158 



Apodal Fishes of Bengal. 



Second. Ophicardia. The branchial arches are open 

 and free, the gills are slightly pectinated, the teeth are dis- 

 posed in a band on the palatines and another on the maxil- 

 liaries, no scales. 



Third. Ophisternon. The gills are fully pectinated, the 

 branchial membranes of both sides are united in one common 

 cavity, the eyes are placed near the extremity of the muzzle, 

 no scales. 



In these genera there are no teeth on the vomer, and the 

 gills have bony arches, though not pectinated in some. In 

 these respects, as well as in regard to the single branchial 

 aperture under the throat, they correspond with Synbranchus, 

 Bl. with which they form one common family, SynbranchidjE. 



13. The next family to be noticed, is distinguished by the 

 almost total absence of bony arches to the gills ; these last are 

 somewhat fan-shaped, from which circumstance the family is 

 named PtyobranchiDjE. 



Of this family I have as yet found but one genus, Ptyo- 

 branchus ; it is possessed of pectoral fins ; the fins are all 

 supported by rays as in ordinary fishes ; there are two aper- 

 tures to the branchiae, and the palatines are compressed so 

 as to form a single row of teeth on the roof of the mouth, cor- 

 responding with those of the vomer in other genera, as alrea- 

 dy pointed out in some of the Murcenidce. Hence the dis- 

 position of the Apodal order will stand as follows : — 



Tribe. 



ORDER APODES. 

 Family. 



Genus. 



Anguillid^:, J. M. 



ANGUILLIFOR- J ° PHISURI ™> J - M - 

 MES, J. M. 



< 



Mur;enid;e, J. M. 



f Anguilla, Cuv. 



■J Conger, Cuv. 



( Murcenesox, J. M. 



( Leptognaihus Swains. 



< Ophisurus, Lacep. 



( Opkithorax, J. M. 



fDalophis, Rafinesque. 

 | Thcerodontis, J. M. 

 J Murcena, prop. (J. M.) 

 I Lycodontis, J. M. 

 \Jjrymnomurcena, Lacep. 



