ZA: TELEOSTEL CHAP. 
pressed; no scales. A short dorsal fin, without spines, situated 
above the pectorals ; a long anal fin, continuous with the caudal. 
Fia. 481.—Pectoral arch of Podateles indicus. cl, Clavicle ; cor, coracoid ; pelv, pelvis ; 
ptr, pterygial ; ptte, post-temporal ; sc, scapula ; sc/, supraclavicle. 
The genus Podateles (Ateleopus) comprises only two species 
from the deep sea, one from Japan and one from India. 
Division IX.—TAENIOSOMI. 
Exceedingly compressed, more or less elongate, often ribbon- 
like fishes of doubtful affinities, probably related to the earlier 
Acanthopterygians, the ventral fins, when well developed, com- 
prising as many as 7 to 9 rays. Dorsal fin extending from the 
head to the end of the tail, its rays simple (separable into lateral 
halves), the anterior often prolonged; anal fin very short or 
absent. Pectoral fin with horizontal or nearly horizontal base, 
the rays supported by the scapula and by three short pterygials, 
all three, or two at least, of which are related to the coracoid. 
Ribs small and slender, or absent. Post-temporal simple and 
solidly attached to the skull. Scales minute or absent. 
Deep-sea or pelagic fishes from the Atlantic and Mediterranean 
and from the Pacific; the life-histories are still very imperfectly 
known, and great changes of form take place with growth. Only 
two families.’ 
1 On the general structure, anatomy, and metamorphoses, cf. L. Powell, Zr. 1. 
Zeal. Inst. ii. 1878, p. 269; Emery, Atti Acc. Lincet, iii. 1879, p. 390; Liitken, 
Vid. Meddel. 1881, p. 190, and Overs. Vid. Selsk. Skr. 1882, Suppl. p. 21; 
Collett, Forh. Vid. Selsk. Christ. 1883, No. 16; T. J. Parker, Tr. Z. S. xii. 1886, 
p. 5; Smitt, Bih. Foren. Forh. i. 1889, p. 17; A. Meek, Stud. Mus.. Univ. Coll. 
Dundee, i. 1890, No. vi. ; F, Mazza, Int. Monatschr. Anat, xviii. 1901, p. 129, 
