376 



TELEOSTEI 



SUB-FAMILY 3. COBITIDINAE : The Loaches. Botia, Gray ; E. Indies. 

 Misgurnus, Lac. ; Cobitis, Art. Europe and Asia. Acanthopsis, van H. ; 

 Apua, Blyth E. Indies. 



SOB-FAMILY 4. HOMALOPTEUINAE. Homaloptera, van H. ; Helgia, Vin. ; 

 Glaniopsis, Blgr. ; Gastromyzon, Gthr. Asia. 



Family GYMNOTIDAE. This family has undergone great specialisation. 



Fiu. 301. 

 Catostomus occidentalis, Ayres. (From Jordan 



id Evormann.) 



These fish acquire an eel-like body, cohered with cycloid scales or naked. 

 The dorsal fin disappears or reinains- ; only as an adipose strip. The 

 caudal region is much elongated, and also the anal fin ; the caudal is 



FIG. 302. 

 Cyprinus carpio, L M the Carp. (From Seeley, Freshwater FisJies of Europe.) 



reduced or absent. The small mouth is frequently borne at the end of n 

 long snout A shortening of the abdominal cavity takes place, accom- 

 panied by the shifting forward of the anus even to below the snout. 

 The gill-opening is reduced in size. 



The Electric Eel (Gymnotus electricus) has a powerful electric organ 

 formed by the modification of the myotomes along the caudal region ; it 



