THE FISHES OF NEW JERSEY. 53 



Odontaspis americanus Abbott, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 

 1861, p. 400. — Abbott, Geol. N. J., 1868, p. 828, from same 

 example. 



Family ALOPIIDiE. 



The Thresher Sharks. 



Body moderately elongate. Snout rather short. Mouth cres- 

 cent-shaped. Teeth equal in both jaws, moderate-sized, flat, tri- 

 angular, and not serrated. Third tooth of upper jaw on each 

 side much smaller than others. Gill-openings moderate, last 

 above root of pectoral. Spiracles just behind eye, minute or 

 absent. First dorsal large, midway between pectorals and ven- 

 trals. Second dorsal and anal very small. A pit at root of 

 caudal and a notch on upper lobe near its tip. No caudal keel. 

 Ventrals rather large. Pectorals very large, falcate. 



A single species in most seas. 



Genus AXopias Rafinesque. 



The Thresher Sharks. 



Alopias vulpes (Gmelin). 



Thresher Shark. Fox Shark. 



This shark may easily be known at sight from any of our 

 fishes by the long tail. 



.^1 



Thresher Shark. Alopias viilpcs (GmeUn). 



It is included on Dr. Abbott's authority*, who states it to be 

 abundant and frequently taken on hooks baited for other fish. 

 I have never seen or heard of any New Jersey examples. 



Alopias vulpes Abbott, Geol. N. J., 1868, p. 828. 



