EDIBLE PISHES OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 149 



Order 11.— AN AC ANTHIN I. 



All the fiu rays (except in Gadopsis) articulated : ventral fins, when 

 present, jugular or thoracic. Airbladder, when present, without pneumatic 

 duct. 



Group I.— ANACANTHINI GADOIDEI. 



Both sides of the head symmetrical. 



Family I.-GADOPSID^. 



■ A portion of the dorsal and anal fins formed by true spines : ventrals 

 jugular. Gill-openings wide. 



Referring to the position of this unique Anacanth, Giinther writes: — 

 "Before entering into an account of the true Gadid fishes we must inter- 

 calate the type of a separate family, which, although having every character 

 of a Gadid, has true spines in the dorsal and anal fins, thus forming a 

 connecting link between the Acanthopterygians and Malacopterygians. 

 The structure of the dorsal fin, the presence of pyloric appendages, &c., 

 prevent its being placed among the Blenniids." 



One genus only. 



Genus.— GADOPSIS. 



Gadopsis, Eichards. Yoy. Erebus & Terror, Eish. p. 122, 184G. 



Branchiostegals six : pseudobranchia? present, glandular. Body moderately 

 elongate, compressed. Snout of moderate extent, obtuse, with the upper 

 jaw overlapping the lower. Cleft of mouth of moderate width. Gills four, 

 with a narrow slit behind the fourth : gill-openings wide : gill-membranes 

 not iiuited. Both jaws with a band of small cardiform teeth, and an outer 

 enlarged series of conical ones : small teeth on the vomer and palatine 

 bones: tongue edentulous. One dorsal fin, the spinous portion not so long 

 as the rayed : anal spines three : ventrals jugular, composed of a single bifid 

 ray : caudal free. Scales very small, eyelid. Airbladder present. Pyloric 

 appendages in moderate numbers. 



Geographical distribution. — Temperate Australia and Tasmania; fresh 

 waters only. 



GADOPSIS MARMORATUS. 



Gadopsis marmoratus. Richards. Vov. Erebus & Terror, Eish. r). 122, pi. 



lix. fe. 6-11, 1846; Gnth. Catal. Eish. iv. p. 318; Casteln. Proc. 



ZooL Soc. Vict. 1872, i. p. 160 ; Macleay, Catal. Austr. Eish. ii. p. 112; 



Johnston, Proc. Roy. Soc. Tas. 1882, pp. 60, 124 ; Woods, Eisher. N.S. 



Wales, p. 105. 

 Gadopsis gracilis, McCoy, Prodr. Zool. Vict. dec. iii. pi. 27, f. 2. 

 Gadopsis gihhosus, McCoy, Prodr. Zool. Vict. dec. iii. 



Marbled River Cod. 



B. vi. D. 10-13/ 28-25. A. 3/17-19. V. 1. P. 15. C. 16. Vert. 18/28. 



Length of head 4-50-5-00, of caudal fin 6" 10-6-60, height of body o'SO- 

 6'25 in the total length. Diameter of eye 4'80-5'20 in the length of the 

 head, and 1'33-1'50 in that of the snout : interorbital space slightly 

 convex, 1"10-1'30 in the length of the head. Upper profile of head slightly 



