GOBI OMORP H S . 
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GOBIOMORPHI. 
Body , anteriorly at least , terete or even depressed , in the remaining part elongated and low or bulky and fairly 
deep. The great majority of the rays of the impaired fins soft; anterior {spinous- rayed) part of the dorsal fin 
shorter than the posterior ( soft-rayed ), and generally with flexible spinous rays , sometimes hidden under the skin 
or entirely wanting. Ventral fins thoracic or jugular, well- dev eloped and sometimes free from each other , but 
generally united in a funnel-shape or together forming an adhesive disk a . Pectoral fins with broad basal bones. 
Branched rays of the caudal fin generally few {under 13); but sometimes even the supporting rays of this fin 
are branched. Suborbital ring generally without any osseous connexion with the preoperculum. Vomer and palat- 
ine bones in most cases toothless. Anal papilla well-developed, at least in the male. Scaly covering of the skin ex- 
tremely variable: sometimes abundant and regular, consisting of thin ctenoid or cycloid scales, sometimes verrucose 
or tubercular; while sometimes there are no scales on the highly muciparous skin. 
This series of families, corresponding to Gunther’s 6 
two series, Gobiiformes and Gobies oci formes, is com- 
posed of distinct bottom-fishes, most of which live on 
the sea-coast, and only a few occur in fresh water. 
Like the Blennomorphs, these fishes are also, in general, 
tenacious of life, as the relatively small size of their 
gill-openings enables them, though out of the water, 
to retain the moisture on their branchial lamellae for 
some time. The abundant mucous secretion of the 
skin, which is so common in these fishes, also contri- 
butes to this result. Like most of the Blennomorphs, 
the majority of the Gobiomorphs also have no air- 
bladder. The difference in the development of the 
ventral fins, as well as in the structure of the rays of 
the dorsal fin, however, renders this series of fishes a 
sharp contrast to the preceding one. The most remark- 
able peculiarity of this series also lies in the employ- 
ment of the former fins (the pelvic apparatus), and also 
in the reduction which sometimes appears in the spi- 
nous-rayed part of the dorsal fin. 
The series corresponds to Muller’s c family Gobi- 
oidei, with the exception of Echeneis. 
a In Oxuderces, a Chinese species, however, the ventral fins are wanting. 
b Systematic Synopsis, Oat. Brit. Mas., Fish., p. VII (Acanth op terygii Gobiiformes ) and p. IX ( Acanthopterygii Gobiesoci formes')', 
Introcl. Stud. Fish., pp. 483 and 510; Handb. d. Ichthyol., pp. 343 and 363. 
c Abh. Akad. Wise. Berlin 1844, Pliys. Abh., p. 158. 
