284 



UNDERWATER GUIDE TO MARINE LIFE 



Fig. 161. Southern star gazer. 



Jugular Fishes: Suborders Haplodoci, Xenopterygi, Blennoidei, 

 Ophidioidei, Anacanthini 



Several suborders, listed above, all have one feature in common, the jugular 

 (throat) position of the ventral fins. This position is more concerned with the 

 internal bony support of these fins than with their outward appearance, so it 

 cannot invariably be used as a field character. These suborders are so different, 

 however, in many other respects that they cannot be included in any one 

 suborder (Jugulares) as they were several years ago. Nowadays, the term 

 "jugular fish" is most often used to designate the last order mentioned, the 

 Anacanthini, including the cods and lings. Nevertheless, the general trend of 

 the bony fishes to move the ventral fins forward reaches its culmination in these 

 suborders. The authors believe that these suborders should be grouped under 

 the common name of "jugular fishes" without any single suborder name being 

 set aside for them. Several of the jugular suborders show a tendency to be 

 northern in distribution and somewhat degenerate in form. 



Toadfishes: Suborder Haplodoci 



These are sculpinlike, bottom fishes which lie concealed or buried on sandy, 

 weedy, or rocky bottoms. They may be distinguished by the great reduction of 

 the spiny dorsal fin and by the long, soft anal fin. There is one family of 

 temperate to tropical distribution in North and South America. Some South 

 American species possess poisonous spines. 



TOADFISHES: Family Batrachoididae 



toadfish: O'psanus tau 



Size: Averages 8 to 10 inches. Exception^ally to 15 inches. 



Weight: Exceptionally to 2 pounds. 



Distribution: Maine to the West Indies. Most common from Cape Cod to 

 Cape Hatteras. 



Identification: This fish has no scales and appears to be almost all head. It is a 

 mottled brown and yellow-brown. From the lower lip are hung fleshv tabs, which 

 probably serve to break the outline of the menacing jaws. 



Habits: This is a slugoish fish and is verv common hiding among rocks, weeds, 

 and rubbish, from which vantage it darts quickly out at its prey. Gill (1907) 

 states that toadfishes eat a wide variety of animal food, and it is the authors' 



