174 REPORT OF NEW JERSEY STATE MUSEUM. 



Order HAPLOMI. 



The Pike Like Fishes. 



In some respects this gToiip is intermediate between the Isos- 

 pondylous and spiny rayed fishes. Mostly in fresh-water, and 

 some forms are remnants of an ancient fauna. 



Key to the families. ^ 



a. Lateral margin of upper jaw formed by maxillaries; premaxillaries not 

 protractile. 



h. Teeth cardiform, unequal; jaws depressed and produced. esocid.e 



hb. Teeth villiform ; jaws equal, not produced. umbrid,^; 



aa. Lateral margin of upper jaw formed by premaxillaries; premaxillaries 



extremely protractile.. pcECiLiiD.i; 



Family ESOCID-ffi. 



The Pikes. 



Body elongate, not elevated, more or less compressed poste- 

 riorly, broad anteriorly. Head long. Snout prolonged and de- 

 pressed. Mouth large, its cleft fomiing about half length of 

 head. Upper jaw not protractile, most of its margin formed by 

 maxillaries, which are quite long and provided with a supple- 

 mental bone. Lower jaw the longer. Premaxillaries, vomer and 

 palatines with broad bands of strong cardiform teeth \rhich are 

 more or less movable. Lower jaw of strong teeth of different 

 sizes. Tong-ue with a band of small teeth. No barbels. Gill- 

 openings very wide. Gill-membranes separate, free from isthmus. 

 Gill-rakers tubercle-like. Pseudobranchise glandular, hidden. 

 Branchiostegals 12 to 20. Stomach not coecal, without pyloric 

 appendages. Air-vessel simple. Basis cranii simple. Head 

 naked above. Cheeks and opercles more or less scaly. Scales 

 small. Lateral line weak, obsolete in young specimens and devel- 

 oped in adult. Dorsal posterior, opposite and similar to anal. 

 No adipose fin. Caudal fin emarginate. Pectoral fins small, in- 

 serted low. Ventrals rather posterior. 



