CYPRINODONTHLE. C. 251 



SUB - OEDER HAPLOML 



(The Toothed Minnows.) 



FAMILY C. CYPRINODONTID^E. 



(TJie Cyprinodonts.) 



Head and body scaly; no barbels; margin of upper 

 jaw formed by intermaxillaries only; teeth in both jaws 

 and on pharyngeals well developed; dorsal fin far back; 

 caudal usually rounded; no adipose fin; lateral line rudi- 

 mentary; air bladder simple; no pyloric cceca; head 

 more or less flattened above, the lower jaw usually 

 longer; sexes commonly unlike, the female larger; anal 

 of male often modified into a sword - shaped intromittent 

 organ; chiefly viviparous. 



Small fishes of fresh or brackish waters in both con- 

 tinents; most abundant in warm regions. Genera twenty- 

 five; species one hundred and twenty. A recently dis- 

 covered Cyprinodont (Protistius, Cope.) from S. A. is 

 said to have a rudimentary spinous dorsal fin, indicating a 

 close relationship between this family and the Percesoces. 



Our numerous species are not well known, and the 

 current genera are but indifferently characterized. One 

 species ( Girardinm formosus) from S. C. and Florida is 

 said to be the smallest known vertebrate. The species 

 here mentioned are carnivorous surface swimmers; many 

 southern species feed on mud arid slime. 



* Dorsal fin commencing distinctly before anal ; brancliiostegals 

 about 5 FUNDULUS, 1. 



** Dorsal fin short, commencing behind or opposite the elongate 

 anal ; branchiostegals about 3. . . ZYGONECTES, 2. 



/. FUHDULUS, Lacepede. KILLIFISHES. 

 1. F. diaphanus, (Les.) Ag. BARRED KILLIFISH. 

 SPRING MUMMICHO&. Sides silvery olive, with twelve 



