/f A^- 
✓9 * ^ , /w SCOPELID^. ✓ ^ 
^v». - ■ <s r- ‘^. i- '^^■ 
r^i<Tf-^ 7J^ ■Pamilv SCOPELTD^. 
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t_(, Ac.«. 
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235 
Supraoccipital bone not prominent, but extending forwards to 
the frontals and usually separating the small parietals in the 
median line ; squamosal reduced, only partly covering the otic 
region, 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 margii^ deiitition*.,u^ij§dly^ 
feeble, but sometimes with enlarged laniary teeth, not depressible, 
on 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. 
Fin-fulcra absent; post-temporal bones in contact with the supra¬ 
occipital ; pectoral arch without precoracoid process, and pectoral 
fins low down on the flank. Scales, when present, thin and cycloid 
or ctenoid, sometimes enlarged along the course of the lateral line, 
and often extending over the cheeks and opercular apparatus. In 
recent forms :—pseudobranchiag well developed ; no air-bladder ; 
pyloric appendages few or absent, and intestinal tract very short; 
oviducts complete ; no barbels ; a small adipose dorsal fin ; numerous 
phosphorescent spots. 
These are all marine fishes, many ranging to great depths ; and 
the extinct members of the family are known only from marine 
formations. ♦ . . x 
Synopsis of Extinct Genera. 
I. 
Premaxilla 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 
laro'er and scales cvcloid 
As Sardinioides, but paired fins nearly 
equal in size and scales cycloid.... 
Maxilla not expanded behind; pectoral 
fins large ; dorsal fin short-based; 
anal tin 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). 
Dactylopogon (p. 248). 
