EDIBLE FISHES OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 149 



Order \\.— AN AC ANTRIM I. 



All the fin rays (except in Gadopsis) articulated : ventral fins, when 

 present, jugular or thoracic. Airbladder, when present, without pneumatic 

 duct. 



Group I.— ANACAXTHINI GADOIDEI. 



Both sides of the head symmetrical. 



Family I.-GADOPSID^. 



A portion of the dorsal and anal fins formed by true spines : ventrals 

 jugular. Gill-openings wide. 



Referring to the position of this unique Anacanth, Gilnthcr writes: — 

 "Before entering into an account of the true Gadid fishes we must inter- 

 calate the type of a separate family, which, although having every character 

 of a Gadid, has true spines in the dorsal and anal fins, thus forming a 

 connecting link between the Acanthopterygians and Malacopterygians. 

 The structure of the dorsal fin, the presence of pyloric appendages, &c., 

 prevent its being placed among the Blenniids." 



One genus only. 



Genus.— GADOPSIS. 



Gadopsis, Richards. Yoy. Erebus & Terror, Fish. p. 122, 1846. 



Branchiostegals six : pseudobranchiae present, glandular. Body moderately 

 elongate, compressed. Snout of moderate extent, obtuse, with the upper 

 jaw overlapping the lower. Cleft of mouth of moderate width. Gills four, 

 with a narrow slit behind the fourth : gill-openings wide : gill-membranes 

 not united. Both jaws with a band of small cardiforui teeth, and an outer 

 enlarged series of conical ones : small teeth on the vomer and palatine 

 bones: tongue edentulous. One dorsal fin, the spinous portion not so long 

 as the rayed : anal spines three : ventrals jugular, composed of a single bifid 

 ray : caudal free. Scales very small, eyelid. Airbladder present. Pyloric 

 appendages in moderate numbers. 



Geographical distribution. — Temperate Australia and Tasmania; fresh 

 waters only. 



GADOPSIS MARMOEATUS. 



Gadojjsis marmoratus. Richards. Vov. Erebus & Terror, Eish. d. 122, pi. 



lix. ff. 6-11, 1846; Gnth. Catal. Eish. iv. p. 318; Casteln. Proc. 



Zool. Soc. A^ict. 1S72. i. p. 160 : Macleav, Catal. Austr. Fish. ii. p. 112; 



Johnston, Proc. Roy. Soc. Tas. 1882, pp"! 60, 124; Woods, Fisher. N.S. 



Wales, p. 105. 

 Gadopsis gracilis, McCoy, Prodr. Zool. Vict. dec. iii. pi. 27, f. 2. 

 Gadopsis gihhosus, McCoy, Prodr. Zool. Vict. dec. iii. 



Marbled River Cod. 



B. vi. D. 10-13/ 28-25. A. 3/17-19. Y. 1. P. 15. C. 16. Yert. 18/28. 



Length of head 4-50-5-00, of caudal fin 6-10-6-60, height of body o'SO- 

 6-25 in the total length. Diameter of eye 4-80-5-20 in the length of the 

 head, and 1"83-1*50 in that of the snout : interorbital space slightly 

 convex, 1"10-1'30 in the length of the head. Upper profile of head slightly 



