370 
ACTINOPTEETGII. 
to their logical conclusion, the so-called Lophohranchii may be 
regarded as extremely specialised members of this suborder. 
Synopsis of Families. 
I. Gills normal, pectinated ; opercular apparatus 
complete. 
Trunk fusiform, and snout not much produced ; 
anterior vertebrae slightly elongated ; pel¬ 
vic fins far forwards, each with one spine 
and one or two divided rays; a few free 
spines in front of dorsal fin ; anal with one 
anterior spine; no scales, but frequently 
bony scutes. Gastebosteid^ 
Trunk elongated and snout much produced into (Recent). 
a tube; anterior vertebrae slightly elon¬ 
gated ; pelvic fins each with one spine and 
few divided rays; free spines in front of 
dorsal fin; anal with one anterior spine; 
skin with degenerate squamation or small, 
partly concealed bony plates. Aelorhynchid^ 
Trunk elongated, and snout much produced (p. 371). 
into a tube ; four anterior vertebrae much 
elongated and fused together; pelvic fins 
without spine but with five or six divided 
rays; free spines in front of dorsal fin 
rudimentary or absent; anal fin without 
spine; skin naked, or with small scales .. Fistulariidae 
Trunk laterally compressed, irregularly oblong (p. 378). 
or deepened, and snout much produced 
into a tube; some anterior vertebrae 
usually elongated ;• pelvic fins without 
spine but with about five divided rays; 
anterior part of dorsal fin with few spines, 
one being excessively enlarged; anal fin 
without spine; scales present, with bony 
scutes dorsally and ventrally ... Centriscid^ 
II. Gills tufted, in form of rounded lobes ; oper- (p. 377). 
cular apparatus much reduced. {Lopho¬ 
hranchii.) 
Gill-opening wide; all fins present, including 
an anterior spinous dorsal. Solenostomatidje 
Gill-opening very small; pelvic and anterior (p. 379). 
dorsal fins always wanting, others variable. Syngnathidae 
(p. 380). 
