342 TRICHItTRID^. 



Fam. 15. TRICHIURID^. 



Scomberoidei, pt., Cuv., Miill., Oweti. 



Body elongate and compressed, naked or with minute scales ; eye 

 lateral ; cleft of the month wide, with several strong teeth in the 

 jaws or on the palate. The spinous and the soft portions of the 

 dorsal and the anal elongate and many-rayed ; tail sometimes with 

 finlets ; ventrals thoracic, sometimes rudimentary or entirely absent. 

 No prominent papilla near the vent. Gill-opening wide ; seven 

 (eight) branchiostegals ; pseudobranchise ; an air-bladder ; pyloric 

 appendages in increased number. The abdominal and caudal portions 

 of the vertebral column composed of numerous vertebra?. 



Inhabitants of the seas between the tropics, extending on to those 

 of the temperate regions. 



The structure of the head and of the dentition in these fishes 

 much resembles that of the SphyrcenklcB, whilst they approach the 

 Blenniidce in the structure of the vertical fins. 



Synopsis of the Genera. 

 Ventrals none ; a dagger-shaped spine beliind the vent 1 . Aphanopus. 



Ventrals none or rudimentary ; caudal distinct ; a single 



dorsal 2. Lepidopus. 



Tail tapering, without distinct caudal 3. Trichiurus. 



Ventrals well developed ; finlets none 4. Epinnula. 



Ventrals reduced to a single spine ; finlets none 5. Dicrotus. 



Two to six finlets ; palatine teeth 6. Thyrsites. 



Six finlets ; no teeth on the palate 7. Gempvlus. 



1. APHANOPUS. 



Aphanopus, Lozce, Proc. Zool. Sac. 1839, p. 79. 



Body very elongate, band-like ; cleft of the mouth very wide. 

 Two very long dorsals along aU the back ; caudal well developed ; 

 no trace of ventrals ; anal spines numerous, very feeble ; a strong 

 dagger-shaped spine behind the vent. Scales none. Strong teeth 

 in the jaws, none on the palate. Extremity of the tail stiongly de- 

 pressed. Seven branchiostegals. Air-bladder present. Pyloric 

 appendages in moderate number. 



Sea of Madeira. 



