336 CLASSIFICATIOX OF FISHES, ETC. 



IcHTHYOPHis Lesson. Body cylindrical ; spiracles la- 

 teral, one on each side of the head ; mouth rather 

 large ; teeth acute ; eyes moderate ; no fins whatever. 

 I. pantherinus. Less. Atl, pi. 13. tigrinus. lb. pi. 12. 



Al.ebes Cuv. a single spiracle, as in the last, but the 

 pectoral fins distinct, between which is a small con- 

 cave disk ; a small operculum and three rays are 

 distinguishable through the skin by which they are 



. enveloped. India. (One species, not described.) 



Family 2. SYNBRANCHID^. 



Body eel-shaped ; spiracles placed under the neck. 



Sphagebmnchus Bloch. Snout lengthened and pointed, 

 projecting beyond the mouth ; the dorsal and anal 

 fins only apparent towards the tail ; branchial spi- 

 racles close together under the throat ; pectoral fins 

 often obsolete or entirely wanting. 



S. rostratus. Bloch, pi. 419. fig. 2. 



MoxoPTERUs Comm. Dorsal and anal fins commencing 

 on the middle of the tail, and united at its point; 

 branchial orifices united under the throat in a trans- 

 verse cleft, but divided in the middle. 

 M. Javanensis Lac. 



Synbraxchus Bloch. A single small round branchial 

 aperture or spiracle placed under the throat ; the 

 dorsal and ventral fins meeting, and continued round 

 the pointed end of the tail ; pectoral fins none. 

 S. marmoratus. Bloch, 418. cashia. Buch. pi. 16. fig. 4. 



Ophichthys iS'it'. Spiracle single, placed under the throat; 

 body entirely without fins, cylindrical, and without 

 scales ; snout depressed, short, obtuse ; under jaw 

 shortest ; nostrils simple, near the tip of the snout, 

 and single ; eyes small ; tail compressed at the tip. 

 O. punctatus. Ham. pi. 16. fig. 4. (Cuchia.) 



