422 



TELEOSTEI 



Sob-Tribe A. Without spines, and with pelvic bones some way behind 

 the cleithra. 



Family Ophiocephaudae. "With large suprabranchial cavities, into 

 which project vascular folds from the wall (Fig. 424). Cycloid scales. 

 Channa has lost the pelvic fins. 



Ophiocephalus, Bl. (Fig. 423) ; Asia. Channa, Grom. ; Africa. 



Sub-Tribe B. Labyrinthici. With ctenoid scales, and a more or less 

 spiny border to the opercular bones ; the pelvic bones quite near the 

 cleithra ; and the broad iritergular membrane covered with large scales. 



Into the suprabranchial chamber 

 project thin vascular lamellae sup- 

 ported by bone from the first 

 branchial arch (Fig. 425) (Hen- 

 ninger [209], Cuvier [95], Zograff 

 [514], Day [101]). Spines occur 

 on the anal and dorsal fins. The 

 body is broad and compressed. 

 Family Anabantidae. The 

 ii -^ -vv vascular lamellae are most elabo- 



rate, the pelvic girdle only loosely 

 attached ; the pelvic fins have a 



Fig. 424. 



Ventral view of left half of head of Ophioce- 

 phalus striatus, Bl., from which the lower jaw, 

 etc., have been cut away to expose the gullet and 

 the branchial cavities. 1, accessory branchial 

 cavity into which project respiratory folds ; 2, 

 operculum; 3, branchial cavity; 4, toothed 

 superior pharyngeal plate ; 5, oesophagus. 



Fig. 425. 



Head of Anabas scandens, Dald. (After 

 Cuvier, from Sedgwick's Zoology.) The 

 operculum has been removed to show the 

 excavated superior pharyngeal (pharyngo- 

 branchials). 



spinous and five soft dermal rays, and the cranial bones have a smooth 

 surface forming a complete covering to the head and cheeks. The 

 preopercular is movable, and said to be used in climbing. 



Anabas, Cuv. ; E. Indies, Africa. 



Family Osphromenidae. The cranial bones are more irregularly 

 sunk ; and the pelvic bones point upwards to the cleithra, with which 

 they are closely bound. The pelvic tins are modified ; the outer dermo- 

 trich being excessively long and jointed, while the others become reduced 

 (Fig. 426). The anal fin reaches far forwards. 



Helostoma, K. and H. ; Betta, Blk. ; Osphromenus, Com. ; Trichorjaster, 



