PIPE-FISHES. 



Order V. LOPHOBRANCHII. 



91 



The Lophobranchii are bony fishes in which the gills are not 

 laminated, but composed of small rounded lobes attached to the 

 branchial arches ; the gill-cover is reduced to a large simple plate ; 



Fig. 78. 



Lobular gill of Hippocampus. 



the air-bladder is simple^ without pneumatic duct ; a dermal 

 skeleton, composed of numerous pieces arranged in segmentSj 

 rel paces more or less soft integuments; the muscular system is riot 

 much developed ; the snout is prolonged, and the mouth terminal, 

 small, toothless, formed as in Acanthopterygians. 



This Order (Case 37) contains only two families, SolenostomidtB 



Fig. 79. ' 



Pipe-fish {Syngnathus amis). (From the Oornish coast.) 



The lower figure represents the pouch below the tail, opened on one side to 



show the young, which are ready to escape from the pouch. 



and ByngnathidtE. They are small marine fishes, which are abundant 

 on such parts of the coasts of tropical and temperate zones as offer 



[Case 



