72 H aw aiian F is h e s 



Dojo or Weather-fish 



37-1 Misgurnus anguiliicaudatus (Cantor) 

 The body of this loach is brownish in color and is covered with darker 



brownish spots, including a black spot at the base of the tail. The fish 



will reach a length of ten inches, although most of them seldom exceed 



five inches in length. 



The dojo is an inhabitant of the weeds and mud of fresh water ponds 



and streams. It is found commonly in the streams about Honolulu and 



probably elsewhere in the Islands. 



The dojo is native to the lowlands of China, Korea, Japan, and 



Formosa and was probably introduced into the Hawaiian Islands from 



this area. 



THE SEA CAT-FISH FAMILY 



38 Family Tachysuridae (Ariidae) 



The sea catfishes are sleek, silvery fishes which are covered with a 

 smooth skin. They reach a fair size and are often seen in sandy bottoms. 



The sea cats are not valued as food because their flesh is reported to 

 be tough and coarsely flavored. It is also reported that pelicans and other 

 sea birds which devour these fish are often killed by the sudden erection 

 of the pectoral spines. 



The males exhibit a curious habit. They receive the eggs which are 

 about as large as a pea into their mouth and there carry them until they 

 hatch. 



They are most common in the tropical seas but are found in neither 

 Europe nor Japan. 



Only one member of this family is known from Hawaiian waters. 



Sea Cat-fish 



38-1 T achy sums dasycephalus (Gunther) 

 There is some doubt in the minds of fish experts whether the single 

 specimen reported from the Hawaiian Islands actually came from this area. 

 Since no other members of the family occur here, Gunther 's record is 

 probably from an American specimen. 



THE HORNED POUT OR CHANNEL CAT FAMILY 



39 Family Ameiuridae 

 This family of cat fishes is a large group which lives in the rivers and 

 warm waters of North America, South America, and Africa. They are 



