178 PEDICtlLATI. 



Fam. 23. PEDICULATI. 



Pediciilati, Cuv. Bbgnc Anim. edit. 1817. 



Pediculati, pt., Cue. Sf Val. Hist. Nat. Poiss. xii. p. 335. 



Head and anterior part of the body very large, without scales. 

 Teeth in cardiform or villi form bands. The spinous dorsal either 

 composed of a few more or less isolated spines, or entirely absent. 

 Ventrals jugular, with four or five soft rays, absent in Ceratias ; the 

 carpal bones iirolonged, forming a sort of arm for the pectorals. Gill- 

 opening reduced to a small foramen, situated in or near the axil. 

 GiUs two and a half, three, or three and a half ; pseudobranchise 

 absent. 



Carnivorous fishes, inhabiting the seas of the temperate and tro- 

 pical regions. 



Synojjsis of the Genera. 



Head depressed. Six dorsal spines, tliree of which are 



isolated, situated on the head 1 . Lophius. 



Head compressed. Three dorsal spines, the two posterior 

 of wliich are connected by a membrane with each 

 other and with the soft dorsal 2. Braciiioniciitiiys. 



Head compressed. Three dorsal spines, the two anterior 

 of which are connected by a membi-ane, the third 

 being isolated 3. Saccarius. 



Head compressed. Tliree isolated dorsal spines 4. Aktennaeius. 



Head depressed. One dorsal spine (rosti'al tentacle). 



Skin covered with minute spines 5. Chauna.x. 



Head depressed. One dorsal spine (rostral tentacle). 



Skin with conical tubercles. Palate toothed 6. Malthe. 



Head depressed. Palate smooth 7. Halieut^a. 



Ventral fins none 8. Ceratias. 



1. LOPHIUS. 



Lophius, Artedi, Genera, p. 62. 



Head exceedingly large, broad, and depressed ; cleft of the mouth 

 exceedingly wide ; jaws and palate armed with cardiform teeth. 

 Body naked ; bones of the head with many spines. The three an- 

 terior dorsal spines isolated, situated on the head, modified into long 

 tentacles, — the three following spines forming a continuous fin ; the 

 soft dorsal and anal short. GiUs three. Pyloric appendages two. 



Seas of the temperate regions of Europe, North America, Asia, and 

 Africa. 



