VERTEBRATA: PISCES OR FISHES. 



SUB-SECTION IV. 



THE ORDER OF PROTOPTERI OK LEPIDOSIRENS. 



THE scientific name of this order comes from two 

 Greek words, protos, first, andpteron, a wing or fin, and is 

 given to fishes of this order because they have fins only 

 in a rudimentary condition. They are called Lepidosirens 



Protopterus or Lepidosireii or Mud-fish. 



or Scaly Sirens from their resemblance to the batrachians 

 of the latter name, already noticed on page 242 the first 

 part of the word coming from the Greek lepis, lepidos, 

 a scale. 



This order is also called Dipnoi, from the Greek dis, 

 two, and pnce, breath, in allusion to the fact that the Lepi- 

 dosirens are provided with two sets of respiratory organs 

 both gills and lungs. 



The Lepidosirens are from one to three feet long, are 

 covered with scales, and are found in the tropical regions 

 of America and Africa. By some writers they have been 

 referred to the Batrachians or Amphibians. 



