370 OPHIDIIDiE. 



Fam. 4. OPHIDIID.E. 



Gadoidei, pt., et Malacopterygii apodes, pt., Cuvier. 

 Ophidini et Aminodytidje; Milller, Owen. 



Body more or less elongate, naked or scaly. Vertical fins generally 

 united into one ; no separate anterior dorsal or anal ; dorsal occupying 

 the greater portion of the back. Ventral fins rudimentary (reduced 

 to a filament) or absent, jugular (except in Brotulophis). Gill-open- 

 ings wide, the gill-membranes not attached to the isthmus. Pyloric 

 appendages none, or in small number. 



Inhabitants of the seas of nearly all regions. 



Synopsis of the Choups and Oenera. 

 First Group : Brotulina. 

 Ventral fins present, attached to the humeral arch. 



Snout with barbels; eye of moderate size 1. BrotuiiA, p. 371. 



Eye none, or quite rudimentary 2. Lucifuga, p. 372. 



Barbel none ; lateral line continuous, simple ; 



canine teeth none 3. Sirembo, p. 373. 



Body naked ; a pair of canine teeth superiorly 



and inferiorly .. 4. Xiphogadus, p. 374. 



Cauxialfre© 5. Dinematichthys, p. 374. 



Barbel none ; lateral line interrupted 6. Bythites, p. 375. 



Barbel none ; lateral line double along a por- 

 tion of the tail 7. Pteridium, p. 375. 



{Appendix:.) — Ventrals opposite the pectoral ; 

 vomerine teeth none 8. Brotulophis, p. 376. 



Second Chroup : Ophidiina. 



Ventral fins replaced by a pair of bifid filaments (barbels) inserted 

 below the glossohyal. 



Palatine teeth smaU 9. Ophidium, p. 376. 



An outer series of strong teeth in the jaws and 



on the palatine bones 10. Genypterus, p. 379. 



Third Group : Fierasferina. 

 No ventral fins whatever ; vent at the throat. 



Pectoral fins present 11. Fierasfer, p. 381. 



Pectoral fins none 12. Encheliophis, p. 384. 



Fourth Group : Ammodytina. 



No ventral fins whatever ; vent remote from the head ; gill-open- 

 ings very wide, the gill-membranes not being united. 



Skin with longitudinal folds 13. Ammodytes, p. 384. 



Scales of moderate size 14. Bleekeria, p. 387. 



