Jordan and Evermann. Fishes of North America. 1 01) 



tin short, rather high, posterior, nearly opposite the anal, which is simi- 

 lar in form ; tail heterocercal, in the young produced as a filament beyond 

 the caudal fin ; caudal convex; ventrals nearly midway between pecto- 

 rals and anal; pectorals and veiitrals moderate, few-rayed. Stomach not 

 cu-cal; pyloric appendages numerous. Spiral valve of intestines rudi- 

 mentary. Fishes of the fresh waters of North America and China, of 

 Hluggish habits, but voracious and destructive to smaller fishes. The flesh 

 is tough and rank, valueless as food. One genus with about 5 species, 

 although more than 40 have been described. These fishes are of much 

 interest to geologists from their relationship to extinct ganoid genera, 

 many of which are usually placed in this family. (LEPiDOSTEiD/E,Gim- 

 theri Cat., vm, 328-331.) 



66. LEPISOSTEUS, Lac^pede. GAR PIKES. 



Lepinottenit, LACICPKDE, Hist. Nat. Poiss., V, 331, 1803, (gavialis = osseus). 

 Cylindronteim, IlAFiNESQUE, Ich. Ohiensis, 72, 1820, (platostomus). 

 Abraetotteus, RAFINESQUE, f.c.,72, (ferox). 

 SirMrus, RAFINESQUE, I. cv 86, (argenteus). 

 s, AGASSIZ, (corrected spelling). 



Upper jaw with an outer series of small, sharp, even teeth, then a 

 series of largo teeth, some of the anterior teeth being usually movable; 

 next comes a series of fine teeth, in one row in front, becoming a band 

 behind-. In some species, the inner row of these teeth contains larger ones ; 

 next the vomerine teeth, also in a long band, and posteriorly a palatine 

 band. These bands on the roof of the mouth are frequently somewhat 

 confluent or irregular. In young specimens some of the palatine teeth are 

 often enlarged, these sometimes forming regular series. Lower jaw with 

 an outer series of small teeth, next a series of large teeth, next again a 

 broad band of fine teeth on each side. Each of the large teeth fitting into 

 a depression in the opposite jaw. Rivers of North America. A single 

 species (L. sinensis, Bleeker) found in China. (AeTn'f, scale; boriov, bone.) 



a. Large teeth of upper jaw in a single row on each side. 

 LEPISOSTEUS: 

 6. Beak loug and slender; the snout more than twice the length of the rest of the head. 



08SEU8, 151. 



CYLINDROSTEUS, (*uAii/(5po?, cylinder; oore'oy, bone) : 



bb. Beak shorter and broader, little longer than rest of head. PLATOSTOMUS, 152. 



ATHACTOSTEUS,* (arpa/cro?, spindle; bo-reav, bone): 

 aa. Large teeth in upper jaw in 2 rows on each side; beak short and broad, not longer than 



rest of head. 



c. Scales in lateral line about 60. TRISTCECHUS, 153. 



cc. Scales larger, those in lateral line 52. TROPICUS, 154. 



Subgenus LEPISOSTEUS. 



151. LEPISOSTEUS OSSEUS, (Linnaeus). 



(LONG-NOSED GAR; BILLFISH; COMMON GAR PIKE.) 



Snout a little more than twice the length of the rest of the head, its 

 length 15 to 20 times its least width. Olivaceous, pale, and somewhat 



*Tlio name LMml^i*, Rafiiii-squc, applied by him to a gigantic gar, LUIiolepis culamantinns, the 

 "Devil-jack Diamond tish," is based 011 a drawing by Audubon, not intended by Audubon to 

 represent any possible fish. 



