330 FISHES OF ILLINOIS 



Order ANACANTHINI 



THE COD-LIKE FISHES 



Skeleton bony; vertebrae numerous, the anterior simple; no spines in 

 any of the fins; ventrals jugular, below or in front of the pectorals; tail 

 isocercal (i.e., the vertebra? in a right line and becoming progressively smaller 

 backward) ; pectoral arch suspended from the skull; no mesocoracoid; scapular 

 foramen nearly always between the hypercoracoid and the hypocoracoid, 

 and not in the hypercoracoid as typical in Acanthopteri; air-bladder without 

 open duct. 



A large group, confined mostly to the cold depths of the 

 ocean and to the northern seas; a few fresh water representa- 

 tives. Many of the marine species are among our most im- 

 portant food fishes. 



Family GADID^ 



THE CODFISHES 



Body more or less elongate; tail tapering, coniform; scales small, cycloid; 

 skeleton osseous; vertebrae numerous; ventrals jugular, the pelvic bones 

 loosely attached to the clavicular symphysis by ligament; dorsal fin extending 

 almost length of back, forming 1, 2, or 3 fins; anal long, single or divided; 

 caudal distinct or confluent with dorsal and anal; no spines in any of the fins, 

 all the rays being articulated; no mesocoracoid; hypercoracoid without 

 foramen; gills 4, a slit behind the fourth; gill-membranes separated or some- 

 what united, commonly free from the isthmus;' no pseudobranchise; posterior 

 edge of preopercle usually covered by skin; mouth large, terminal; chin 

 with a barbel; pyloric caeca usually numerous, sometimes few or none; vent 

 submedian; air-bladder generally well developed. 



The cods inhabit chiefly the seas of northern regions; a 

 single genus confined to fresh waters. Genera about 25; species 

 about 140. Many of the species are of great value as food 

 fishes. 



Genus LOTA (Cuvier) Oken 



burbots 



Body long and low, compressed behind; head depressed; anterior nostrils 

 each with a small barbel; chin with a long barbel; gill-openings wide, the 

 rrtembranes free from the isthmus; each jaw with broad bands of equal villi- 



