117. FlERASFEKIDiE FIERASFEK. 791 



conical teetli, besides two divergent canines in front; npper jaw with 

 similar teetli iu several series in front, the canines smaller and closer 

 together. Pectorals little longer than eye; insertion of dorsal slightly 

 in front of anal, a little in front of middle of body; rays of vertical tins 

 low and weak, those of caudal most developed ; vent close iu front of 

 anal, which is similar to dorsal. Head 8; depth 14. D. 41; A. SO, L. 

 C inches. Straits of Fuca; burrowing among rocks near low tide-mark. 

 (Jordau & Gilbert, Froc. U. 8. Nat. Mas. iii, IfiSO, 26ii.) 



Family CXVII.— FIERASFERID^. 



Body very elongate, compressed, tai)ering into a long and slender 

 tail. No scales. Teeth cardiform on jaws, vomer, and palatines; canine 

 teeth often present; no barbels; lower jaw included; vent at the throat; 

 gill-membranes more or less united, free from the isthmus; no pseiido- 

 branchiai; no pyloric coeca; vertical fins very low, confluent, without 

 spines; no ventral fins; i)ect oral fins present or absent. Small fishes 

 of the tropical seas, parasitic in shells, of moUusks, in UcMnodenns, etc. 

 Genera 3; species 12. 



{Ophidiidce, groui) Fierasferina Giiuther, iv, 381-384.) 



a. Pectoral fins present ; caudal fiu obsolete Fierasfer, 432. 



432 FIERASFER Cuvier. 



(Cuvier, Regne Anim. ii, 1817 : type Fierasfer imherhis Cuv. = Gymrfotus acus Briiunich. ) 

 No distinct caudal fiu; i)ectoral fins developed. \Fierasfer, the 

 ancient name, from (^nep6<;, sleek and shining.) 



121§. F. dubilis'' Putnam. 



Color, in spirits, uniform light brown, with a short silvery band along 

 the sides of the abdomen, made by confluent spots. Maxillary extend- 

 ing slightly beyond orbit; lower teeth larger than the upper, except 2-4 

 front teeth of upper jaw, which are about equal to lower teeth ; vomer 

 with 3-C teeth, 2 or 3 of these canine-like. Pectoral half head ; vent 

 under base of pectoral. Dorsal fin low, but distinct; anal much more 

 developed thai dorsal; its longest rays about in the middle of the fish. 

 Air bhulder long, slightly constricted behind, (iill-membranes not cov- 

 ering isthmus. Head 7^ ; depth of head 15. {Putnam.) Florida Keys 

 to Cuba and Panama. 



(Carapus laffinis Poey, Syn. Pise. Cub. 1808, 402, not of F. afinix Giinther; Putnam, 

 Proc. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist. 1874, 344.) 



*In the Museum of Comparative Zoology is " one valve of a pearl oyster, in which 

 a specimen of Fierasfer duhiiin is beautifully inclosed iu a pearly covering, deposited 

 on it by the oyster."' {Putnam.') 



