MASTERS OF THE WATER-BONY FISHES 



289 



WRY MOUTHS: Family Cryptocanthodidae 



These are arctic and north temperate fishes which are very eelHke and which 

 lack both ventral fins and lateral line. The tail fin is joined to the dorsal and 

 anal fins. The gill openings are large, a characteristic which separates wry 

 mouths from true eels. 



WRY mouth: Cryptocanthodes macidatus 



Size: Up to 3 feet. 



Distribution: South to Cape Cod, straggling to New York. 



Identification: Same as for the family. 



Habits: This is a heavy-jawed fish which feeds on the larger invertebrates and 

 fishes, which it probably ambushes. It lives at the bottom, particularly in mud, 

 in branching burrows. 



WOLF FISHES: Family Anarhichodidae 



These are the largest blennoid fishes. They are of northern distribution in the 

 Atlantic and Pacific and of eellike appearance. The jaws are large, extremely 

 powerful, and armed with an impressive array, of teeth, pointed in the front 

 of the mouth and molarlike in the rear. There are no ventral fins. These are 

 extremely voracious fishes which can be very dangerous to handle. 



COMMON WOLF FISH: Anavhichas liifus 



Size: Up to 5 feet. 



Weight: Up to 30 pounds. 



Distribution: South to Cape Cod, straggling to New Jersey. 



Identification: The body is crossed by nine to twelve dark bars. 



Fig. 166- Wry month. 



Fig- 167- Common wolf fsh. 



