FISHES OF THE GULF OF MAINE 



155 



The body is slender, somewhat compressed, deepest at the gill cover and tapering 

 back to a slender caudal peduncle. Tho snout is long and pointed, the mouth wide, 

 gaping back of the eye, and each jaw has two or three fangs and many smaller teeth. 

 The dorsal fin (41 to 44 rays) originates on the nape and occupies the greater length 

 of the back, is rounded in outline, about twice as high as the fish is deep, 

 and can be depressed in a groove. The adipose fin recalls that of the smelt in form 

 and location. The caudal is very deeply forked and, according to Gunther, its 

 upper lobe is prolonged as a long filament, but if this is a constant feature most 

 specimens so far seen have lost it. The anal fin originates under the last dorsal ray, 

 and is deeply concave in outline. The ventrals are about halfway between the 

 anal and the tip of the snout, while the pectorals are considerably longer than the 

 body is deep and are situated very low down on the sides. There are no scales 

 and the fins are described as exceedingly fragile. 



Fig. 64.— Lancetfish (Ahpisaurus ferox) 



Color. — We find no account of its color in life nor have we seen it freshly taken. 



Size. — The collection of the Boston Society of Natural History contains a 

 cast of a specimen about 6 feet long taken off Nova Scotia in August, 1910, ajid 

 this is probably about the maximum size. 



General range. — Widely distributed in the deep waters of the Atlantic. 



Occurrence in the Gulf of Maine. — A specimen brought in by a fisherman from 

 Georges Bank 79 about 1878 or 1879 is its only claim to mention here. Others 

 have been taken on the deep slopes of LaHave Bank and of the more easterly 

 fishing banks. This is a deep-sea species, only casual above 200 fathoms. Noth- 

 ing: is known of its habits. 



THE MUMMICHOGS OR KILLIFISHES. FAMILY PCECILID-E 



The mummichogs are small fishes recognizable by the presence of but one 

 short dorsal fin situated far back and by ventrals situated on the abdomen, com- 

 bined with a small terminal mouth, very thick caudal peduncle, and rounded tail 

 fin. The family is represented by three species in the Gulf of Maine, two of 

 Fundulus and one of Cyprinodon, the former slender and the latter deep in out- 

 line, enough difference in body form to distinguish one from the other at a glance. 



'• No information as to this specimen more definite than this is available. 



