598 



TELEOSTEI 



from China, Japan, and the Malay region ; and C/vilobranchus, 

 with two species from Australia and Tasmania. Although the 

 South American Symhranchus has been observed to live in 

 marshes which periodically dry up, the Pish burying itself in the 

 mud like a Lepiilosiren, the branchiae are fully developed on 

 the four branchial arches. In Monopterus, of similar habits, the 

 branchial laminae are rudimentary, and on three arches only. "So 

 accessory breathing organ is known to exist. 



dh \ 



I 



\ «S j P / / 



■;' eoi 



m ar q . lop \ sop op \ 

 pep jjr bra 



Fig. 361. — Mono-ptems javanensis. Lower view of head, showing gill-opening (go) : lower 

 view of middle praecaudal vertebrae : and side view of skull and pectoral arch. 

 ar. Articular ; hr, branchiostegal rays ; bra, branchial .arches ; d, clavicle ; d, dentary; 

 eot, epiotic; eth, ethmoid; /, frontal; km, hyomandibular ; iop, interoperculum ; 

 m, maxilla ; mpt, metapterygoid ; n, nasal ; op, operculum ; p, parietal ; pm, prae- 

 maxilla ; pop, praeoperculum ; 2'1't, pterygopalatine ; ptte, post - temporal ; 

 q, quadrate ; sd, supra-claviole ; so, supra-occipital ; sop, suboperculum ; sq, squa- 

 mosal ; sy, symplectic. 



Fam. 2. Amphipnoidae. — Post-temporal absent, the shoulder- 

 girdle free from the skull. The Cuchia, AmpMpnous cuchia, the 

 sole representative of this family, an inhabitant of the fresh and 

 brackish waters of India and Burma, growing to two feet in 

 length, is remarkable for the presence of a respiratory air-sac 

 on each side of the neck behind the head, communicating 

 with the gill-cavity. Of the three branchial arches the second 

 alone possesses gill-filaments : the third supports, in their place, 

 a thick and semi-transparent tissue ; the principal organs of 

 respiration are two small bladders, resembling the posterior 

 portions of the lungs of snakes, which the animal has the power 



