OPHIDIID^. 547 



Five species of small size from the Tropical Atlantic and 

 Indian Ocean. 



Lucifuga are Brotula organised for a subterranean life. 

 The eye is absent, or quite rudimentary, and covered by the 

 skin ; the barbels of Brotula are replaced by numerous minute 



Fig. 250. — Lucifuga dentata, from caves in Cuba. 



ciliae or tubercles. They inhabit the subterranean waters of 

 caves in Cuba, and never come to the light. 



Bathynectes. — Body produced into a long tapering tail, 

 without caudal. Mouth very wide, villiform teeth in the jaws, 

 on the vomer and palatine bones. Barbel none. Ventral fins 

 reduced to simple or bifid filaments, placed close together, and 

 near to the humeral symphysis. Gill-membranes not united ; 

 gill-laminte remarkably short. Bones of the head soft and 

 cavernous ; operculum with a very feeble spine above. 



Deep-sea fishes, inhabiting depths varying from 1000 to 

 2500 fathoms. Three species are known, the largest specimen 

 obtained being seventeen inches long. 



AcANTHONUS. — Head large and thick, armed in front and on 

 the opercles with strong spines ; trunk very short, the vent being 

 below the pectoral ; tail thin, strongly compressed, taj^ering, 



Fig. 251. — Acanthonus armatus. 



without caudal. Eye small. Mouth very wide ; villiform teeth 

 in the jaws, on the vomer and palatine bones. Barbel none. 



