368 The Apodes, or Eel-like Fishes 
blunt nose, and burrows its way into the bodies of halibut and 
other large fishes. It has been found in Newfoundland and 
Fiq. 272.—Pug-nosed Eel, Simenchelys parasiticus Gill. Sable Island Bank. 
Madeira. Another family possessing rudimentary scales is that 
of the Synaphobranchide, slender eels of the ocean depths, widely 
distributed. In these forms the gill-openings are confluent. 
Synaphobranchus pinnatus is the best-known species. 
Fic. 278.—Synaphobranchus pinnatus (Gronow). Le Have Bank. 
Conger-eels. — The Leptocephalide, or conger-eels, are very 
similar to the fresh-water eels, but are without scales and with 
a somewhat different mouth, the dorsal beginning nearer to the 
head. 
The principal genus is Leptocephalus, including the common 
conger-eel (Leptocephalus conger) of eastern America and Europe 
and numerous very similar species in the tropics of both con- 
tinents. These fishes are strictly marine and, reaching the 
length of five or six feet, are much valued as food. The eges 
are much larger than those of the eel and are produced in great 
numbers, so that the female almost bursts with their numbers. 
Dr. Hermes calculated that 3,300,0c0 were laid by one female 
in an aquarium. ; 
These eggs hatch out into transparent band-like larva, with 
very small heads formerly known as Leptocephalus, an ancient 
name which is now taken for the genus of congers, having 
