CYPBINODONTID^E. C. 251 



SUB - OEDER - H APLOMI. 



(The Toothed Minnows.) 



FAMILY C. CYPRINODONTID^E. 



(The Gyprinodonts.) 



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 (Protistiiis, 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 (Girardinus 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 and slime. 

 * Dorsal fin commencing distinctly before anal ; brancliiostegals 



about 5 FUNDULUS, 1. 



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

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



/. FUNDULUS, Lacepede. KILLIFISHES. 

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

 SPRING MUMMICHOCJ. Sides silvery olive, with twelve 



