410 



FISHES. 



Villiform teeth on the vomer, palatines and the tongue. 

 Vertical fins densely covered with mimite scales. Only one 

 genus is known, Fimelejoterios, with six species from tropical 



seas. These fishes are sometimes 

 found at a great distance from 

 the land. 



Fifth Family — HoPLOGNATHiDiE. 



JBodi/ compressed and elevated, 

 covered with very small ctenoid 

 scales. Lateral line contimwus. 

 The hones of the jaws have a sharp 

 "^ ' dentigerous edge, as in Scarus. 



Fig. 176.— Teeth of Hoplognatlms. y/^g fg^ff^^ ^y ^t all COnspicuOUS, 



heing continuous with the hone, forming a more or less 

 indistinct serrature ; no teeth on the palate. The spinous 

 portion of the dorscd Jin is rather more developed than the soft ; 

 the spines strong ; anal with three spines, similar to the soft 

 dorsal. Ventrcds thoracic, with one spine and five soft rays. 



One genus only is known, Hoplognathus, with four species 

 from Australian, Japanese, and Peruvian coasts. 



Sixth Family — Cirkhitid^. 



Body ohlong, compressed, covered with cycloid scales ; lateral 

 line continuous. . Mouth in front of the snout, ivith lateral 

 cleft. Eye lateral, of moderate size. Checks without a hony stay 

 for tlie prcEoperculum. Generally siv, sometimes five or three 

 hranchiostegals. Dentition more or less complete, composed of 

 small pointed teeth, sometimes luith the addition of canines. 

 One dorsal fin, formed hy a spinous and soft portion, of nearly 

 equal development. Anal with three spines, generally less 

 developed than the soft dorsal. The lower rays of the pectoral 

 hns simple and generally enlarged ; ventrals thoracic, hut remote 

 from the root of the pectorals, with one spine and' five rays. 



