UNICORN AND RIBBON FISH 



2785 



The small fish {Luciocephalus pulcher) from the fresh waters of the 

 Malay Archipelago, shown in the accompanying illustration, is the 

 sole representative of the second family of the labyrinth-gilled group, which differs 

 from the first in the absence of spines from both the dorsal and anal fins. The spe- 

 cies derives its name from the produced muzzle and general pike-like form of the 

 head; and has its elongate body covered with moderate-sized scales, and traversed 



PIKE HEAD. 

 (Natural size.) 



by a continuous lateral line. The teeth are small, and the gill openings wide. The 

 single spineless dorsal fin is very short and placed far back on the body; the pel vies 

 consist of one spine and five rays, one of the latter being elongated; and the tail fin 

 is rounded. There is no air bladder. Nothing is known with regard to the life 

 history of this prettily marked fish. 



UNICORN AND RIBBON FISH Families LOPHOTID^ and TRACHTPTERID^ 



Agreeing in their ribbon-shaped bodies, and also in the extension of the dorsal 

 fin from the head to the end of the tail, the unicorn and ribbon fishes are thereby 

 easily distinguished from all the preceding forms, although they differ so much 

 from one another as to be entitled to form distinct families, each of which is re- 

 garded by Dr. Giinther as representing a sectional group. 



The single representative of the first family (Lophotes cepedianus) 

 differs from the whole of the members of the subclass hitherto de- 

 scribed, in that the vent is situated at the hinder extremity of the body, close to the 

 tail, with a small anal fin immediately behind it. The pelvic fins are very minute, 

 and thoracic in position; the caudal is also small and rounded; the mouth is incapa- 

 ble of protrusion; teeth are present on the jaws, palatines, and vomers; and there 

 is an air bladder. The most striking peculiarity about this strange fish is the eleva- 

 tion of the crown of the head into a high crest, surmounted by an exceedingly-long 

 and recurved spine forming the commencement of the dorsal fin. The bones and 



