ioo8 



CLASS PISCES. 



Family Carangid^e. — Of great interest to the palaeontologist are 

 the so-called Horse-Mackerels, on account of the beautiful preserva- 

 tion of some of the fossil forms in the Middle Eocene of Monte 

 Bolca. The body is more or less compressed, and may be oblong 

 or deep, and either with or without scales. The dorsal fin, which 



Fig. 942. — Semiophorus velicans ; from the Middle Eocene of Monte Bolca. a, Anal ; 

 c, Caudal ; d, Dorsal ; p, Pectoral ; v, Pelvic fins. 



may be single or divided, has the spinous smaller than the soft 

 part ; and the pelvic fins, if present, are thoracic. One of the most 

 remarkable extinct genera is Semiophorus (fig. 942), in which the 

 dorsal fin is of enormous height, while the pelvic fins are also 

 greatly produced. This genus is known only from the Monte 

 Bolca Eocene. Other extinct Tertiary genera are Pseudovomer, 



■BH 



