156 



THE FAUNA OF THE DEEP SEA 



the abysmal zone, but they do not possess any 

 features that call for special mention in this place. 



FiG.2l.—Melanocetvs3Itirrat/i,l,SoO-2,i50i<ithoms. (After Giinther, 



The family Ophidiidae contributes very largely to 

 the fish fauna of the abyss. Some of the deep-water 

 genera, such as Neohythites^ have a wide bathy- 

 metrical distribution extending from 100 fathoms to 

 depths of over 2,000 fathoms, but others, such as 

 Bathyonus, Typhonus, and Aphyomis, only occur in 

 depths of over 1,000 fathoms. 



The body is usually elongate and slender, ending 

 in a pointed tail, the head large and heavy, and the 

 eyes, in the genera confined to the abysmal zone, 

 usually so far degenerated that they are not visible at 

 all from the outside. 



The Macrurida3 form a family that contributes 



