117. F1ERASFEEID.E FIERASFEE. 79 L 



conical teeth, besides two divergent canines in front; upper jaw with 

 similar teeth in several series in front, the canines smaller and closer 

 together. Pectorals little longer than eye; insertion of dorsal slightly 

 in front of anal, a little in front of middle of body; rays of vertical fins 

 low and weak, those of caudal most developed ; vent close in front of 

 anal, which is similar to dorsal. Head 8; depth 14. D. 41; A. 36. L. 

 6 inches. Straits of Fuca; burro wing' among rocks near low tide-mark. 

 (Jordan & Gilbert, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. iii, 1880, -266.) 



FAMILY CXVIL FIERASFERIDJE. 



Body very elongate, compressed, tapering into a long and slender 

 tail. No scales. Teeth cardiform on jaws, voiner, and palatines; canine 

 teeth often present; no barbels; lower jaw included; vent at the throat ; 

 gill-membranes more or less united, free from the isthmus; no pseudo- 

 branchiae; no pyloric coeca; vertical fins very low, confluent, without 

 spines; no ventral fins; pectoral fins present or absent. Small fishes 

 of the tropical seas, parasitic in shells of inollusks, in Echinoderms, etc. 

 Genera 3; species 12. 



(Ophidiidw, group Fierasferina Gliiitber, iv, 381-384.) 



a. Pectoral fins present ; caudal fin obsolete ........................ FIERASFER, 432. 



432 FIERASFER Cuvier. 



(Cuvier, Regne Anim. ii, 1817 : type Fierasfer imberbis Cuv. = Gijmnotus acus Brimuich. ) 

 ISTp distinct caudal fin; pectoral fins developed. (Fierasfer, the 

 ancient name, from <l".zpos, sleek and shining.) 



121. F. dubiois* Putnam. 



Color, in spirits, uniform light brown, with a short silvery band along 

 the sides of the abdomen, made by confluent spots. Maxillary extend- 

 ing slightly beyond orbit; lower teeth larger than the upper, except 2-4 

 front teeth of upper jaw, which are about equal to lower teeth; vomer 

 with 3-6 teeth, 2 or 3 of these canine-like. Pectoral half head; vent 

 under base of pectoral. Dorsal fin low, but distinct; anal much more 

 developed than dorsal; its longest rays about in the middle of the fish. 

 Air bladder long, slightly constricted behind. Gill-membranes not cov- 

 ering isthmus. Head 7 ; depth of head 15. (Putnam.) Florida Keys 

 to Cuba and Panama. 



(Carapus t.affinis Poey, Syn. Pise. Cub. 1868, 402, not of F. affinis Giiuther; Putnam, 

 Proc. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist. 1874, 344.) 



* In the Museum of Comparative Zoology is " one valve of a pearl oyster, in which 

 a specimen of Fierasfer dubiitx is beautifully inclosed in a pearly covering, deposited 

 on it by the oyster.'' (Putnam.) 



