174 REPORT OF NEW JERSEY STATE MUSEUM. 
Order HAPLOMI. 
The Pike Like Fishes. 
In some respects this group is intermediate between the Isos- 
pondylous and spiny rayed fishes. Mostly in fresh-water, and 
some forms are remnants of an ancient fauna. 
Key to the families. 
a. Lateral margin of upper jaw formed by maxillaries; premaxillaries not 
protractile. : 
b. Teeth cardiform, unequal; jaws depressed and produced. ESOCID.£ 
bb. Teeth villiform; jaws equal, not produced. UMBRID.2i 
aa. Lateral margin of upper jaw formed by premaxillaries; premaxillaries 
extremely protractile. PCCILIID A: 
Family ESOCIDZ. 
The Pikes. 
Body elongate, not elevated, more or less compressed poste- 
riorly, broad anteriorly. Head long. Snout prolonged and de- 
pressed. Mouth large, its cleft forming about half length of 
head. Upper jaw not protractile, most of its margin formed by 
maxillaries, which are quite long and provided with a supple- 
mental bone. Lower jaw the longer. Premaxillaries, vomer and 
palatines with broad bands of strong cardiform teeth which are 
more or less movable. Lower jaw of strong teeth of different 
sizes. ‘Tongue with a band of small teeth. No barbels. Gill- 
openings very wide. Gill-membranes separate, free from isthmus. 
Gill-rakers tubercle-like. Pseudobranchiz glandular, hidden. 
Branchiostegals 12 to 20. Stomach not ceecal, without pyloric 
appendages. <Air-vessel simple. Basis cranit simple. Head 
naked above. Cheeks and opercles more or less scaly. Scales 
small. Lateral line weak, obsolete in young specimens and devel- 
oped in adult. Dorsal posterior, opposite and similar to anal. 
No adipose fin. Caudal fin emarginate. Pectoral fins small, in- 
serted low. Ventrals rather posterior. 
