180 MALACOPTERTGII.— GINGLIMODI. 



Fam. 4. ELOPIDiE. 



Two genera with five species, inhabiting tropical and subtropical seas. 



1. MEGALOPS, Lacep., 1803 ». 



Megalops, Giintli. Cat. Fish. vii. p. 471 (1868). 



Tar2)07i, Jord. & Everm. Bull. U.S. Nat. Mas. xlvii. 1896, p. 109. 



Eody elongate, compressed, covered with large silver}' C5'cloid sc.iles. Lateral line jircsent. Head naked ; 

 moutli large, terminal, the lower jaw prominent ; bands of villiform teeth in the jaws and on the palate 

 and tongue. A gular plate between the rami of the lower jaw. Dorsal fin short, in the middle of the 

 lengt.h of the fish, last ray produced : anal of moderate length ; caudal forked. 



Two species, one from the Indian Ocean, the other from the Atlantic coasts of 

 America. 



1. Megalops atlanticus, Cuv. & Vai., isiG. 



Megalops thrissoides (non 131. Sclm.), Giiuth. Cat. Fish, vii. p. 472 (1868). 



Tarpon atlanticus, Jord. & Evevm. Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus. xlvii. 1896, p. 409, and 1900, fig. 117. 



Hab. Atlantic coasts of America from Long Island to Brazil, entering rivers. 



The Tarpon attains a length of 1800 mm. It has been recorded by Gill and 

 Bransford (Proc. Ac. Philad. 1877, p. 187) from Lake Nicaragua. 



Sub-order IX. GINGLYMODI. 



This sub-order includes only the genus Lepidosteus, unique among fishes in having 

 opisthocoelous vertebra;, and distinguished from other fresh-water fishes of Mexico 

 and Central America by the rugose skull, the hard, rhombic ganoid scales, and the 

 abbreviate heterocercal caudal fin. 



Fam. 1. LEPIDOSTEIDiE. 



1. LEPIDOSTEUS, Lacep., 1803. 



Lepidosteus, Giinth. Cat. Fish. viii. p. 3,28 (1870); Jord. & Everm. Bull, U,S. Nat. i'\lus. xlvii. 



1896, p. 109. 



Body elongate, subcylindrical, covered with bony rhombic scales arranged in oblique scries running dowjiwards 

 and backwards. Jaws elongate, the upper projecting beyond the lower ; teeth conical, in the jaws and on 

 the palate. Dorsal fin short, posterior, nearly opposite the anal ; pectorals placed low ; vcntrals abdominal ; 

 caudal rounded. 



Six or seven species of this genus may be regarded as valid. They inhabit North 

 and Central America. 



* This name has been used for a genus of Staphyliuidai in the Eiol. Centr„-Am, (Coleopt, i. pt. 2), but it has 

 priority in Pisces. 



