666 
SCANDINAVIAN FISHES. 
The skeleton is otherwise extremely simple and only 
slightly ossified, with the vertebrie elongated and their 
processes straight and of uniform breadth, or slightly 
broader at the top; but in the vertebrae above which 
the dorsal fin is attached, the upper spinous processes 
are divided sagitally (in the longitudinal direction of the 
body) into three or four divergent branches. Distinct 
haemal arches appear only at the beginning of the 
caudal region, where a few may be found. 
By far the greater number of the Syngnatliince are 
marine fishes; they are met with everywhere, where 
seaweeds cover the bottom. Out at sea they accom- 
pany the tufts of sargasso-weed, or drift about at the 
surface with the current and the waves. Some of 
them, however, also live in brackish water, and a 
few species occur in fresh water alone. The species' 
that occur in Scandinavia may be distinguished as 
follows : 
1 
Fig. 171. Right scapular arch of Syngnathus acus , seen from within, 7 times the natural side. Principally after Parker. 
pt, posttemporal bone; cl, clavicle; sli x , lower lateral plate in the first ring ( scutum laterale inferius annuli primi ); sli.,, lower lateral plate 
in the second ring; sv l , ventral plate in the first ring; sv„, ventral plate in the second ring; icl, interclavicle; slm x , middle lateral plate in 
the first ring; has , basal bones of the pectoral fin; sc, scapular disk. 
A: The adult, fishes without pectoral 
fins. The males carry the impreg- 
nated eggs in a layer of mucus on 
the ventral side of the trunk. 
a: Beginning of the dorsal fin far 
in front of the perpendicular 
from the vent, its distance from 
the tip of the snout being at 
most about 4 / 5 (less than 85 %) 
of the distance between the 
vent and the same point Nerophis cequoreus. 
b: Distance between the dorsal fin 
and the tip of the snout at least 
9 /io °f drat between the vent 
and the latter. 
aa: Length of the trunk and 
head (distance between the 
vent and the tip of the snout) 
more than 45% of the length 
of the body Nerophis ophidion. 
bb: Distance between the vent 
and the tip of the snout 
less than 35 %> of the length 
of the body Nerophis lurnbriciformis. 
B: The adult fishes furnished with pec- 
toral fins. The males" carry the 
impregnated eggs in a canaliculate 
sac on the ventral side of the tail. 
a: Length of the head more than 15 
% of that of the body. Syngnathus typlile. 
b: Length of the head less than 14 
% of that of the body. 
aa: Length of the head greater 
than that of the base of 
the dorsal fin. Syngnathus acus. 
bb: Length of the head less 
than that of the base of 
tire dorsal fin Syngnathus rostellatus. 
In our Scandinavian species. 
