HARPAGIFERIDAE S3 



very variable; body usually with dark blotches or irregular cross-bars; fins mostly 

 with small dark spots, often united to form narrow bars. 



Hab. Graham Land ; South Shetlands ; South Orkneys ; South Georgia ; Straits of 

 Magellan; Patagonia; Falkland Islands; Marion Islands; Crozets; Kerguelen; Mac- 

 quarie Island. 



Fig. 32. Harpagifer bispinis . xi. 



In addition to the specimens listed above, this description is based upon a large 

 series of examples, up to 100 mm. in total length, in the British Museum collection, 

 and a number of others in the collection of the B.A.N.Z. Antarctic Research Expedition. 

 Schneider's Batrachiis bispinis was based upon the MS. notes and drawing of Forster 

 (MS IV, 45) of a specimen from the Straits of Magellan. The type of Harpagifer pallio- 

 latus, 70 mm. in total length, is from the Falkland Islands. 



This is mainly a littoral species, occurring in tide pools and under rocks and stones ; 

 it is also found in the "kelp" in shallow water. 



Family BATHYDRACONIDAE 



Closely related to the Nototheniidae and Harpagiferidae, but with the head more 

 or less depressed and the snout usually produced; mouth usually non-protractile; 

 palatine elongate, without lateral ethmoid attachment ; gill-membranes attached to the 

 isthmus or forming a fold across it. No spinous dorsal fin. 



Eight genera, all confined to the Antarctic Zone. 



Key to the Genera 



I. Body scaly or with serrated bony plates; snout spatulate; teeth villiform or cardiform, in 

 bands, without canines. 



A. Body without serrated bony plates; lateral line usually complete, but always extending 

 at least as far as middle of dorsal. 



1. A single lateral line, running to or towards middle of base of caudal fin. 



I. Bathydraco. 



2. Two or three lateral lines (at least in adult), the upper always present and running 

 near base of dorsal fin. 



a. Two lateral lines, a long upper one, and a short lower one placed above base 

 of anal fin ; snout narrow, more than twice as long as eye ; dorsal with 45 to 47 

 rays, anterior part of fin not elevated; caudal emarginate 2. Gerlachea. 



