FISHES 



217 



Some rays are peculiar in having an electrical organ in 

 the body that is capable, in the larger ones, of generating 

 enough electricity to disable a man. It is probable that 

 this is usetl in catching prey and in defending themselves 

 from enemies. Other rays have long 

 spines on their tails with which they can 

 inflict serious wounds. These are the 

 sting rays (Fig. 152). 



The sawfishes, which belong to the 

 ray family, have long, sharklike bodies 

 with the snout prolonged into a flat, 

 horny blade beset with teeth on each 

 side (Fig. 153). This saw varies from 

 four to six feet in length and ten to 

 twelve inches in width. It constitutes 

 a formidable weapon against its enemies. 

 The sawfishes are found off the coast 

 of Florida and in tropical seas farther 

 south. 



Sturgeons, gar pike, etc. — The orders 

 of fishes represented by the sturgeons, 

 gar pike, spoonbill catfish, and bowfin 

 seem to stand between the sharks and 

 rays on the one hand and the bony fishes 

 on the other. These few fishes, known 

 as the ganoids, are the remnants of a 

 host of similar fishes that lived in the 

 Devonian and Carboniferous ages. They are notable for 

 tlie bony plates that arm the outside of the body instead 

 of the flexible scales on the bonj^ fishes. Also for the 

 lunglike structure and function of the air bladder. The air 

 bladder in these fishes is connected with the gullet by an 



Fig. 153. — San- of a 

 sawfish. 



