PISCES. 121 



Symbranchus (Synbranchus BLOCH), Unibranchapertura LACEP. 

 Common branchial aperture, transverse or oval, not divided by a 

 septum. Orifice of nostrils (single on both sides) above the eye. 

 Dorsal and anal fins remote, confluent at the apex of tail. (Bran- 

 chiostegous membrane with six rays. Teeth obtuse.) 



Sp. Symbranchus marmoratus BLOCH, Icktk. Tab. 418, from Surinam, &c. 



Alabes Guv. 



NOTE. Genus unknown to me. The characters of Symbranchus, from 

 which it differs in having pectoral fins, and only 3 rays of branchiostegous 

 membrane. 



Family XXIV. Murcenoidei. Pectoral belt annexed to spi- 

 nal column behind the head. Superior margin of mouth formed 

 by intermaxillary bones alone ; rudiment of supramaxillary bone 

 covered by muscles. Pyloric appendages none. Swimming-bladder 

 furnished with retia mirdbilia of vessels and with duct. Ovaries 

 without oviduct. 



Sphagebranchus BL. Apertures of branchiae approximate under 

 the throat. Pectoral fins small or none. Dorsal fin remote ; some- 

 times no fins. Eyes often very small. 



Sp. Sphagebranchus rostratus BLOCH, Ichth. Tab. 419, Syst. IcJith. Tab. 103, 

 fig. i this species has no pectoral fins, neither has the East Indian species 

 described by VAHL under the name of Ccecula pterygera ; STcrivter of natur. 

 Selslcabet, in. 2, 1794, Tab. 13, figs, i, -2. 



There is a species which is also destitute of both dorsal and anal fin, 

 consequently is entirely without fins. From this DUMERIL forms his genus 

 Apterichthus. Murcena cceca L., LA ROCHE Ann. du Mus.xiu. PI. -21, fig. 6. 

 The small eyes are concealed beneath the skin ; this fish lives in the Medi- 

 terranean Sea. 



Saccopharynx MITCHILL, Ophiognathus HAKWOOD. Body com- 

 pressed, with abdominal sac ample, terminated by a long filiform 

 tail. Anal and dorsal fins depressed, longitudinal. Pectoral fins 

 small. Branchial aperture gaping forwards under pectoral fins. 

 Gape of mouth large. Eyes small, placed at the extremity of upper 

 jaw. 



Sp. Ophiognathus ampuUaceus HABWOOD Philos. Transact, for 1827, Part i. 

 pp. 4 g 57^ pi. 7. This singular fish is taken in the Atlantic Ocean. The 

 size of the specimen described by HABWOOD was 4^ feet ; there was a single 

 row of teeth, pointed and bent backwards in both jaws. Compare also 

 MITCHILL, Description, of an extraordinary fish, Annals of the Lyceum of 

 New York, i. 1824, pp. 8286. 



