S6o TELEOSTEI chap. 



the parietals in contact on the median line, vertebral centra 

 without transverse processes, a moderately large dorsal with 

 simple anterior rays, and large ventrals advanced far forwards 

 and formed of 8 rays. Its affinities are still obscure, but the 

 condition of the jaws decides its allocation to the sub-order 

 Malacopterygii, whilst in the position of the ventrals it is most 

 nearly approached by the Pantodontidae. Small Fishes known 

 only by two genera, of the Cretaceous period (England and Mount 

 Lebanon), one with ctenoid scales (CtenotJirissa), the other with 

 cycloid scales {Aulole-pis). 



Fam. 13. Phractolaemidae. — Mouth edentulous, projectile, 

 bordered by the very slender praemaxillaries and maxillaries. 

 Supraoccipital in contact with the frontals, widely separating the 

 small parietals ; operculum and suboperculum well developed ; 

 praeoperculum small ; interoperculum enormous, covering the 

 gular region and overlapping its fellow ; symplectic absent. 

 Basis cranii single. JSTo pharyngeal teeth. Only 3 slender branchi- 

 ostegal rays. Eil^s stout, sessile, nearly completely encircling the 

 body; slender epinourals ; no epipleurals ; caudal region very short. 

 Supratemporal small, simple, fixed to the parietal and squamosal ; 

 no postclavicle ; scapular foramen in the scapula. Pectoral fin 

 inserted low down, folding like the ventrals ; latter with 6 rays. 



Fig. 339. — Phractolaemus ansorgii. | nat. size. 



The remarkable little Fish, Phraxtolaeinus ansorr/ii, discovered 

 by Dr. W. J. Ansorge in the Niger Delta in 1900, and which 

 has since also been found in the Congo, stands quite apart among 

 the Malacopterygians, its nearest allies being apparently the 

 Osteoglossidae. The body is elongate and subcylindrical, covered 

 with large striated scales ; the head is small, the skull strongly 

 ossified, covered with thin skin ; the mouth small, proboscidiform, 



