THE FISHES OF NEW JERSEY. 53 
Odontaspis americanus Abbott, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 
1861, p. 400.—Abbott, Geol. N. J., 1868, p. 828, from same 
example. 
Family ALOPIIDZE. 
The Thresher Sharks. 
Body moderately elongate. Snout rather short. Mouth cres- 
cent-shaped. Teeth equal in both jaws, moderate-sized, flat, tri- 
angular, and not serrated. Third tooth of upper jaw on each 
side much smaller than others. Gill-openings moderate, last 
above root of pectoral. Spiracles just behind eye, minute or 
absent. First dorsal large, midway between pectorals and ven- 
trals. Second dorsal and anal very small. <A pit at root of 
caudal and a notch on upper lobe near its tip. No caudal keel. 
Ventrals rather large. Pectorals very large, falcate. 
A single species in most seas. 
Genus Atoptas Rafinesque. 
The Thresher Sharks. 
Alopias vulpes (Gmelin). 
Thresher Shark. Fox Shark. 
This shark may easily be known at sight from any of our 
fishes by the long tail. 

Thresher Shark. Alopias vulpes (Gmelin). 
It is included on Dr. Abbott’s authority, who states it to be 
abundant and frequently taken on hooks baited for other fish. 
I have never seen or heard of any New Jersey examples. 
Aloptas vulpes Abbott, Geol. N. J., 1868, p. 828. 
