ACANTHOPTERYGII 7 I J 



Some are oviparous, others (Zoarces, Biplacanthopoma, Hephtho- 

 cara, Lucifuga) viviparous. The eyes are absent, or at least not 

 visible externally in some of the bathybial forms {Typhlonus, 

 Aphyonus, TauredopMdium), as well as in the only known fresh- 

 water forms, the Cuban Cave-Fishes Stygicola and Lucifuga, which 

 are evidently allied to the marine Brotula, whilst the blind 

 Cave-Fishes of North America (cf. p. 618) are derived from fresh- 

 water types. It is believed that blind fishes are found also in 

 caves of the island of Jamaica, but no specimens have been seen 

 by naturalists. The largest Cuban Cave-Fish is 5 inches long.^ 



Fam. 13. Congrogadidae. — Eel-shaped Fishes without ven- 

 trals, allied to the Blenniidae, but with all the rays soft and 

 articulated, the post-temporal small and ankylosed to the skull, 

 and the sub-orbitals produced into laminae supporting the eye- 

 ball. Lips much developed ; gill-membranes free from isthmus ; 

 scales very small. 



A single genus, Congrogadus, with three species from the 

 Australian and East Indian coasts. The recently described 

 Japanese genus Hierichthys has been referred to this family. 



Fam. 14. Ophidiidae. — Degraded Blenniids, closely related 

 to the Zoarcidae, with pseudobranchiae, with tapering tail without 

 distinct caudal fin, and with the ventral fins each reduced to a 

 pair of filaments or a bifid ray inserted just behind the chin at 

 the extremity of the clavicle, which is produced forwards as a 

 slender rod. 



Small marine, carnivorous fishes, from the Atlantic and 

 Southern Pacific coasts as well as from great depths in the 

 Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. About 25 species are 

 known. Genera : Ophidium, Lepophidium, Genypterus. 



Fam. 15. Podatelidae. — Mouth inferior, protractile, toothless 

 or with minute teeth. Praecaudal vertebrae with transverse 

 processes, to which the ribs are attached. Gill-membranes 

 narrowly attached to isthmus ; 8 or 9 branchiostegal rays ; gills 

 4 ; no pseudobranchiae. Supratemporal loosely attached by 

 ligament to the skull; scapula cartilaginous, perforate, bearing 

 the base of the pectoral fin, which is an undivided cartilaginous 

 plate; coracoid small, ossified. Ventral fins jugular, each re- 

 duced to a single stout filament made up of two intimately 

 coherent rays. Body short, tail elongate and tapering, com- 

 ' Cf. Poey, Mem. Cuia, ii. p. 96 (1860). 



