﻿THE LIFE HISTORY OF THE ANGLER 



By THEODORE GILL 



One of the most interesting and remarkable fishes of the North 

 Atlantic is that whose cognomen in books is angler, but which has 

 received a number of true vernacular names in the countries border- 

 ing the waters in which it lives ; it is scientifically known as Lophius 

 piscatorhts. It is the best known representative of a large group 

 (order or suborder) of fishes named Pediculates. The essential 

 characteristics of this group may be first indicated. 



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In almost all osseous fishes there are four bones (actinosts) set 

 apart for the base of each of the pectoral fins, and these are generally 

 short and imbedded in the flesh so that the pectoral fins appear to rise 

 directly from the sides of the body close behind the head. In some 

 remarkable forms, however, which in most respects agree with 

 the Acanthopterygians, the pectorals originate from arm-like bases 

 resulting from the elongation of the actinosts after their reduction 

 in number to three or even two; these form pseudobrachia or false 

 arms. With this character is associated the reduction of the branchial 

 apertures to narrow foramina in the axils of the pectoral fins, or 

 rather their supports or " pseudobrachia." The usual headbones are 

 not manifest externally, being covered by the skin, but almost all 

 are present, though much modified. There are, however, no sub- 

 orbital bones. There are soft dorsal, anal, and caudal fins presenting 

 no unusual features, but the spinous or first dorsal is more or less 

 modified, one tendency being the production and recumbency of the 

 foremost interspinal bone on the front of the head, and the conse- 

 quent position of the ray over or near the snout, and' in one genus 

 (Malthe) this tendency is carried to such an extreme that, the fore- 

 head being horizontally extended, the dorsal ray is rooted under 

 the snout! The ventral fins, when present, are "jugular," but in 

 one polymorphous family (Ceratiids) there are none. The order, 

 according to the best recent authorities, includes five families— 

 Lophiids, Antcnnariids, Ceratiids, Gigantactids and Malthids. It 

 is the first that is typified by the angler. 



The family of Lophiids, or anglers, is distinguished for its large 

 and much depressed head, the mouth directed upwards, the bran- 



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