576 



CHORD ATA. 



The Ostariophysial families are the SILURID^E (1000 species), 

 or cat-fish, with barbies about the mouth, of which Malapterurus, 



FIG. 603. Salmo solar,* Atlantic salmon. (After Goode.) 



the electric cat of Africa, is most noteworthy. The 

 or carp (1000 species), and the suckers, CATOSTOMID^E, have little 

 food Value. The electric eel of South America belongs to the 

 GYMNONOTI. The other families are true Physostomes. The SAL- 

 MONICA are easily recognized by the 'adipose dorsal/ a fin formed 

 of a fold of skin without fin rays. The trout and salmon (Salmo *) 

 belong here and are among the most important food fishes. 

 Osmerusi* smelt; Coregonus,* white fish; CLUPEID^:, herring, 

 shad; ANGUILLID^;, eels, the breeding habits referred to above. 

 ESOCID^;, pike and pickerel. AMBLYOPSID^E, blind fish of Mam- 

 moth Cave. 



Order II. Paryngognathi. 



In many fishes the inferior pharyngeal bones (i.e., the last 

 rudimentary gill arch) fuse to form a single bone, and these forms 

 are called Pharyngognathi. Some have spiny fins, among the 

 ;, including Ctenolabrus,* the cunners, and Tautoga,* the 



FIG. 604. Ctenolahrus cceruleus,* cunner. (After Goode.) 



tautog. These are placed among the Acanthopteri by American 

 authors. Others have only soft fin rays. These are the Synento- 

 gnathi and include the EXOCCETID^:, or some of the flying fishes, 

 in which the pectoral fins are very large, acting as parachutes 

 when the fish leap from the water. Exocc&tus.* 



