XXII PERCESOCES 645 
tants of fresh waters and are carnivorous. Only two genera 
a 
are known: Ophiocephalus, with about 25 species from Eastern 
Asia and 3 from Tropical Africa, and Channa, distinguished by 
the absence of ventral fins, with 3 species from Ceylon and China. 
Fic. 394.—Distribution of the Ophiocephalidae. 
Fam. 12. Anabantidae.— Differ from the preceding, to which 
they are closely related, in having part of the dorsal and anal 
fins and the outer ventral ray spinous, and a shorter, Perch- 
like body covered with ctenoid scales. The accessory super- 
branchial organ is still more developed, with thin bony laminae, 
which are more or less folded and covered with a mucous 
membrane. These Fishes can live a long time out of water, and 
the name Anabas scandens, or Climbing Perch, recalls the fact 
that its first observers in India ascribed to it the habit of 
climbing up low trees by means of the spines with which its gill- 
Fic. 395,—Distribution of the Anabantidae. 
