. The present family is called 

 Zoarcidw in the key, on page 79. 



