SC0PELIDJ3. 
235 
Family SCOPELID2E. 
Kupraoccipital bone not prominent, but extending forwards to 
•be frontals and usually separating the small parietals in the 
median line ; squamosal reduced, only partly covering the otic 
r egion, which projects laterally ; snout not produced ; cheek-plates 
delicate or wanting. Mandibular suspensorium vertical or inclined 
backwards, and gape of mouth wide ; premaxilla much extended, 
excluding the maxilla from the oral margin ; dentition usually 
feeble, but sometimes with enlarged laniary teeth, not dcpressible, 
071 the border of the jaws. Opercular apparatus complete, with 
few branchiostegal rays and no gular plate ; gill-opening very wide. 
Vertebral centra well ossified, none with transverse processes ; ribs 
not completely encircling the abdominal cavity ; a compound 
hypural bone at the base of the tail. Intermuscular bones present. 
' in-fulcra absent ; post-temporal bones in contact with the supra- 
occipital ; pectoral arch without precoracoid process, and pectoral 
hns low down on the flank. Scales, when present, thin and cycloid 
or ctenoid, sometimes enlarged along the course of the lateral line, 
nnd often extending over the cheeks and opercular apparatus. In 
recent forms : — pseudobranchiae well developed ; no air-bladder ; 
I'J loric appendages few or absent, and intestinal tract very short ; 
iducts complete ; no barbels ; a small adipose dorsal fin ; numerous 
phosphorescent spots. 
Ihese are all marine fishes, many ranging to great depths ; and 
’he extinct members of the family are known only from marino 
formations. 
I. 
Synopsis of Extinct Genera. 
I remaxilla delicate. 
A. Normal forms with anal fin completely 
behind dorsal fin. 
Maxilla expanded behind ; pectoral 
fins small and delicate ; anal fin 
very small; scales ctenoid 
As Sardinioides, but pelvic fins rather 
larger and scales cycloid 
As Sardinioides, but paired fins nearly 
equal in size and scales cycloid 
Maxilla not expanded behind; pectoral 
fins large ; dorsal tin short-based ; 
anal fin extended ; scales cycloid . . 
Pectoral fins large, the foremost ray 
much elongated and closely arti- 
culated ; dorsal and anal fins short- 
based 
Sardinioides (p. 236) 
Acrognathus (p. 243). 
Leptosomus (p. 244). 
Sardinius (p. 247). 
j Dactylopogon (p. 248). 
