508 The Blennies: Blenniidze 
for the great length of the upper jaw, which is formed as in 
Opisthognathus. Its membranes are brightly colored, being 
edged with bright yellow. Gzbbonsia elegans is the pretty 
“sefiorita”’ of the coralline-lined rock-pools of California. Lepr- 
soma nuchipinne, with a fringe of filaments at the nape, is very 
Fig. 448.—Kelp Blenny, Gibbonsia evides Jordan & Gilbert. San Diego. 
abundant in rock-pools of the West Indies. The species of 
Auchenopterus abound in the rock-pools of tropical America. 
These are very small neatly colored fishes with but one soft ray 
in the long dorsal fin. Species of Tripterygion, Myxodes, Cris- 
ticeps, and other genera abound in the South Pacific. 
In Blennius and its relatives the body is scaleless and the 
slender teeth are arranged like the teeth of a comb. In most 
Fic. 449.—Blennius cristatus L. Florida. 
species long, fang-like posterior canines are developed in the 
jaws. Blennius is represented in Europe by many species, Blen- 
nius galerita, ocellaris, and basiliscus being among the most com- 
mon. Certain species inhabit Italian lakes, having assumed a 
fresh-water habit. The numerous American species mostly 
