CHAFPER III. 



FRESH-WATER FISHES OF THE OllDER ANACANTHINI. 



FAMILY GADID^E GENUS LOTA Fresh- water Eepresentatives of the Cod Family The 

 Burbot FAMILY PLEURONECTID^E The Flounder The Sole. 



FAMILY: G A D I D M. 

 GENUS: Lota (CuviER). 



THE Gadida of Dr. Giinther is a family in the order Anacanthini, cha- 

 racterised by having small smooth scales on a more or less elongated body. 

 The genera may have three or two dorsal fins, or one dorsal fin. These fins 

 occupy nearly the whole of the back, and the hindermost dorsal has the rays 

 well developed. There may be one or two successive anal fins, and the different 

 combination of the dorsals and anals, and the degree of separation of these 

 fins from the caudal, furnish an important series of generic characters. 

 The ventral fins are placed in the throat. The development of the ventral 

 fin helps to define many genera. The gill-openings are wide, and the 

 gill-membranes are not attached to the isthmus. There is an air-bladder. 



The family is most characteristic of Arctic and temperate seas, but 

 is common on coasts in Europe and America. 



The only genus met with in the fresh waters of Europe is Lota, of which 

 but one species is known the Common Burbot of which several varieties, 

 differing but slightlv from each other, are met with in the United States 

 and Canada. 



The genus Lota is characterised by having two dorsal fins, one anal 

 fin, a separate caudal fin, narrow ventral fins, composed of six rays, with 

 ten to thirteen rays in the first dorsal. Villiform teeth occur on the jaws 

 and on the vomer. The chin has a barbel. 



Lota vulgaris (CUVIER). The Burbot. 



This fish (Fig. 30) has a wide flattened head, an elongated body, and com- 

 pressed tail. The mandible is shorter than the upper jaw. The upper surface 

 of the head is always slightly arched. The length of the head is one-fifth the 

 total length of the fish. The width of the fish is nearly two- thirds the length 



