70 ACANTHOPTERYGII. — SPHYR^NAD^E. 
are quite detached from the hones of the shoulders. 
The head is long, and the lower jaw projects be- 
yond the upper, giving a ferocious aspect to the |ji 
countenance, well borne out by the habits and t; 
powers of at least the principal genus. They j 
have two dorsals, both placed far behind ; the j 
second is small, and in one of the genera {Para- | 
lepis), fleshy. The Family is very limited, con- 
taining only about fifteen living species, inhabit- 
ing the Mediterranean and the warmer parts of 
the ocean. There are, however, thirteen fossil 
species assigned to it. 
Genus Sphyb^na, 
The technical characters of this genus are, that 
the body is slender and much lengthened ; the 
jaws are long and broad, but of little depth ; the 
mouth is large, armed with strong teeth, some of 
which are larger and stouter than the others ; the 
chin is advanced and pointed ; the two dorsal fins 
are triangular in form, remote from each other, 
and dividing the whole length of the body into 
three equal parts ; the ventrals are placed beneath 
the first dorsal. 
