NO. 1782. STRUCTURE AND HABITS OF WOLFFISHES—GILL. 161 



PALEONTOLOGY OF ANARRHICHADIDS. 



The paleontological history of the wolffishes is practically unknown. 

 From the Pliocene Coralline crag of England (Gedgrave in Suffolk) 

 a tooth was obtained which was supposed by E. T. Newton (1891) 

 to be derived from the AnarrJiichas lupus. This is the only fossil 

 that has been recorded. Cranial remains of a cretaceous fish (London 

 clay) named Laparus alticeps by Agassiz (1844) were supposed by 

 that ichthyologist to be related to AnarrJiichas, but according to 

 Woodward (1901) "they exhibit too many differences to be defi- 

 nitely ascribed to the family Blenniidae" and still less to the family 

 Anarrhichadidse. Nothing in fact has been discovered that lessens 

 the gap between the family and others. 



ANARRHICHADOID SUBFAMILIES. 



The characteristics above detailed are manifest under two very 

 distinct types so far as the body (cauditrunk) is concerned, but the 

 head is essentially similar in both. These 

 types may be distinguished as subfamilies — 

 Anarrhichadinse and Anarrhichthyinse. 



In the Anarrhichadinaj (the true wolf- 

 fishes) the body is robust behind and con- 

 trasts with almost all other acanthopterygian 

 fishes in that in the wolffishes the hindmost 

 spines are abbreviated, rigid, and sharp- ' 

 pointed, while all the preceding are flexible 

 at their tips ; the caudal fin is free and nor- 

 mally developed. Only one genus is gener- f,g.6.-blenmusphous,shoul- 

 ally recognized — Anarrliiclias. A second very der girdle (after parker). 

 distinct one (LycichtJiys) is, however, represented by the A. latifrons. 



In another group for which unfortunately we have to use the 

 barbarous name AnarrhicMJiyines (which may be designated in 

 English as wolf-eels), the body is attenuated backwards and eel-like, 

 and the dorsal, as well as anal, is united with the caudal fin; all the 

 dorsal spines are flexible. The only genus, Anarrhichthys, is known 

 from a single species, A. ocellatus or the wolf-eel. 



ANARRHICHADOID GENERA. 



The Anarrhichadines have been referred by all authors to one 

 genus, AnarrJiichas, although two of the four species formerly referred 

 to it were distributed among two subgenera more than a quarter 

 century ago. 



Proc.N.M.voL39— 10 13 



