194 ACANTHOPTERYGIL 



Eighth Group — Acanthopterygii Blenniformes. 



Body elongated, sub-cylindrical or compressed. Dorsal fin many rayed, 

 occasionally composed entirely of spines, or the articulated part may he nearly 

 or quite as long as, or even longer than, the spinous portion. Ventrals, if 

 present, thoracic or jugular. Anal of varying length. Caudal present or 

 absent. 



This division comprises two families of which genera have been obtained in 

 Great Britain. (1) Blenniidce having a rather elongated body : and ventrals when 

 present jugular. (2) Gepolidce, body very elongated : ventrals thoracic. 



Family, XXI— BLENNIIM, Swainson. 



Pseudobranchiae mostly present. Body elongated, more or less cylindrical. 

 Teeth may be fixed in the jaws or merely implanted in the gums: a posterior 

 canine may be present; while some genera have molars. One, two, or three 

 dorsal fins, nearly occupying the entire length of the back. Ventrals, when 

 present, sometimes rudimentary, usually jugular. Anal with a moderate or 

 large number of articulated rays. Caudal, when present, may be confluent 

 with, or distinct from, the vertical fins. Scales, when present, usually small. 

 Air-bladder and pyloric appendages generally absent. 



The fishes which constitute this family are mostly littoral forms distributed 

 throughout the greater portion of the temperate and tropical regions, some 

 extending their range into brackish or even, it is said, into fresh waters. 



The British forms belonging to this family appertain to the following 

 genera : — 



1. Anarrhichas. Strong conical teeth in the front of the jaws : two rows of 

 large molars on the palate. No ventral fins. Scales rudimentary. 



2. Blennius. A single row of teeth in the jaws, in some likewise a curved 

 posterior canine. Ventral fins present. Scales absent. 



3. Carelophus. Small teeth in jaws. Dorsal fin consisting only of spines. 

 Ventrals jngular. Scales present. 



4. Centronotus. Minute teeth in jaws. Dorsal fin consisting only of spines. 

 Ventrals rudimentary if present. Scales absent. 



5. Zoarces. Conical teeth in jaws. A depressed portion of the dorsal fin 

 composed of spines. Ventrals rudimentary. Caudal fin absent. No scales. 



Genus I. — Anarrhichas, Artedi. 



Branchiostegals seven : pseudobranchim present. Body elongated : head large : 

 snout obtuse: cleft of mouth deep. Gill- openings tvide. Teeth conical anteriorly 

 with pointed tubercles laterally, and in two rows of molarform ones on the palate. 

 A single long dorsal fin, consisting of flexible spines, and not continued on to the 

 caudal. Ventrals absent. Caudal distinct from the dorsal and anal fins. Scales 

 on body rudimentary. Air-bladder and pyloric appendages absent. 



Gesner originally designated this fish Anarrhichas, derived from the Greek 

 term signifying " to climb," as the people on' the shores of the Baltic believed 

 that it climbed on to the rocks. It was placed by Cuvier among the Blennies, 

 being a gigantic form of the family: Gill, however, considers it the type 



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