MUGIL. 427 



MUGILID.E. 



Mouth protractile, the maxillaries excluded from the oral border; teeth minute 

 or absent. Body covered with cycloid or ctenoid scales. Praecaudal vertebrae with 

 strong parapophyses, bearing the ribs; epipleurals inserted on the ribs. Pectoral fins 

 inserted high up ; ventral fins more or less approximated to the pectorals, with 

 one spine and five soft rays ; pelvic bones suspended from the post-clavicles. Two 

 well-separated dorsal fins, the anterior formed of a small number of pungent spines. 

 Air-bladder present. 



These fishes are closely related to the preceding, of which they are a further 

 specialisation, the pharyngeal bones having a complicated structure, much restricting 

 the oesophageal opening, and the vertebrae being reduced in number (24 to 26 instead 

 of 32 to 60). They feed on organic matter contained in mud, and in accordance with 

 this regime the intestinal canal is very elongate and forms numerous convolutions. 

 Each branchial arch is furnished with very closely set gill-rakers, which are bent 

 inwards and form with similar appendages on the mucous membrane of the pharynx 

 a sifting-apparatus by which the mucl and small organisms absorbed in the mouth are 

 prevented from reaching the gills. The branchiostegal rays are 5 or 6 in number. 

 These fishes inhabit the fresh waters and coasts of the temperate and tropical regions, 

 the known species numbering about one hundred. 



The genus Mugil is represented on the Mediterranean coast of Egypt, two or three 

 species entering fresh waters. 



1. MUGIL. 



Artedi, Gen. Pise. p. 32 (1738) ; Giinther, Cat. Fish. iii. p. 409 (1861) ; 

 Boulenger, Poiss. Bass. Congo, p. 352 (1901). 



Mouth small, transverse, with minute setiform teeth ; a more or less distinct knob 

 at the symphysis of the lower jaw. Body elongate, feebly compressed, covered, like 

 the head, with large scales the edge of which is finely denticulate ; a scaly process 

 on each side of the base of the anterior dorsal fin ; no lateral line, but most of the 

 scales bearing in the centre a pit or short open canal. Anterior dorsal fin with 



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