ANACANTHINI 



647 



Fam. 1. Macruridae. — Mouth more or less inferior, pro- 

 tractile ; teeth small, none on palate. Anterior vertebrae with- 

 out transverse processes, with the ribs sessile, the rest with strong 

 transverse processes supporting the ribs, which themselves bear 

 epipleurals. Gill -membranes free from isthmus or narrowly 

 attached ; 6 or 7 branchiostegal rays ; gills 3^ or 4 ; pseudo- 

 branchiae rudimentary or absent. Ventral fins below the pec- 

 torals, with 7 to 1 2 rays. Body short, tail elongate and tapering 

 to a point, without caudal fin. A short anterior dorsal, with a 

 single simple ray, and a long dorsal and anal meeting together at 

 the end of the tail, formed entirely of articulated rays — the two 

 dorsals sometimes continuous (Lyconus). 



Deep-sea Fishes with very large eyes and small or rather large 

 mouth, usually covered with rough spiny scales ; a mental barbel 

 is present, except in Zyconus, and the muciferous cavities of the 

 skull are strongly developed, the bones being remarkably thin. 

 About 120 species are known, some of which have a wide dis- 

 tribution. Macrurids have been found in all the seas where 

 deep-sea dredging has been practised — the greatest depth at 

 which they have been obtained being 2650 fathoms. Principal 

 genera : Macrurus, Gadomus (with perforate scapula) Gorypliae- 

 noides, Hymenoceplialus, Malacocephalus, Lionurus, Trachyrhyn- 

 chus, Steindachneria, Bathygadus, Zyconus, Macruronus. A larval 

 form of this family has received the name of lirohnius ; it is 

 remarkable for the filamentous prolongation of the ventral rays, 

 which recalls the larval Trachyptems. 







Fjg. 397.— Macrurus carminatus, x J. (After Goode.) 



Fam. 2. Gadidae. — Mouth moderate or large, more or less 

 protractile. Anterior vertebrae without transverse processes, 

 with the ribs sessile, the rest with strong transverse processes. 



