XXIII PEDICULATI 719 
Fam. 2. Ceratiidae.—Month extremely large, terminal, with 
strong cardiform teeth. Gill-opening in lower axil of pectoral ; 
pseudobranchiae absent. Pectoral fin scarcely geniculated, with 
three pterygials. Ventral fins absent. Spinous dorsal fin 
usually present, sometimes reduced to a sin 
snout. Skin naked. 
The members of this family, about 25 in number, are all 
inhabitants of great depths (300-2600 fathoms). The colour of 
the body is usually a deep black, and the first dorsal spine, on the 
head, may terminate in a luminous bulb with or without 
ole tentacle on the 
fo) 
Fic. 435.—Himantolophus reinhardti, outline and skeleton. (After Liitken.) x1. 
filaments. “The Bathybial Sea-devils,” writes Giinther, “are 
degraded forms of Zophius ; they descend to the greatest depths 
of the ocean. Their bones are of an extremely light and thin 
texture, and frequently other parts of their organisation, their 
integuments, muscles, and intestines are equally loose in texture 
when the specimens are brought to the surface. In their habits 
they probably do not differ in any degree from their surface 
representative, Lophius.” 
Principal genera: Ceratias, Aceratias, Oneirodes, Himantolophus, 
Aegaeonichthys, Melanocetus, Liocetus, Linophryne, Caulophryne, 
Dolopichthys. 
